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[Briony]

Someone just forwarded me this article which I wanted to share with you.  It gave me lots to think about and confirms that nausea can be a symptom (GP was adamant there was no connection!). Apologies if someone has already put it on here,  B  x

http://www.bcmj.org/article/clearing-confusion-about-perimenopause

[Machair]

An excellent article- thank you so much for posting this. I think it highlights a very important point that oestrogen levels are erratic and often higher in perimenopause, and that symptoms are not always corrected just by giving oestrogen replacement.

[Liz]

Very interesting - but makes me question my need for oestrogen?? (Being peri, I mean).  As someone who is experiencing heavy spotting and two periods over the past month, it does make me worry that using this HRT isn't necessary..... especially as I went on it to regulate my cycle/bleeding.

[Dancinggirl]

The peri stage is very tough - your own hormones will fluctuate and knowing when you need to top these hormones up with oestrogen is difficult to gage. I had a premature meno and when I was put of Oestrogel which allowed me to use a very low dose this seemed to work very well through my peri stage.  When I was put on higher doses of the pill form of HRT I always felt it was too much. When I got to my mid 40s I could definitely feel my hormones had really dropped and because I hadn't increased my oestrogel dosage I started to get VA.  Ideally an annual blood test of oestrogen levels would help us.  There may come a time when GPs will be given little kits to measure oestrogen easily so the appropriate oestrogen is given.
DG x

[Briony]

On the basis of comments posted on here and this article, I think I may swap from patches to gel where at least I have a bit more control over things. I am now a month into patches and have noticed acne, which I've not had since my teens (now 42), has appeared again. I feel so vain saying this, but it has really knocked me. It's really lumpy and painful too . It did start a bit before I began HRT, so I think it's the fluctuations rather than the patches themselves that are causing problems?

[Hurdity]

Hi Briony

What sort of patches are you on? Some of the progestogens are more "androgenic" ie have similar effect to testosterone and can cause acne and hair loss. The types are listed here at the beginning:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Also some women get a different sort of acne as menopause approaches due to oestrogen deficiency - sometimes called menopausal acne - sort of hot sometimes itchy red lumpy spots on the face - I had this, but they didn't have spot "heads" as such. It disappeared once I began HRT, started to retunr when i stopped for 3 months a few years ago, and then disappeared never to return.

You might be better off changing the progestogen.

Hurdity x

[Liz]

I had spots appear when I originally tried Prempak - I haven't had them since using the Utrogestan.  What progesterone are you on, Briony?

[Briony]

Hurdity, you've described the spots exactly! They are more like lumps than spots, with no head and throb. I am taking Ultrogestan, but only started last night so can't be that. Had the skin issues for a few months before HRT, but this month - first on Evorel 50 - they are worst than ever. Can't decide if it's too much or too little estrogen? Fatigue has suddenly struck again this week too (had hoped it would decrease with the HRT, though maybe I am being impatient as it's only week 4!) .