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[buffy26]

I read recently that progesterone can cause night sweats as it ramps up body temperature. I have had night sweats for a long time, trying to rule out the cause not sure if they started at the same time of starting hormone replacement. Wondering if anyone has connected this as a cause? I have been on HRT 5 years and am 63. I cannot be 100 certain if the sweats arrived at the same time, just that they are consistent and occur from 5am onwards

 

[bombsh3ll]

Progesterone does increase body temperature by less than one degree, but it doesn't usually cause night sweats.

Women who are trying to conceive often chart various changes such as body temperature, which increases in their luteal phase.

But premenopausal women don't spend the second half of every menstrual cycle sweating.

You could always omit the progesterone for a couple of weeks to rule it in or out as the culprit - this may result in withdrawal bleeding which is normal and expected.

In my opinion it is probably more likely that your estrogen is suboptimal.

[sheila99]

I would second this. It's more often associated with low oestrogen and in the 5 years since you started hrt your own production could have dropped (the ovaries continue to produce some after meno and before they die completely).

[buffy26]

thank you ladies, I sense you could both be correct. Estrogen levels for me are rarely above 200 - 300 on this high dose. I have constantly struggled to get to optimal levels. My GP cannot support more estrogen than 6 sprays of Lenzetto and advises these levels are in guidelines with NHS expectations, even if I am still suffering. I guess something is better than nothing !

[sheila99]

If you can afford it Newson or another private supplier will prescribe what you need.

[dangermouse]

Do you have all the sprays at the same time? Flushes are usually as oestrogen levels suddenly fall so you may be getting hit by it as it leaves your system.

You could have half the dose before bed - unless you already do that. In which case, ignore me!

[buffy26]

I have been private for advice, with my practice providing the prescriptions and they will not honour more. I am not sure of the costs for private prescriptions. I will look into this. Currently seeing a private surgeon for feet problems which is proving costly but necessary as waiting for the NHS for forever has caused further problems. I am grateful for the NHS but private is not something I can repeatedly do.

Dangermouse - thanks, I do all 6 sprays in the morning after a shower.

[dangermouse]

You could try splitting the dose AM and PM for a week to see if it helps. If you get it in the evening (initially) after only 3 sprays in morning that will make it clear if it’s that too.

Or you could try patches.

[buffy26]

Thank you dangermouse, I will try this. My thoughts had gone towards trying a patch, my first attempt for Hrt was a patch and it fell off regularly, with very little change in levels. However, I’ve been told since that the estrodot patch is really a lot better overall, for absorption and adhering to the skin, perhaps a mix of spray and patch could also be an option. The spray is so quick and easy!

[Abc123]

I'll caveat this with I'm not sure if I'm post menopause yet as I've been on sequential HRT I've had withdrawal bleeds. I did go 9 months without a bleed whilst on patches as I wasn't absorbing then they kicked in when I changed to gel, so I think I'm well on the way to being post menopausal.

One of the reasons I wanted to try a coil is because of the extra heat I feel when on progesterone for 2 weeks and how much it disrupts my sleep (and I didn't want to have that every night hence sequential). They weren't sweats, just hot but as I don't sleep all that well anyway, it was enough to be really annoying. When I tried it vaginally and rectally I took it much earlier in the day and that did seem to help. When I had to go back to oral I couldn't time it with eating to try earlier in the day.

How you find something that helps.

[buffy26]

Oh that’s really helpful Abc123 - I’m grateful for that share.i can have a think of some alternative ways of taking the progesterone and maybe different times of the day too. My sleep has been dire all through menopause and  everything I’ve tried to resolve it failed, apart from a small dose of amytriptiline which I take also for trapped nerve pain.

Thanks so much

[Abc123]

Oh that’s really helpful Abc123 - I’m grateful for that share.i can have a think of some alternative ways of taking the progesterone and maybe different times of the day too. My sleep has been dire all through menopause and  everything I’ve tried to resolve it failed, apart from a small dose of amytriptiline which I take also for trapped nerve pain.

Thanks so much

You're very welcome, I really hope you find some way to get some better sleep.