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[Ljp]

I know I'm even more paranoid than usual following recent press re lease on the safety of HRT.
But I am concerned that having been on HRT for 8 months, oestrogel and mirena, that I am still having tender breasts, not yo the point that they are enlarged and painful all the time, but if I get knocked, I am aware of soreness, the kind I used to feel prior to menopause.

Any thoughts?

[Mary G]

Ljp, I had swollen, enlarged, painful breasts all the time when I had the Mirena coil.  Back in 1998 when I had the first one fitted for contraception purposes at the Family Planning Clinic, I asked the doctor who fitted it if it would cause breast pain and she said 'no' but I'm afraid it did.  The only time it went away was in 2005 when it had probably expired (I now know why I felt so good that year) and it disappeared very suddenly once I stopped producing my own hormones in 2006 about a year after I had the second Mirena fitted. 

I am not a very good example because I am severely intolerant to all forms of synthetic progesterone but I don't think breast pain is anything to worry about, some women just get it as a side effect when using synthetic progesterone.  Although most of the progesterone in the Mirena is confined to the womb, some gets out into your overall system.

Try not to worry about this latest scare, it is being blown up out of all proportion and this so-called study hasn't thrown up anything that we didn't already know.  The risks are very small. 

[Ljp]

Thank you Mary, good to know it's not just me, but worrying if it is the progestogen as that's the dangerous one isn't it? Seeing as how women who have oestrigen only HRT carry no extra risk of breast cancer.

[Dancinggirl]

LJP - I'm not sure whether women using a Mirena were in this study - after all many women use the Mirena for contraception for many, many years and then well into post meno.  The fact that so little progesterone is absorbed systemically, and it's clearly the progesterone that brings this very small extra risk of BC, I believe the Mirena must be a safer option for HRT anyway.  Oestrogen will plump up the breast a bit but the tenderness you are feeling is probably still the body adjusting and settling.  Dg x

[Ljp]

Thank you DG, you always come along to help try and calm my crazy mind! Much appreciated.
Wish they gave us more info on what the women were using and lifestyles etc

[Tinkerbell]

I had a mirena fitted in April and started Oestrogen at the same time and I have had breast tenderness the whole time, reminds me of early pregnancy and the run up to a period. 
I switched to Oestrogel a week ago and even on two pumps my nipples are very tender.
Oh well, if it sorts the VA out I will put up with it as that is worse!

[Ljp]

Hi Tinkerbell, you are I the same as me, I use two pumps oestrogel too. Sometimes my boobs are more tender than others, it's weird but I do feel I'm still a bit cyclical just in how I feel, mood etc

I just have to decide whether to continue on HRT or whether to comee off it, seeing my GP on 7th Sept

[Tinkerbell]

Why do you want to come off the HRT, is it not helping your symptoms?

[Ljp]

Scared of recent reports, and terrified of breast cancer

[Tinkerbell]

I am sorry you are so worried.

I decided I can't live with my symptoms...VA that effects every part of my life severly and topical oestrogen is not enough on its own, so for me I will continue with it and am not going to worry about latest report.
I am determined to try and get some weight off though as that increases BC risk, drink very little alcohol anyway.

[Ljp]

My first experience of any HRT was estradiol cream for vaginal use, I was suffering burning during intimacy, and bladder issues, frequency, urgency etc.
After six months I had a post meno bleed, which resulted in a hysteroscopy to get checked out. The gynaecologist said my cervix was closed, and said I was 'too young' for that, (51)
She recommended the mirena to protect my uterus lining and suggest estring for continuous vaginal oestrigen, and said to use either a patch or gel too, and that risks outweigh benefits until at least the age of 60.

It has helped my anxiety, hot flushes and mood swings, and general feeling of well being, I feel more like me again.

The estring helped with soreness and bladder improved initially, but recently it's been bad again, I know stress can aggravate it, but it was beyond a joke some days over 15 visits to the loo.
So I am now taking vesicare which has really improved bladder, and I've been three weeks with no estring, and no soreness in that area, so that's all good.

I suppose I am now thinking as my bladder issue is so much better, could I try coming off HRT I am worried all the horrific anxiety might return, and mood swings etc, plus not sure if it's just the vesicare helping bladder or combination of that and oestrogel.

I feel worried to stay on HRT but equally worried to come off. It's so difficult to decide what's best and what's beneficial and what's risky.

It's sending my stress levels sky high at the moment.

I hasten to add, I'm fit, I teach dance fitness class, 9 hours a week, I eat healthy (occasional treats and meals out) I dont drink on a regular basis, but do like a few drinks if I'm out for a night. My bmi is 22

It's just the roller coaster of one minute feeling at ease on HRT, then feeling
 scared on it,just don know what to do 😟😟😟

[Dancinggirl]

I'm afraid it is highly likely that VA and bladder problems will emerge again if you stop the systemic HRT - none of the local hormones treatments are as good.
I am just about coping without full HRT (remember I'm 60) with a very careful regime of vaginal moisturisers and gels, Vagifem at least 3 times a week plus being very careful with my fluid intake.  I get up on average 3 times a night these days - don't think this will ever improve. 
If you don't mind going back to the way you were before, then have the Mirena removed and continue with the Estring to see how you cope but you are still young and the benefits of what you are using now may well set you up well for the longer term.  Why not do a list of the meno symptoms and bladder problems you had before the Mirena was fitted and added in the Oestrogel, then list the benefits you are feeling now - feeling anxious about the small risk of BC and slightly tender boobs may seem minor when you look at the alternative but the benefits of HRT do have to outweigh the side effects. It's often not till you stop HRT that reality hits and life becomes more of a struggle.
Dg x

[Ljp]

Thank you DG, I do feel a lot better on HRT than I felt before, my life feels much more level, if that makes sense.
My bladder issue is much improved since the introduction of vesicare.

Tender breast issue is very strange, it seems to come and go, like today nothing, not even a twinge, it's almost like cyclical how I used to be when I had periods, in that I get two weeks of tenderness and two weeks not.
How is that even possible!?

[Tinkerbell]

Mine is the same no tender boobs some days other days just a towel against them makes me jump.
I can cope with that though as long as my more distressing symptoms are sorted.

[Dancinggirl]

I have always found the sore boob thing fluctuated.  Do enjoy feeling generally good on HRT - the time may come when you do stop HRT, the symptoms may not be as bad by then but live in the here and now -  quality of life is terribly important.
DG x