Help me start with HRT for peri…

[SouthernForAWeek]

I have a very supportive GP but I wondered if I post what’s going on, some wise people can give me a steer as I know nothing about it.
43 years old, two kids but all quite grown. Sterilised so no contraception.
luteal phase is awful, with anxiety and low mood, panic. Very sore boobs. Awful brain fog and lack of cognitive ability and very forgetful. Cycles irregular in length, with brown spotting from five days before period finally shows up. When it does, it’s over in a day or two.
saw GP last week who ran some standard bloods (nothing came up) so I need to go back and talk about HRT with her - what should I be asking for exactly? When I was younger I had to have very low hormone pills etc as I was very sensitive to hormones
thank you!

I’d consider the Mirena coil for progesterone, as it’s low dose and continuous. Then I’d go for gel oestrogen as it’s easier for you to control the dose.
Is the GP willing to give it to you, as you’re under the magic age of 45?

I went on HRT at 44 - hopefully they won't be too prescriptive about age!
OP you need progesterone and oestrogen - progesterone is to protect your endometrium and oestrogen is what you need to sort out the symptoms. You can ask for a mirena coil for the progesterone which is ideal but they don't have funding to fit them for HRT only contraception so you need to get round that. They are licenced for contraception for 8 years but effective for HRT for only 5. My GP doesn't do coils and the GUM clinic does them. I made the mistake of telling them my DH had a vasectomy so they refused to change mine 🙄 so now I have to have pill form progesterone until I can get the coil changed.
I also use testosterone but they don't start you on that straight away and it doesn't help everyone but you may want to try that down the line.

Thank you! Yes my GP said she is happy to treat symptoms once everything else has been checked, iron etc.

I don’t fancy a coil as I am quite prone to UTIs

So gel oestrogen and pill progesterone? Is the progesterone for the full cycle?

you take it 2 weeks out of 4