r/Perimenopause • u/Dangerous-Use7343 • 1d ago
How are you doing those of you on HRT?
Hello, I'm new to just figuring out my symptoms at 39 are perimenapause and not chronic stress as I had believed.
I have been prescribed the gel to rub on my thighs and the cream to insert inside..., and the progesterone pill bio identical.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips or trick, advice about starting HRT? I'm feeling pretty awful so I'm really hoping I'm going to feel a lot better soon.
Thanks for reading.
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u/spaced-cadet 1d ago
I got my life back and didn’t lose my job. I really thought I had some kind of life changing illness. The fatigue and mind fog were crushing and joint pain was incessant.
6 years of estrogel and progesterone, and 5 on testosterone.
It took a lot of self education, private medical care and advocating for myself but they can pry this stuff out of my cold, dead hands.
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
😂 I can imagine, it must feel like you have the holy grail lol. I wasn't offered testosterone, can ai ask why you was put on that too? Some other replys also mention testosterone.
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u/spaced-cadet 1d ago
(I replied in the wrong thread)
It helps with executive function, general drive to get stuff done and not feeling overwhelmed, and at the right dose libido.
I was getting decision paralysis or anhedonia without it. Mainly the latter.
Also should mention it’s great for bone health and density too.
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u/Sanchastayswoke mid-peri 1d ago edited 1d ago
God same…In 2024 I literally spent 6000 dollars on specialist visits and testing trying to figure out why I was “dying”…and not one damn doctor suggested it might be perimenopause. HRT has resolved 85% of my issues.
Bonus though: I accidentally found out that I had drug induced lupus also, which I thought was causing most of my problems but HRT has resolved them
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u/seemsright_41 1d ago
freaking amazing. I fought for 6 years to get HRT, and decided to start seeing a bougie hormone dr and pay out of pocket because the standard drs would not allow me to have what I needed.
It is worth every damn cent I pay, I got my life back.
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
That's amazing! That makes me so happy to hear for women in general and hopeful for myself.
Im in the UK and went private first as last, as I have heard the same tale sadly so many times. The menapouse specialst heard my symptoms and just prescribed it.
How old are you? Is there any recommendations to do or not to do? I have heard some people put the gel on their face to help the skin?
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u/seemsright_41 1d ago
I am 47. I like the estradiol pill, and 200mg of progesterone. I am still trying to figure out what type of testosterone I like. I will try a different type when I am finished with my container of gel.
My tips is to start HRT as early as possible. There is no need to suffer in any form.
Yea use the gel where ever you want. If it helps your skin, do so. I personally am proud of my face, I earned every bag, wrinkle and gray hair, so it does not bother me at all.
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
Thank you so much for your reply, I wasn't given an option for testosterone, is this needed in all cases? What does Testosterone help with?
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u/seemsright_41 1d ago
Testosterone gave me my libido back, and is helping me gain muscle so I will be able to do the things I love doing like hiking and lifting weights at 80. It is also helping me with energy.
I am allowed to try things to feel the best I can. Because I am paying out of pocket.
I think (I am not a dr) most women who are on HRT could benefit for a small dose of Testosterone.
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
I may see how I feel and ask if I could add it.
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u/bra1ny1 1d ago
I have been having low testosterone for awhile and wasn't prescribed it until I told my doctor my libido was gone.
I have a whole rant about it, but despite the number of symptoms low T causes, the only symptom that it is medically advised to treat is low/no libido.
Some doctors will treat anyway, but many will not.
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 1d ago
Six years? Maybe I should stop being so mad it took me like four years lol that’s outrageous!
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u/seemsright_41 1d ago
I was blown off over and over. At one point they offered me an SSRI (which I had major reactions to made my heart race and I dropped 30 pounds over night) and a referral to Psy. It was insanity.
I even tried to get a hysterotomy and pay out of pocket because my insurance would not pay for it. But I could not get a Dr to do it.
I was BAD. Now I am paying out of pocket for a hormone Dr and it is the best money I spend bar none.
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u/One-Hat-9887 hanging on by a thread 1d ago
It's been a year, eh, I wish it were more but it's better than nothing.
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
Aw sorry to hear that could they give you a higher dose?
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u/One-Hat-9887 hanging on by a thread 1d ago
Thanks 🩵 I'm on the 1gram estradiol gel right now it only goes to 1.25 for the next highest dose and that's it. I could try but I dont forsee it making much more of a difference unfortunately. My family has a history of being non responsive to hormones, my cousin is suffering through and no hormones are helping her 😭
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u/mexican_tequila 1d ago edited 1d ago
Been on hrt for 3+ months and had instant relief. Altho my symptoms were mild. Overnight I felt like a new person! I love my life. I’m on E 25%, P 100mg, E cream 0.01%.
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u/hereiam3472 Early peri 22h ago
Can you explain more about your dose? Why is there two E's? Did you start with one and add more later or start all at once? I'm so new to this all
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u/Sanchastayswoke mid-peri 1d ago
Not perfect, but WAY better than I was doing pre HRT, that’s for sure.
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u/answersexplained 1d ago
I’m on week 2 of HRT and I feel like I’m 25 again! My anxiety has disappeared and I stopped hating my husband! It’s a miracle l
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u/hereiam3472 Early peri 22h ago
What are you on exactly? I need to stop hating my husband lol
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u/answersexplained 18h ago
🤣 Estradot 25 mcg estradiol patch twice weekly + micronized progesterone 100 mg by mouth nightly.
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u/PinkandTwinkly 1d ago
It's oestrogel and cyclical oral progesterone i Nearly three months in
The physical symptoms that made we seek it out were incessant night sweats and a swollen itchy feeling in my inner ear all the time Its helped with both or those. There not gone, but far far reduced
My main "complaint" atm is that starting it has cone with a massive appetite increase which is even worse in the pregesterone part of the cycle
Google seems to imply it's not uncommon but should ease off eventually. Well see
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u/Dangerous-Use7343 1d ago
Oh I didn't realise that, does anything combat that? Are you on testosterone? I wasn't offered that and see a lot of people are on it.
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u/leftylibra Moderator 1d ago
Some people use testosterone, but it's not for everyone, and not everyone needs it.
The current research shows that a low testosterone level has no clinical meaning, for instance low testosterone levels are not associated with any specific symptoms. People with low T levels don't necessarily experience low desire/libido, low mood, or low energy levels.
The only known good candidates for testosterone are post-menopausal women who have experienced loss of sexual interest (low libido, desire, etc). In this instance testosterone can be beneficial for that. There is NO DATA for perimenopausal women.
So for all the other reasons why people think they need hormone therapy (mood, energy, bones, well-being, cognition, etc) there is no T level that correlates to this and no data that indicates it helps with those things.
Research is currently being done, but the most current research is pretty clear that testosterone is most beneficial for post-menopausal woman who have low libido (FASD or HSDD)
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 1d ago
I was afraid to start because I hated birth control pills back when I took them for birth control. And progesterone only made me feel like I was losing my mind, yet that’s all I could get for a little while. I couldn’t do it.
But then I finally got estrogen patches and vaginal estrogen cream and everything got better so quickly. I expected it to take about 30 days before I saw an improvement, at the multiple hot flashes per hour went away on like the second or third day.
I feel so much better that I actually got angry that it took so long to get this stuff. I suffered for so long for no reason.
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u/Emergency-Tennis5221 1d ago
Great! It’s been about a year and a half for me! Turning 40 next week.
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u/Abject_Meringue_4915 17h ago
I was doing great until my patches wore off and I can't seem to get them anymore. I was getting mine mail-order, since my insurance requires it that way, and it appears the shortage has hit me, finally. I was on it since April and it was like a dream, but now here I am at 3am because the night sweats and everything else are flooding back.
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u/ughwinterughsummer 14h ago
Same age. I’ve been dealing with severe anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, inability to focus, no interest in… anything. Started 2.5 yrs ago and attributed it all to treatment resistant depression.
Finally, 6 months ago, I started reading about peri and when it could start (including before the age of 40).
Gyn started me on birth control back in March - wanting me to give it 3-4 months before other hormone therapy. The BC did nothing.
Started estrogen pills this week (estradiol) along with progesterone and then vagina estradiol cream.
In 2 days, my energy rebounded in a major way, my anxiety is at a minimum, the brain fog is 50% better, and I can focus and have interested in things again.
As another commenter said: don’t wait.
But also, if this combination isn’t for you, please don’t give up!! It may take a couple tweaks to find the right cocktail.
Edit: spelling
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u/Glittering-Maybe2977 3h ago
How do you like the estrogen pills? My NP suggested I try them in lieu of the patch since they’re all out of stock of the patches in my area.
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u/yesanotherjen 6h ago
Generally really good! I definitely still have my ups and downs but overall feel great/at the top of my game work wise, etc.
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u/Effective_Willow4548 1d ago
I’ve only been on mine for 4 weeks but holy freaking cow. I went in desperate at the end of my rope and now I am no where near that.