Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Puffin12 on October 05, 2023, 12:14:46 PM
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Hello everyone, I’m new to the forum. I have got in a bit of a pickle with my HRT recently and wondered if anyone has any advice/opinions.
I started on HRT 20 months ago, took a while to work but eventually I found that 75mcg evorel patch and utrogestan 200mg for 2 weeks out of the month relieved most symptoms although still got a bit sweaty at times. I’m 51 and was still getting periods when I started on it. I then had a nurse colleague at work comment that I should be on a higher dose of progesterone seeing as I’m on such a high dose of oestrogen. After a cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age I started worrying about the oestrogen dose and also was forgetting at times to take the utrogestan at night or leaving patch on for a day or two longer than I should. I made an appointment with GP and we agreed for me to go on an oral preparation. I was keen to try the continuous regime but wanted to have femoston conti as had tried this a few years ago briefly and the progesterone suited me. The femoston conti has a low dose oestrogen of 1mg and I thought I would be having horrendous hot flushes but they weren’t too bad at all. However, within a few days I had genito urinary symptoms which was one of my problems initially. 2 weeks later I switched to Femoston sequi which has 2mg preparation of oestrogen and feel ok in myself, no night sweats, very few hot flushes but still have constant burning and itching down below and needing to wee constantly (no UTI, I’ve checked)
I just don’t know what to do for the best. I know if I go back on patch and utrogestan it will all settle but I’m just anxious about the high dose and worried I will have to stay on it forever to feel normal. Any advice would be very welcome.
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I would go back on the evorel patch with utrogestan, if it suited you before. It’s not a high dose, more medium i would say. Plus, whatever dose you take, it’s never going to equate to the amounts of oestrogen which our bodies used to produce.
Femeston is good, I tried it last year. However, I also experienced the continuous weeing and knew it wasn’t enough oestrogen for me. Went back on E75 and all was fine again.
I think guidelines have changed and if you are on a certain dose of O, then you do need the higher progesterone.
Do you use vagifem or Ovestin at all? These can be great for keeping symptoms in check down there.
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Thank you. I haven’t tried vaginal oestrogen as didn’t need it on E75. I think I know what I need to do really but just need some reassurance!