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[EleventhAngel]

Hello everyone. I've just recently joined after reading all of your posts in fascination, thank you all for sharing your experiences, good and bad.

I am 44 and started HRT Everol Sequi patches. I have just started my 2nd week of the progesterone patches and the depression is debilitating, the period pains and have just started a full on period.

Does this sound correct? I haven't cried since I started on serrealine 5 years ago and now I can't seem to stop. I feel like I have gone back to being 15 years old with horrendous PMS and wild adolescent hormones

I want to pull the patch off and forget all about HRT. Should I see it through? Does it get better??

Thank you ladies (hug)

[CLKD]

Morning.   

Many find that they suffer on the progesterone part of the HRT 

Which symptom would you like to ease first?

[bombsh3ll]

The progestin in the patch, norethisterone, is known for its negative effects on mood.

And it won't get rid of your periods or any associated symptoms such as pain or PMS.

There are better ways to manage perimenopause - I take a combined pill continuously and don't bleed at all or have any hormonal ups and downs.

If you don't want or can't take the pill, a suppressive progestin such as desogestrel 150mcg or slynd 4mg taken every day can also get rid of your menstrual cycle, and then you would take your estrogen of choice on top, either pill patch or gel, in a dose that suits you.

Micronised progesterone is another option that some feel is more tolerable, however it is not strong enough to suppress your own cycle and often leads to chaotic bleeding if started prematurely.

There is also the mirena IUS which doesn't shut down your own hormonal fluctuations but can stop bleeding and avoids you having to take a systemic progestogen. Again you have the option of any type of estrogen with this.

You have so many choices, don't feel like you only have one and the only option is to give up if it doesn't suit.

[EleventhAngel]

Thanks for replying.

I am very confused about HRT, the doctors don't really give you much info other than the risks but what I really want to know are things like ...  does it take over my own natural hormone (im)balance or does it compliment it? And when do I know to stop the HRT? And is it going to make my uterus more hospitable for sperm to get comfy!

As you have alluded to, bombsh3ll, there are suppressive options and less suppressive, I had no idea!

I think I will learn more on this forum than any doctor can tell me.

I am susceptible to depression and this seems to have knocked me sideways. It seems to have happened so quickly which makes me question if I should give it a few months to settle or if actually this is not the correct type/dose for me.

I can't spend two weeks out of every month in this state, that just isn't going to work for me or my poor cat! 

I appreciate your comments and support, I'll go back to the doctors and see if they can do something else for me. I have avoided the pill just because I tried several when I was much younger and ended up in this state everytime. But perhaps that is something that'd work better for me now.

[CLKD]

It is suggested that women take HRT for 3 months to 'give it a chance '  but if you are being disabled or made worse then do U really require replacement?

Do U need sperm to get comfy ?

Depending on what periods have been doing HRT may complement to keep levels even = less symptoms.  If  periods have already begun to fluctuate a woman may feel different reactions. 

Do U already take medication to ease depression, how have U managed it over the years and is it cyclical?

[bombsh3ll]

Just to be clear, if you are still hoping to conceive and in need of HRT for symptoms the appropriate hormone therapy would be estradiol (pill patch or gel) with cyclical micronised progesterone.

NOT synthetic progestin or anything licenced as birth control.

Standard menopause hormone therapy (such as the patch you are on) will not shut your own cycle, it is additive on top of any hormones you are producing yourself.

Perimenopause however can often be better managed by shutting down the cycle and adding back a stable low dose of estrogen eg with combined hormonal contraception.

Regarding when to stop HRT - there's no reason to ever stop as long as the benefits for you as an individual outweigh the very small theoretical risks. Personally I'll stop when I'm dead!