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Menopause Matters magazine ISSUE 81 out now. (Autumn issue, September 2025)

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Author Topic: Has anyone reacted badly to the combined or mini pill but had success with hrt?  (Read 3055 times)

Caroline77

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Hi, I have had really horrible side effects on both the mini pill and the combined pill. The mini pill triggered a 6hr panic attack and the latter triggered such an acute psychological episode that I am still having therapy to try and get 'past' it and to try and lesson the anxiety which it triggered. (It was off the scale when I took it, so after 2 weeks I stopped taking it), and am now left with crippling anxiety just before my period and for the week when I ovulate. My question is that if I reacted so badly to those hormones would I likely have the same thing happen with HRT? Im 44 and have other symptoms but do still have regular periods.

Anyone have any success?
Thanks x
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sheila99

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I couldn't find a contraceptive pill I could get on with but haven't had the same problems with hrt. My reaction wasn't as bad as yours though.
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VictoryV

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After a pregnancy from hell, awful side effects from all contraceptive pills including the Provera injection I was worried about HRT causing problems. It hasn’t so far and I’m 7 months in.
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Caroline77

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thank you @sheila99 I used to successfully take it in my twenties and thirties this reaction happened why I tried to re start it to
help my perimenopause symptoms.

Thank you both for giving me hope - did you have to try different ones? do you mind sharing what you are currently taking @VictoriaV & @sheila99?

thanks  :)
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VictoryV

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Hi Caroline, I use 4 pumps of Oestrogel and a pea sized blob of testosterone every morning. I’m changing the Utrogestan to 6 weekly but so far monthly on days 15 to 26.
I briefly tried patches, managed to mess it up so it wasn’t a proper trial, returned to gel.

Good luck.☀️
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Perinowpost

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Hi Caroline77 I couldn’t tolerate the contraceptive pill or the mini pill. I’m fine (good even) with hrt, but struggle with the progesterone part. Incidentally the mini pill is progesterone. I use evorel patches for oestrogen and use utrogestan vaginally for the minimum time safely allowed to negate the negative side effects of the progesterone.

There are lots of threads on this subject if you type it into the search box. Hope this helps x
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Caroline77

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Thank you everyone I just didn't know what to search under to find what I needed.. @perinowpost do you mind telling me what your issue Progesterone manifests itself? I did think that was more likely my problem too so I am interested to see by using utrogestan in a different way you can minimise the effect. I think its time I go back to my doctors and give something a go. @VictoriaV do you mind me asking why you are changing to 6 weekly? I am early in perimenopause and still have periods so am worried that I will be flooding my body with hormones all month when the deficiencies and problems only happen during 2 weeks. I wonder if a lower or more spread out dose could help this. Please excuse my ignorance. thanks again everyone your advice means a lot x :)
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sheila99

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I started on evorel sequi but developed an allergic reaction the the glue after a few months, now on gel/utro. No reaction to evorel but get fatigue on utro. It might be worth finding out what progestin was in the pill you had a bad reaction to and finding an hrt that uses a different sort.
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Perinowpost

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Hi Caroline77 progesterone gives me a flat mood which builds up the more I take into a type of depression (absence of joy). Interestingly as soon as I cease the prog I return to normal. I remember when I trialled the mini pill during peri these symptoms would kick in after just 2 days.

I take utrogestan (vaginally), for the minimum time which is 7 days. You do have to do let your GP know and make sure you have annual scans if you follow this route.

Peri menopause is a notoriously unsettled time as hormones begin to fall off. I remember I felt awful when it happened to me but it does get better.

The 6 week cycle is to minimise the negative side effects of progesterone and often followed by ladies who are post menopausal. I’ve tried it and although I’m post (57), my hormones are still cycling in the background and my body still prefers a 4 week cycle. If I were you at your age I would try to stick to a cycle (monthly) nearest to your own to minimise peaks and troughs x
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Caroline77

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Thats so interesting @perinowpost I think my issue is with progesterone too - it's great to know there are options.

Thank you everyone for the reassurance xx :)
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