Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: rgmk1201 on February 05, 2025, 09:44:39 AM
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I've just been prescribed Evorel Sequi patches and I put on the first patch on monday very reluctantly. I am so scared using them though and just want to take it off. I have read the leaflet and scared myself to death! Stroke, blood clots, breast cancer! All of them mentioned and I was just wanting them to make me feel better 😪
I'm only 46 and according to my GP and my fsh levels of 90 am near menopause so I already feel old and horrid. My symptoms are fatigue, mood swings, insomnia, depression and the most crippling anxiety. I just feel a complete wreck. But the possible side affects are making me feel 100 times more anxious. I've had all my bloods checked abd have probably been in peeimenopaise for at least 3 years.
Please tell me your positive stories because all I see is negatives right now!
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The information leaflet for HRT is based on horse urine derived estrogen tablets and medroxyprogesterone given to old, sick, overweight women many years from menopause. Many of them smoked and had high blood pressure, diabetes and other risk factors.
Even then, with the absolute worst type of HRT they had NO increased mortality from any condition, and substantially reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures which are no joke and which NEVER gets mentioned, and a statistically significant reduction in colon cancer.
Instead of scaring yourself silly with outdated and medically inaccurate material, I don't want to make you feel worse but you really should weigh whatever concerns you have about hormones to the very real risks of untreated early menopause.
Whilst the official definition of early menopause is periods ceasing before 45, this is arbitrary, and at 46 with a FSH of 90 it is unlikely that you had healthy ovarian function one or two years ago, so if that were me at 46 I would manage it as early menopause.
Also if you are really keen to take the absolute lowest risk option, transdermal estrogen combined with micronised progesterone would be the treatment of choice, however any difference in real world risk with transdermal norethisterone is absolutely marginal and if you have other reasons for preferring the combi patch this is absolutely fine.
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Thank you for your reply. It makes a lot of sense. You are right about me likely being classed as early menopause, I have only had 2 periods since November 2023! So yep, ovarian function has pretty much diminished. My mum has had 2 blood clots previously (though they are thought to be provoked rather than genetic based) not sure if thats why the GP put me on the patches alone (I understand transdermal has the lowest risk of blood clots?) Though I do think I will consider Ustrogen at my 3 month review as like you mentioned I do think it's the safest combination.
I've not torn the patch off yet and will try to persevere! xx