Starting HRT for menopause and struggling with progesterone bloating

[Rollerballskate]

Name changes as very outing if you know me - been here years.

so basically I’ve had years of issues. Apparently back in 2010 ish a very rough internal proved I did not have endo.

ive never really tolerated any form of contraception well.

skip to 2025 (39 years old) - nhs finally agreed to sterilise me and give me an ablation. She said if it didn’t work I could have it all out. They found endo doing the op.

well the ablation worked, no more periods - but what I had always assumed were long spotty periods b4 my actual flood of a period continued.

so I tracked for a year, which resulted in data showing following ovulation I bleed during intercourse, and all my autoimmune stuff flare/is worse.

skip to July 2026 - the doctor agrees to hrt - my idea was I’d go on it to smooth the ups and downs of the hormones which seem to really effect me.

if you’re still here, thank you -

so I’ve just done 2 weeks only of 100 bio progesterone, and oh my god! The bloat! I’m literally gaining a 1lb a day in fluid - I have added the oestrogen gel now, which I’m supposed to do one pump for a fortnight, then increase to 2 - in the hope I end up on progesterone 100 mg and oestrogen two pumps every single day - then maybe look at the injection to turn of my ovaries.

can some one please tell me when this bloat goes, does it get worse? What shall I expect? My skins a mess. I feel like a zombie!

Can I ask who you are seeing for hrt? GP or specialist?

I'm not clear where you are with the bleeding.
Are you bleeding after sex?
Are you having any natural periods?
Do you still have endo in some areas?

Your regime sounds a bit odd.

Usually it's estrogen first, followed by 12 or 14 days of micronised progesterone 200mgs ( 2 capsules.)

for women with endo it's often continuous combined hrt to prevent the endo growing.

With continuous hrt it's estrogen from Day 1 and 100mgs progesterone from Day 1.

Did you start on progesterone only for some reason?

Back to your question - bloating is normal at first but not 1lb a day which would be a stone in 2 weeks.

There are other ways of using it but you probably need a specialist.
Are you seeing one?

It’s a consultant at thornbury, in Sheffield.

no natural periods since the ablation, just bleeding after sex - only when I’ve just ovulated- not the rest of the mth.

they said they removed the endo in 2025.

i said I didn’t want progesterone because it’s never agreed with me, consultant said I must have it as I’ve still got a uterus, and said to go on that 1st - to protect the uterus and then I’d also know which hormone I get side effects from.

Ive literally gone from 118lb to 129lb in 2 weeks - I am very ‘sensitive’ I suppose- I see a 3/4lb swing through my cycle - but this just keeps going up. I’ve only just added the oestrogen, so hoping that counteract?

I don't understand the bleeding after sex.
Why has that not been treated?
What's causing it?

Is this vaginal dryness and it's bleeding?

You have to take progesterone.
You can try taking it on a cycle , so not every day.

Is this an NHS consultant or privately?

I'd be asking for another opinion and if you need to pay for that, it might be worth it.

You could use the Mirena coil.

I’ve got sjorens disease, and that flares after ovulation so causes tissue fragility - I’ve had everything checked.

he works across both, private and nhs. And because the aim is to stop the up and downs with hormones to stop autoimmune flares, he’s said everyday. And once I’m stable I can have the jab to switch my ovaries off.

it’s all very confusing, I’ve got another appointment on September and he said I should have ‘settled’ by then. But the exhaustion, the bloat, the spots. It’s another level

And re the coil, they said not possible due to scarring

There is a big difference in how consultants prescribe.

Mine advised me to use estrogen only for 3 months, working up from 1/2 pump to whatever dose controlled my symptoms.It was only after getting that right that I introduced a type of progesterone. (not micronised progesterone, although I use that now.)

You have many options- you can insert progesterone capsules vaginally which can reduce side effects as it's absorbed locally and not through the digestive system.

There are many other forms of progesterone to try so don't give up.

Hopefully your consultant is an expert in HRT as well as endo.

Thanks :) He did say about inserting it - he said it’s the same capsule so may try that tonight. It’s an absolute minefield