Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[carleajam]

I'm 51 and started on elleste duet last year. I was having irregular periods and night sweats which were manageable but the main reason I went to the GP was due to my lack of sex drive and I'd heard HRT can increase your sex drive. I took HRT for 3 months and apart from getting rid of my night sweats it didnt really have any effect on my sex drive so I decided to stop taking it. Over the course of the next few months after coming off it I started having horrendous hot flushes and night sweats so at this point wished I had never come off it. I eventually went back to the GP who put me back on it and again it has cured my hot flushes and night sweats but I am on month 3 and now it has started affecting my moods. I have felt low on the white pills and now I am on the green I feel awful. I am tearful getting irritated at the slightest thing and it is causing horrible arguments between me and my husband plus my sex drive is zero. I am almost tempted to come off it again. I get the feeling there is no easy cure. It helps with some symptoms and then makes other symptoms worse and I feel no month is the same. Any suggestions?

[Roadrunner]

Morning!

You don't say whether you're on the 1mg or 2mg dose.

I would say either try upping your oestrogen if you're on 1mg, or try a different HRT.

I had a few false starts. I didn't get on with Elleste Duet at all - made me head-achey.

RR xx

[jaycee]

If you are not having periods now, [could have read it wrong] try Tibilone to revive your sex drive,but you have to have had no periods for at least a year to go on it,

[sheila99]

You could ask for a different hrt if this one doesn't agree with you. For some women oestrogen will improve their sex drive but it didn't for me. Mine improved with testosterone but you will probably need to be stable on HRT first then see a meno specialist before you can get it prescribed. My libido has gone from zero to low, it certainly hasn't turned the clock back.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM carleajam - I would try a different HRT type.  Improving sex drive is often down to a variety of strategies.  Menopause symptoms alone can reduce the libido anyway(lack fo sleep, hot flushes and feeling generally low don't help) and once you on an HRT that suits you, you will be sleeping better, getting more exercise etc and you may find the libido improves in time.  Feeling attractive and desirable is terribly important so do be kind to yourself and treat yourself to things you enjoy.  Your partner can also help by being a little more sensitive and supportive. 
Getting Testosterone without seeing a specialist will be pretty difficult as it isn't standard treatment yet(GPs would be reluctant to offer this) but perhaps try Femoston 1/10 sequential HRT to see if this suits you better - it has a kinder progesterone. See find HRT patches work better for libido as well.

Do look under TREATMENTS on this site - print these off so you can show them to the GP for proper discussion. DG x

[Perinowpost]

As the others have said Carleajam try a different hrt. I couldn't get on with elleste (I found it the worst one) and I've tried them all.  There are much more effective hrt's out there, especially the patches and gels. Good luck and let us know how you get on x

[carleajam]

Thanks all for advice.  I've been back doctors and he has now prescribed Novofem so will give this a go.  Anyone had any experience of this drug?

[Perinowpost]

I've never heard of that one. What I would say is if you don't like it, do your research on here and go back and ask for what you want x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi carlajam - Novofem has the same progesterone as Elleste - so is likely to give you that same problems.  I would phone the GP practise and ask for a telephone consultation - point out that you think the doctor has prescribed the wrong HRT as it contains the same progesterone as the one that didn't suit you.   Ask for Femoston 1/10 to start with and see if this HRT suits you.  There are lots to try and it is often trial and error.  Sadly GPs are rarely up to speed on treating the menopause and know little about the various HRT types - we have to do our own research and ask the GP for what we need.

DG x

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hello Carleajam

Dancing girl has made some good points. Sounds like you are not getting on with the progesterone prescribed ( derived from testosterone and notorious for side effects in women who seem sensitive to it )
Her suggestion to try Femosten is a good starting point but you really need to give each HRT regime 3 months to see how you get on with it. I'd ditch your current regime though and give the Femosten a chance. You might feel worse before you feel better though so be prepared for that. Hope your partner is understanding x