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[emma ray]

Hello to all, I'm new to MM and have been reading your many posts that are so helpful and supportive. Am really hoping your HRT journeys, experience and expertise may be able to help me!
Now just turned 58 I can see how the whole HRT business is trial and error and possibly getting the right specialist to understand 'you' as an individual as one size certainly does not fit all.
I started on Evorel Sequi patches for about 3-4 years which seemed to work ok apart from severe migraines ( I only started getting them in Peri never had any before).I have used Sumitriptan which works but I was getting too many per month and was recommended the estrogel/utrogetsan method which I switched to last Jan/Feb 2019 - however was told to use 4 pumps which made me dizzy and totally out of sorts and the V route so bothersome for the Utro. So went back to docs and told to persevere with less estrogel but after another hopeless month was put on Evorel Conti patches.
It made me feel normal again but still not brilliant.  Did not really notice any improvement in feeling good or change to libido.
Had a small polyp removed in June and doc did discuss Mirena coil but then decided I should stick with Evorel Conti. I asked about T-gel and managed to get Testogel which I started using a teeny blob of twice a week on thigh around July 2019. I asked if I could top up with Estrogel (as you ca do so off licence and Dr Newson also stated this on her website) it was agreed. So I topped up a half to one pump of Estrogel from Sept 2019.
I then noticed that I was shedding a lot of hair around Autumn/winter 2019 - at hairdresser could see when they brushed it wet was filled with hair - not had this before ( well maybe 30yrs ago told I had PCOS and had hair loss for several months, but it went away without much treatment and after I had my son, now 21, I never had prob again)

Due to the stressful situation regarding supplies (and Covid)  I started running out of the patches and had to change back to the Estrogel/Utro 3 x pumps plus 200mg utro v route I had tried unsuccessfully last year. This time it is sort of ok but...
1. Have not had bleed despite 12 agonising days on Utro with vile headaches and PMS, poor sleep, zero libido, hair shedding really bad lucky I have thick hair ( well not now)
2. Now on month two and took 7 days of 200 utro as symptoms so bad last month.
3. Now day 5 after stopping Utro and still no bleed! But PMS symtoms

My GP has prescribed estrodot to try from next month as I am convinced its the estrogel that's causing hair loss - yet how can you work it out? I am waiting for a referral to a meno clinic but in the meantime.. I need your help ladies..
1. What is the cause of the excessive shedding of hair ( diffuse)
2. Why no bleed?

Any thoughts or similar experiences I'd be so grateful

[winnie1967]

Hi, I had my appointment at Menopause Clinic on Friday...to cut a long story short, as my symptoms aren't being helped on oestrogel, he has recommended trying Evorel 50mg patches (which apparently is the equivalent dose to 2 pumps of the gel which I'm on now).
I had been taking off my own bat, 5 night a week 100mg utrogestan vaginally...consultant has, after a lot of internet searching, said that it's ok to take it vaginally every other night continuously, or for 10 nights every month).
Does this sound ok to the ladies on here who are very knowledgeable about these things? And how do people find the evorel patches compared to the gel?
Many thanks

[violetbat]

I have been on this combination since December.
I upped to 2 doses of gel and alternates between inner thighs and upper arms but was still not getting much relief from night sweats.
I recently changed to applying the gel to the insides of my arms and that has made a big difference. Nights sweats stopped almost immediately.
I am still anxious and cranky but at least I’m not woken by the sweats( just other stuff!)

hi violetbat

I'm not sure its a good idea putting it on both arms on the inside of them.  i was told you shouldn't put it there because it could too easily be passed onto the breast which is not a good idea.


sandie x

Hi Sandie
Yes I thought about that aspect- a lot-, then I figured that I get dressed after I’ve applied it so it doesn’t touch my skin.
It has made such a difference in absorption rates I’m going to stick with it for the moment.

[Effie Taylor]

Hi everyone! My first time posting so I hope I'm doing it right! I just thought I'd ask for some advice regarding breakthrough bleeding. I'm 50, had my last period over a year ago and started on HRT in January (4 pumps of Estrogel now and nightly Utrogestan). The problem I've got is that I've had breakthrough bleeding since starting HRT. The first couple of months it felt like a proper period and now it is pretty light, often just a brown discharge and not heavy enough for a tampon or panty liner. I've booked a scan but speaking to the GP just now over the phone scared me a bit so I guess I'm after some reassurance really! Has anyone else experienced similar?

[Taz2]

Hi Effie - You are on a continuous form of HRT and this is known to cause breakthrough bleeding for the first six months but in some women this does go on for longer so try not to worry. You are right to get it checked out just to see what your womb lining is doing. What did the GP advise?

Taz x 

[Troomp]

Hello ladies,

I've recently started on estrogel (2 pumps) and utrogestan 100mg continuously. I had been on Femoston conti 1mg/5mg for 1 year - this was ok after headaches settled, but I wanted to see if I could sleep better and reduce flushes at the end of the day and also reduce medical risks.

With the gel and utro, I started dreaming more and being more restless at night (which I wasn't expecting, I thought I would sleep better), so on day 19 I changed to the vaginal route every other night to see if that would make a difference. No difference. The sleep issue seems to be getting worse - and I even managed to scream during a dream last night and wake my husband up! Also I feel bloated and like I'm just about to have a period.

I've asked for oestrogen via a patch, so that I get a more continual dose to see if that helps. I'm not sure whether to change back to oral utrogestan, although I guess I shouldn't change 2 things around the same time. And part of me thinks perhaps I should go back to the Femoston as I'm feeling pretty poo at the moment, tired and low in mood. I know I'm sensitive to progestins - dydrogesterone was better than the others, but thought the micronised progesterone would be better! Or perhaps cyclical might be best? Too many options...

Any advice would be welcomed! 

[Cassie]

Troomp, I am sure its the Utrogestand making you restless, it makes me feel so wired up and jittery and I am only able to use 100mg for 12 days a month, could never tolerate it daily as I feel really bad and bloated on it as well. Perhaps you can use it cyclically if you are able to tolerate a withdrawal bleed?

[Troomp]

Troomp, I am sure its the Utrogestand making you restless, it makes me feel so wired up and jittery and I am only able to use 100mg for 12 days a month, could never tolerate it daily as I feel really bad and bloated on it as well. Perhaps you can use it cyclically if you are able to tolerate a withdrawal bleed?

Thank you Cassie. That is certainly an option I might try. Gonna try a month now with estradot patch and utro vaginally and see whether my body gets used to it. If it's no better I will try the cyclical, but a bit worried about taking 200mg per day.

[Cassie]

I couldnt tolerate 200mg, I take 100mg 12 days per month.

[Sammiejane]

hi emma ray

with regard to you hair shedding yes it could be the gel , although u mention that in july you were prescribed testogel and sept was it u noticed hair shedding

it could be testosterone or the gel

i’m on the gel and have been shedding hair last 2 years i’ve added utrogestan thinking it was an imbalance but was still shedding then as my testosterone level was low i was advised to add in testosterone that was 6 weeks ago and yesterday i washed my hair and never seen it shed so much and even this morning brushing my brush was full of hair it’s never been this bad personally i’m not feeling that great on this regime i’ve no energy hair shedding loads weight gain emotionally drained aniexty low mood i take tostran for the testosterone one pumps alternate days so am stopping to see it hair reduces my hair works on 6-8 week cycle so any changes take effect 6-8 weeks later but i never shed any hair before starting hrt and of course worried i continue will be bold .

i’m only 41 and had hysterectomy so progesterone isn’t needed but though as mood was so up and down it would help which it has and also help my hair which it hasn’t it isn’t worse but no better but now with testosterone added it’s worse i’m so upset as like you had mega thick hair and now so thin especially sides nape of neck .

i’m just not sure if to stop regime before starting  another but then worried if i go back to just taking estrogen alone there will still be hair shedding as still an imbalance x

[Jogawne]

Hello all, I’m new to this forum and was just looking for some reassurance.
I started HRT 25 days ago. I’m 48 and not had a period for 17 maths.
I’m on 2 pumps of EstroGel and 100mgs Utrogestan.
I have got sore breasts now, which I haven’t had for months, but apart from that feel no different. Everyday is still like wading through treacle. I know I’ve not given it long yet.
And my EstroGel is the repackaged estrodose, should I make sure I get EstroGel next time?
Thanks for any advice

[Smina]

Hi. Anyone had experience with hrt patches and hot baths. Do hot baths damage the hormones in the patches?

[Hurdity]

Hi Smina

I think a hot bath would be classed as an extreme of high temperature - and the patches are not supposed to be stored above a certain temp so mayb it is inadvisable for a long hot bath? However I expect many women do have baths with patches on. I rarely have a bath these days but when I do I find the patch tends to come a bit unstuck but then I stick it down again. It depends how sensitive you are to potential hormones changes I would say? If in doubt then put a new one on after your bath!

Hurdity x

[littlebenno]

Hello everyone    I'm new to the forum and this is my first post so thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
I am 42 and perimenopausal. My symptoms in the 18 months before taking HRT had been mainly depression, crippling periods and PMT, loss in confidence, VA, brain fog and loss of libido.
I started seeing DR Sarah Ball from Newson health in April after having no help from my GP and since have been on estrogel, utrogestan and for the last 4 months androfemme.
I am intolerant to progesterone so I now take it vaginally every 3 months and have to get regular scans to monitor my uterus.
Almost all my symptoms had cleared up and I was feeling really good until about a month ago I started feeling very fatigued with increasing headachey brain fog and an almost inability to do any exercise with a short gentle dog walk leaving me exhausted.
Last week I had blood tests including iron, thyroid and my hormones I was half expecting to be told my estrogen levels were way too high to reduce my estrogel... I was talking 3 1/2 pumps.
However everything came back as normal except my estrogen is too low and testosterone a little low and have been asked to increase the dosage of estrogel gradually to 5 pumps and I'm a bit scared.
Sorry for the ramble. My question really is if anyone else had a similar experience where HRT seemed to be helping a lot then started to feel worse??
Thank you x

[sheila99]

Many people find they need to increase oestrogen as their overies produce less. Did you get a level for oestrogen when you felt OK to compare it? 5 pumps is quite a lot but maybe you don't absorb it well. Did any of you other tests come back within range but close to the bottom? Some people find they actually need a slightly higher level to feel well.