HRT & Progesterone

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I have been on MJ 2 years nearly and lost 3.5 stone need to lose a further stone for healthy BMI Struggling with last stone so went up to 7.5 and seemed to be starting to shift after months of nothing. However have been on HRT patches and been having bleeding but unsure if due to HRT or MJ tbh. GP sent me for womb biopsy and all clear. They have changed me to HRT to gel now and to a progesterone tablet. I decided to stop MJ as read that I should not be taking MJ & progesterone as might not absorb properly so womb not protected. Started binge eating again feeling so awful back to mega food noise but unsure if it not having MJ or side effect of progesterone ?
Has anyone felt progesterone makes them more hungry ?
And any advice from anyone on MJ & progesterone what to do ?
Feeling like I should just restart the MJ as felt better on it, no food noise etc but wanted the long term health benefits of HRT but thinking might just give it a go without the HRT at least my eating will be under control, I won’t be obese so healthier and I can ensure keep exercising and eating well to lose this last stone for healthy BMI
Any tips advice appreciated x😍

Have you considered the mirena coil for the progesterone? I have the mirena and oestrogen patch for HRT and am on MJ

@EdinaTheConfessor thanks for reply, no I would not want coil as tried to have one years back and it didn’t agree/ had issues.

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

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

Here are some links that might be useful.

was your progesterone previously through your patch? That should not be affected by Mounjaro, only oral progesterone would be affected.

If taking oral progesterone it is recommended to increase dose as mentioned in the links, or switch to a non oral method.

I went up half a stone overnight on progesterone/ oestrogel

Thank you I will have a read appreciate you sharing this.

Oh no yes lots of research states most do up to 5lbs not what I want !

I really didn’t get on with it. Bad acne and blew up like a balloon. Others have more success

My GP recently prescribed me vaginal pessary form of progesterone, she said it was being prescribed this way for people taking monjaro, it was a faff to source, had to get ordered into the pharmacy, but is an option. I was worried I was reacting to the oral capsule so wanted a locally absorbed version that wasn’t the coil.

I have been prescribed oestrogen only - my clinician says it's actually preferable for a 'woman of my age', rather than conventional HRT. I'm 44.

Maybe worth a conversation with your HCP?

What do you mean by estrogen only @Buttonspoons ? If you have a uterus and are having oral or transdermal systemic estrogen you should have some form of progesterone to protect your uterus.

Thanks or right thought need the progesterone to protect the womb ?

I am thinking of taking a break from the HRT continue with MJ as got last stone to go then at better place to restart the HRT at least weight under control.

Testosterone should counteract the weight gain , it did for me , I still had to put the work in but I got results , prior to taking it I was working out twice as hard for minimal results . It also helped with brain fog and clarity . It’s bizarre but some doctors will only perscribe for libido when it has so many other benefits.

You can take your progesterone tablets vaginally then they won’t be affected by the MJ.
HRT and GPL1 work really well together, so there’s no need to stop taking HRT, do some reading by people like Dr Salas Whalen who has written the book Weightless which is an excellent book about weight loss medication.

Not a great idea to stop your HRT just because of weight, much better to get your hormones stable and use the glp1 to get the weight off, if you stop taking your HRT you may get lots of hormone related symptoms that make loosing weight harder, as mentioned by a poster above do you take testosterone? And lift weights exercise? Both really help for weight loss and post meno symptoms.

Hello, are you me? Been on MJ same amount of time as you, also 7.5mg, also stalled with a stone still to go, and also had recent clear womb biopsy after bleeding. I was previously on oestrogel and 100mg nightly progesterone (utrogestan) - my GP called me to recommend I take 200mg nightly while I'm on MJ to ensure womb protected, so that's what I'm doing now. You can take it vaginally but I take it orally as it makes me really drowsy and helps me fall asleep quickly. I'd prob consider going back on MJ if I was you.

I won't be answering your question as I have no clue about WLI 😁

But just in case your GP hasn't mentioned it: oral progesterone should be taken at least 2 hours after food, as eating can affect its absorption

I had this as well. Was put on provera 10mg a day and even that didn't stop the bleeding so I reluctantly agreed to again try a mirena for the third time! One fell out, and one caused me skin issues, mood issues etc. but that was 20 years ago when my hormones were manic. This time it's been fine apart from taking ages to settle and I would recommend it even if you tried before

Im on the patches that give you 2 weeks oestrogen then 2 weeks of oestrogen and progesterone.

Only on second cycle but was told the patches meant I didnt need to worry about the oral/mj issue.

I fully intend to stay on both!.

O am getting random bleeding and lower back aches but it does say it can take a few mot hs to settle.

Thanks good to know, heard a few people get on well with that added.

Thanks for all the advice and responses. This forum has been invaluable whilst on mj. Yes I agree and know it is the right thing to do to remain on HRT . I am feeling quite good on the progesterone last few days but have stepped up activity. Food noise less and going to start some resistance training and see how I go without the mj. If I can’t shift this last stone will go back on it and get 200 dose progesterone or back to patches. Thanks all 😍

Do they tend to add testosterone in the UK much?

Heard they will only give if you say the reason is low libido

really struggled without MJ which is annoying as exercise etc and eat fairly good. Food noise after few weeks of not on it worse than ever been like a demon released ! Gutted as was so hoping tomato taking it been nearly 2 years now. I just feel ‘better’ on it though.
still a stone to go to goal so back to 2.5 .
really going to struggle to get GP help re increase of progesterone in time as go away next week. still got some combined patches left.
Done around 3 weeks on spray and oral progesterone.
Do I
1.just stop the tablets spray and restart the patches I was coping on them to be honest and then no issue with progesterone but no clue when I could start the patches.
2 just carry on taking the spray and oral progesterone a few months surely can’t have that much of an effect on womb what about all these people who have been on it for few years and guidance only just come out ?
3.just continue on spray and oral progesterone until return from hols and try and get spot for when I come back.
could anyone explain re the increase unsure of the wording in guidance so increase up to 200 now if back on mj then back to 100 after 4 weeks and each time I go up a dose with mounjaro increase it back up to 200 for 4 weeks ?
Also does anyone know which is better long term ? patches ?
or spray and oral ?
sorry lots of questions