Menopause Discussion > All things menopause
HRT--good or bad?
Hope112345:
Very very bad – both HRT and women’s health services
After undergoing pre-menopausal hysterectomy+BSO (at 46), I would have loved to have had a successful HRT regime. However, it was absolutely awful, and had I known how bad it would be I wouldn’t have agreed to the surgery. These are just some of the problems I had
Absorption problems
- rapid peaks and troughs on oestrogel (caused bad symptoms)
- patches did not provide stable levels (day 1 to 3) (caused bad symptoms)
- patch absorption temperature dependent – didn’t work properly 7 months of the year and causes daily fluctuations eg when going to/from a warm room to outside
Short Half-life (bio-identical oestrogen)
– caused inter-dose withdrawal symptoms, necessitating multiple gel doses per day and night to prevent
I didn’t get these problems with the old synthetic BCPs
Lack of consideration to individual variation when prescribing – in particular, totally inadequate oestrogen doses
Equivalences – are not actually equivalent, which matters if you’re sensitive to levels
Eg from the “Pharmacokinetic Properties” on emc
Evorel 50 – estradiol CMAX 316 pmol/L (86 pg/mL)
Evorel Conti – estradiol CMAX 121 pmol/L (33 pg/mL)
Elleste Duet Conti Tablets - estradiol CMAX 61.6 (0.4) pg/ml
Lack of transparency on steroid withdrawal symptoms –
I did a trial of HRT for the physical symptoms of low hormones several years post-op. I didn’t have any neurological symptoms pre-HRT (hot flashes, headaches, palpitations, mood swings……) but after stopping HRT I went through a horrific withdrawal lasting 3 months, way worse than after the operation and I am still suffering severe, chronic insomnia as a direct result of trying HRT.
There’s much more, but it’s long enough already.
Kathleen:
Hello Hope and welcome to the forum.
You are not alone with your disillusion about HRT. Many of us here have struggled to get back to normal while trialling different types of hormone replacement.
I was three years post meno when I decided that I had suffered enough and asked to try HRT. Unfortunately I have not had a smooth journey and I am now taking a break from my Oestrogen gel to see how I feel without it. I did a similar thing a few years ago and several symptoms returned but I'll see if that happens again this time.
There is plenty of information and support on this site for those of us who are struggling so please keep posting.
Wishing you well and take care.
K.
ChloeTibbles:
Like you I am very sensitive to hormones. Could never tolerate the pill or depo injections or the coil. I could tolerate the vaginal ring which is the lowest dose available.
I was put on HRT (eostrogel and Utrogestan) for fatigue and insomnia. Everything got worse until I was barely sleeping 2 hours a night. Couldn’t take the progesterone as it made my mood so low it was dangerous. Finally took myself off everything and sleep & mood improved IMMEDIATELY. Turns out I have post viral fatigue not perimenopause…the whole experience has made me v wary of trying HRT when the time comes though, especially reading how difficult the journey is for so many.
Booroo:
--- Quote from: Singsong on April 08, 2025, 01:15:35 PM ---
--- Quote from: Dr. Heather Currie on May 21, 2007, 08:58:59 AM ---There's so much conflicting information these days about HRT. Tell us what you think--is it good or bad? My feeling is that for most people it's good when used appropriately and reviewed but here you can have your say!
--- End quote ---
Hello!
I'm new here. I am sitting at my laptop literally shaking while typing this. - such waves of anxious, its horrible.
I started Evorel Conti Patches just short of two weeks ago after estradiol spray/gel and progesterone tablets did not work for me . My anxiety was pretty bad before, hence starting HRT. It's now so debilitating that I am considering anti-depressants.
I wonder when it's time to just throw in the towel and admit that HRT does not work for me.
I'm ever the optimist, but this really is gruelling! :(
Sorry to moan. So nice to be here :)
I would say, this is without a doubt the worse I have ever felt going through the menopause.
--- End quote ---
Just wondering if you are still taking Evorel conti and any better? I’ve tried them all just about and find nothing works for long and fed up with it all try this etc
Dawnywanderer:
My friend had said to me.'Get on the HRT and get ready for perimenopause'. So I got on the patches. The ironic thing was that I didn't have any symptoms at the beginning or during the entire time of being on it. That was 5 years ago... I'm 53 now.
2 weeks ago, I chose to come off the patches and my doctor gave me the HRT gel instead. . Still no symptoms. But when I read the inside leaflet on the gel and progesterone tablet, it said that t increases the risk of breast cancer, womb cancer..it terrified the crap out of me.... so I've a few questions to anyone out there who can advise me please:
Will natural HRT supplements be as good as medical prescribed ones?
Is there any point in taking any kind HRT if I don't have symptoms?
Thanks
Dawnywanderee
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