How long for HRT to work?

[babyt2020]

Morning all, Ive just been prescribed HRT, oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets. Can anyone tell me how long it took to notice a positive effect? My main issue is crippling fatigue which Ive had solidly for the last 2 months. I take my children to school and get back in bed which is very unlike me, I used to hike around 3/4 miles a day, now the 7 minute walk to school kills me!

For me it did take a few weeks to feel a bit brighter and I'm around six months in and am beginning to feel significantly better so it's been rather slow for me (same regime as you). I recommend taking the pill and doing the gel at the same time each day because if you skip them or especially if you skip the pill you may get bleeding and period cramps which is a shock after none of that for years! Also I hadn't prepared for tender boobs and emotional changes - basically estrogen is a bit of a shock to the system when there's not been any for ages, I turned into a moody teenager for a few weeks! I don't mean to sound gloomy it is worth it if course :)

You don't need to take Utrogestan at the same time as applying estrogen.

Utrogestan is taken at bedtime (as it's sedative and can cause dizziness for an hour or so) and as gel shouldn't be transferred to anyone else - skin to skin- many women find applying it in the morning is easier.

The risk of breakthrough bleeding is if a dose is missed by more than 24 hours.

@babyt2020 It's hard to say! Some women feel better in days, others weeks. Guidance is a review in 3 months so if you feel no better go back to your GP and discuss the dose.

Thanks both, I’m excited and optimistic this is going to really help me 🤞🤞

I started to notice effects within days.

Have you also had your vitamin, mineral and thyroid levels checked? Fatigue can have many causes, and perimenopause can play havoc with both dietary absorption of nutrients and with production of non-sex hormones.

I started to feel better within a week. My joint pain and painful muscle spasms went after after 5 days and have never returned. I had more energy gradually and after about 8 months my libido suddenly and unexpectedly massively increased. This was from using Everol 50 and micronised progesterone and vaginal/vulval oestrogen.

After a year of this regime I added testosterone cream which cleared my brain fog and increased my get up and go (and is slowly giving me Mr Tumnus thighs 😂).

Wow these are promising replies thankyou! 👍😁

It took about a week on oestrogen and I’m massively noticed the difference, you will have period cramps though in the first couple of weeks because the lining of your room will be thicker.

My energy definitely came back quite quickly, and my skin looks really, really good. I’m 45 by the way.