Starting MJ while on oral HRT and worried about clot risk

[PuppyKeep]

I’m about to start MJ (super excited!)

I’m due my first delivery from Asda tomorrow.

Two weeks ago I started HRT (femoston). At the time my GP said I couldn’t have patches or gel but didn’t say why.

I’ve now read on Asda website:

HRT - Obesity and increasing age raise the risk of serious blood clots like DVTs and PEs, as do oral oestrogen therapies. Women who are prescribed these weight loss drugs should be using transdermal forms of HRT (e.g. patch, gel, spray). This includes the progesterone part of HRT if you take both oestrogen and progesterone (unless you’re using a progesterone coil (IUS) which is fine to continue). Women using oral progesterone may find it less effective due to the slowing down of absorption caused by these injectables, and so not provide the same amount of endometrial protection as it should. Please speak to your GP or specialist about switching you over if you use any oral HRT, and to follow advice from the British Menopause Society here. If you develop any abnormal vaginal bleeding during treatment with this weight loss medication, you should speak to your GP asap.

If you read the bms guidelines you'll see Asda have used the word 'should' off their own back. It's not what the bms say. They say it is preferred. Which is not the same.

obesity itself raises the risk of clots - and as you are addressing that with glp1 you won't be obese for much longer.

also how rude to the women who can only take tablets? Plenty do better on them.

I think need to ask GP why you can’t use patches or gel.

If there is a risk with the tablets they need to say.

Same with contraception….

You have two separate issues here -

At the time my GP said I couldn’t have patches or gel

I am not an HRT expert in any way, but as far as I can remember when I was looking into it myself there is a higher risk of clots with pills than transdermal estrogen. There is a menopause board on here with a couple of posters who know a lot about menopause, or there is a UK HRT/Menopause facebook page with a GP who posts on it which might help you unpick why your GP might have prescribed oral pills instead of transdermal and if you prefer patches or gel how to ask for them.

Women using oral progesterone may find it less effective due to the slowing down of absorption caused by these injectables

I remember this is the case for oral progesterone which is important to protect your uterus and why it has specifically been called out. The links below might help, but you should speak to either your provider or GP for what to do when oestrogen and progesterone are both oral.

thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23-BMS-TfC-Use-of-incretin-based-therapies-APRIL2025-E.pdf

/www.pcwhs.co.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/glp1_contraception_hrt_article.pdf

I’m taking oral progesterone and have been since before I started with MJ back in October. No issues at all.