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[pepperminty]

Hi Ladies,

just wondering how many of us feel OK on continuous combined HRT? What is your dose, how old are you, how long did it take to feel good on continuous, is not having a period better for you, your life style and your vagina? Was your experience bad- would you try again a things can change?

PeppermintyX

[Dotty]

Hi I'm on 4 pumps of Oestrogel and Utrogestan orally every day and I feel good. I was on hrt combined tablets previous to this and they didn't help me at all. Once I was on the Oestrogel at the right dose I began to see improvements within a month . By 3 months I was feeling much better and I continued to improve over the next few months.

My last period was at 50. Started hrt at 53 and I'm now 55. X

[linz57]

Hi, I'm 61 and am into my fifth year of taking continuous combined hrt. Prior to this I had one year of using only Vagifem.
I am currently using the Evorel Conti patch as my preferred choice is unavailable ( Femseven Conti). The Evorel is ok, it's controlling most of my symptoms but not as effectively as the FemSeven did.
When I first started on the patch back in 2015 I was a mess and I started to feel more like my myself within the first couple of weeks of using it. The flushes died down, I became less anxious , I had more energy and enthusiasm and my sleep improved, along with the joint pains.
I  tried leaving off the patch a couple of times, but after a few weeks I felt myself going down again, therefore I intend staying on hrt as long as I can get my doctor to prescribe it for me.
I prefer  patches as they're convenient, non messy and they don't upset my digestive system. I did try the estrogel/Utrogestan combination last year, but I found  Utrogestan made my tinnitus volume ramp up to unbearable levels.
Had my last period at 51 and struggled through to 55 before starting hrt, how I wish I had started sooner.

[Foxylady]

I started Everol 75mcg & Provera 5mg daily end June (previously Everol sequi). I feel much better generally, the first 3 weeks were amazing sleep wise, consistently great nights sleep, feeling refreshed & good amount of energy. Now not so great, bloated, crampy stomach have had x4 break through bleeds, last one 2 weeks ago. I'm planning on giving it the 3 months before re evaluating things, going to stop Flaxseed as it may be affecting my HRT/Thyroxine absorption, if no improvement will try halving the high dose Turmeric supplement as it could be that, who knows trail & error!
So generally feel good, but definate room for improvement is the short answer!
I'm 41yrs, & peri.

[Mary G]

I never thought I would be able to say this but I feel great on continuous combined HRT.

I was happy on Oestrogel/Lenzetto and testosterone with 7 days 100mg Utrogestan every 5 weeks but I suddenly hit the buffers and got to the stage where I just couldn't take Utrogestan any more, full stop.  My silent migraines suddenly got worse and I also hated having periods because they made me feel so drained.  It also became tedious having to plan around the Utrogestan phase.  I was always on borrowed time with this regime anyway so it was time for a change.

In sheer desperation and with the help of my migraine specialist, I realised I needed to achieve hormonal stability and rid myself of hormonal spikes so I sought the advice of a hormone specialist (who also works at an NHS clinic) and she was brilliant.   She immediately identified my problem of see sawing hormones/migraines (caused by cyclical HRT) and recommended one pump of Oestrogel every day, a tiny bead of testosterone every day and 50mg progesterone every day.   I also take 10mg of DHEA and pregnenolone every day.   I was horrified initially and very reluctant to even try it but she assured me the progesterone would not be the same as Utrogestan because it is half the dose and it interacts very differently because of the way it is absorbed - she was right!  She didn't want me to continue with Lenzetto (not stable enough for migraine sufferers apparently) which was a disappointment because it's a great product.   I was not convinced but with nothing to lose, I gave it a go.

That was over 11 months ago and I'm delighted to say it's working brilliantly.   I've had 3 uterine scans since I started this regime and the last one came out at 3.3mm which means this regime is working extremely well.   I'm symptom free, bleed free, no VA and yes, I feel as good as I did on oestrogen only although my oestrogen blood levels are lower at 436 pmol. 

I never thought this could be achieved and I was staring down the barrel of a hysterectomy.

So the specialist was right and I was wrong!   I wasn't progesterone intolerant at all, I was merely taking the wrong type at the wrong dose.   I always wondered why I had no history of PMS pre menopause.   

For reasons I'm not going to go into, I no longer supply details on MM of any specialists I consult.  I'm afraid this type of progesterone is not available on the NHS.

By the way, I'm 58 and about 12 years post menopause.

I hope my experience can help others with similar issues.

[shrosphirelass]

I never thought I would be able to say this but I feel great on continuous combined HRT.

I was happy on Oestrogel/Lenzetto and testosterone with 7 days 100mg Utrogestan every 5 weeks but I suddenly hit the buffers and got to the stage where I just couldn't take Utrogestan any more, full stop.  My silent migraines suddenly got worse and I also hated having periods because they made me feel so drained.  It also became tedious having to plan around the Utrogestan phase.  I was always on borrowed time with this regime anyway so it was time for a change.

In sheer desperation and with the help of my migraine specialist, I realised I needed to achieve hormonal stability and rid myself of hormonal spikes so I sought the advice of a hormone specialist (who also works at an NHS clinic) and she was brilliant.   She immediately identified my problem of see sawing hormones/migraines (caused by cyclical HRT) and recommended one pump of Oestrogel every day, a tiny bead of testosterone every day and 50mg progesterone every day.   I also take 10mg of DHEA and pregnenolone every day.   I was horrified initially and very reluctant to even try it but she assured me the progesterone would not be the same as Utrogestan because it is half the dose and it interacts very differently because of the way it is absorbed - she was right!  She didn't want me to continue with Lenzetto (not stable enough for migraine sufferers apparently) which was a disappointment because it's a great product.   I was not convinced but with nothing to lose, I gave it a go.

That was over 11 months ago and I'm delighted to say it's working brilliantly.   I've had 3 uterine scans since I started this regime and the last one came out at 3.3mm which means this regime is working extremely well.   I'm symptom free, bleed free, no VA and yes, I feel as good as I did on oestrogen only although my oestrogen blood levels are lower at 436 pmol. 

I never thought this could be achieved and I was staring down the barrel of a hysterectomy.

So the specialist was right and I was wrong!   I wasn't progesterone intolerant at all, I was merely taking the wrong type at the wrong dose.   I always wondered why I had no history of PMS pre menopause.   

For reasons I'm not going to go into, I no longer supply details on MM of any specialists I consult.  I'm afraid this type of progesterone is not available on the NHS.

By the way, I'm 58 and about 12 years post menopause.

I hope my experience can help others with similar issues.

This is really interesting. My main symptom is sinus / migraine severe headaches often accompanied by stomach issues. I'm 57 and on a sequi method and struggling at the moment so looking to find something that helps. I'll certainly ask the menopause clinic, though unfortunately my appointment isn'y until January and i'm not sure I can wait that long. What kind of progesterone do you use? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

[Tracey E]

Mary, what type of progesterone do you use, I wasn't aware there was a 50mg dose..

[NinaH]

I use 100mcg patch, utrogestan and testosterone daily. Am 47 and (with variations of oestrogen) have been on this for a few years now. I wasn't post menopausal when I started but tried it anyway and it's been great.

The spikes whilst sequi! <shudder>

I like a structure and routine and this one suits me best

[Katejo]

I am a  newcomer to HRT. I started Evorel Conti in April and was first told to only use half patches. Those made no difference at all so I later trialled full patches (as directed by the consultant). My main reasons for trying it were

1. Relieve VA. I had been on vagifem since last September and they had helped a lot but I was needing them virtually daily. I started to get some further improvement from the Evorel patches 2-3 weeks into trying full patches.

2. Prevent osteoporosis after having had a scan which showed mild osteopenia last December. I won't know the benefits until I have another scan

3. I am really hoping that it will help to reduce joint/muscle aches, particularly in my calves/feet which I have had since peri. Any feedback on that would be welcome. The consultant looked doubtful when I asked about it.

4. I am hoping that it might also help to prevent other conditions mentioned in the "Oestrogen Matters" book which first gave me the idea of trying HRT before I reach 60.

I had my last period at either 51 or 52 and I am now 56. I do find the patches easy to apply and remember. I just hope that the supply problems gets resolved or I will run out by about November/december.

[pepperminty]

Hi Ladies,

great that you have posted your experiences. There are so many that could benefit from hearing them including me! I wonder exactly how many are on continuos after 55 ish and doing well? My periods are horrible now and the thought of not having them is something of a bonus.

PMX

[linz57]

I'd like to add to my previous post that a conti regime suits me so well because I function better on continuous progesterone. Without it I am anxious and my restless legs are awful. I'm feeling a little more anxious on the Evorel Conti than I did on the FemSeven, but it's still way better than if I didn't have the progesterone ( or is it progestogen?)
Sure, during the first few weeks of starting the new patch I felt more drowsy than usual, but that soon passed and things settled again.
I'm sure I once read that progesterone acts on the same receptors in the brain as Diazepam, all I know is I'm certainly a lot calmer on the patch. With a sequi regime I would get anxiety spikes.

[pepperminty]

That is interesting Linz57,

I sleep better on the progestereone phase of my combined regime. There is a difference in feeling a bit more tired than exhausted. I wonder what if any research there is on a low dose progsterone on mood has etc. I wonder if it builds in the system or keeps at a stable level

PMX

[MicheleMaBelle]

I haven't tried it although it's been recommended that I switch to a continuous basis. I'm reluctant because I was a complete basket case on Kliovance continuous and I struggle with Utrogestan on 200mcg for 10 days. Oh, what to do? Fed up with the bleeds though. If I do switch, do any of you know when I should start taking the Utrogestan ie what part of the cycle?
Thanksx

[roseandthorn]

I felt really well on FemSeven Conti patches, before it went out of production.  Now having to take Femoston Conti, and whilst I feel better on it than a disastrous trial of FemSeven 50 and Utrogestan continuous, it's nothing like as good. I'm just trying to hang on in the hope that FemSeven Conti patches will be back in production next year. I don't want to go back to a sequi regime after several years of no bleeds.

[Tracey E]

I felt really well on FemSeven Conti patches, before it went out of production.  Now having to take Femoston Conti, and whilst I feel better on it than a disastrous trial of FemSeven 50 and Utrogestan continuous, it's nothing like as good. I'm just trying to hang on in the hope that FemSeven Conti patches will be back in production next year. I don't want to go back to a sequi regime after several years of no bleeds.

Likewise! I've tried various forms of HRT since  FemSeven went out of production. None as good I might add. By the time I find one to suit FemSeven will be back on the market. ;(