I've been on continuous HRT - Utrogestan 100mg, 2 pumps of oestrogel daily and 1 vagirux tablet twice weekly since October 2022. I'm 45.
I recently switched from oral to vaginal Utrogestan due to depressed mood but that definitely doesn't suit me so I switched back after 11 days. I started to experience endometriosis type pain. I was diagnosed with this recently before I started the HRT and I suspect it started in perimenopause when I still was making lots of oestrogen but no progesterone. So the systemic progesterone is key for me to keep it in check.
Since starting HRT, I feel that my mood is even lower than before. I had a non-existent libido previously and now I feel its even worse. I think the HRT has definitely helped with improving energy but my muscles still get achy and tired. My skin is drier than before and has definitely thinned. My boobs are definitely bigger as are my hips which I don't like. Sometimes I get some twinging in my boobs which I've never had before. I'm trying to do yoga but struggling with strength and stamina. My muscle mass is definitely on the low side. I'm now noticing cracking knees and some pain if I do too much and I don't want to end up with osteoarthritis or something. My knee issues initially started about 8 years ago. Stopped me from exercising which made me very sad.
I really don't want to add more things to my regime, but can people share their experiences with testosterone, I understand it comes in a gel? How can I get this? Will I need to see a private gynae?
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I went to the Newson clinic (you can do online). They will prescribe testosterone and do much better follow up with everything. The downside is that it's pricey but I figure it's worth it to get it smoothly running in the beginning and then eventually move to yearly consultations when sorted out.
Hi, yes I'm using testosterone (tostran gel). It's available on NHS for low libido, but how easily you can get it depends on your GP and your local formulary guidance. There is a cream formulation for women that is only available privately and expensive, but on the NHS you would use a gel formulated for men at a low dose.
My GP was happy to support me using it, but didn't want to go against my local formulary guidance- which said specialist initiation. So I saw a private menopause specialist but my GP surgery did the blood tests for me. I requested to be prescribed the gel so my GP surgery could take over the prescribing once I was up and running.
My experience is that for dry skin and aching joints, increasing my dose of oestrogen helped the most. I need a higher dose now than I did a couple of years ago (four pumps vs three).
For me, the effects of more oestrogen were very clear and for the testosterone it was more subtle.
Testosterone has made a big difference to my libido and sexual function. I would also say my muscle mass, energy, mood, concentration and enjoyment of exercise have improved as well.
I've also been careful to eat enough before and after exercise, focused on getting a high protein, wholefood, plant based diet and returned to weight training, after a few years of feeling like it didn't work for me any more (I was feeling depressed, like I'd been overtraining after only a little exercise).
It's hard to pick apart what effects are from taking hormones and what is lifestyle, but my feeling is that they are connected to each other. I had fallen into a negative spiral and getting on the right dose of HRT for me was key to getting back into a positive spiral.
I would say, get in touch with whoever is best on menopause at your GP surgery, at mine we have an excellent nurse practitioner. Even if you decide you need to see someone privately it's best if your GP can support you and is kept in the loop.
Thank you. I really appreciate your response. Interesting to hear how oestrogen helped your dry skin and joints too. I also have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism so that must be affecting my skin and joints too. Now I’ve noticed that Besins Healthcare have changed the design of their Oestrogel. Not sure if it’s a coincidence but my symptoms have gotten worse since I started this new style bottle. It appears that less product is coming out of the bottle now. Ofcourse I can’t be absolutely certain but it seems so. I’m experimenting with 3 pumps but not sure thats a good idea.
I've had all sorts of oestrogel packaging over the last three years, including french bottles with other labels stuck on top and more recently a different shaped bottle. I find that dispenser a bit harder to use but I honestly think it's all the same, my symptoms are up and down, but I put that down to my own fluctuations. I'm feeling a lot more even now on four pumps. My menopause nurse is happy for me to use four pumps (or more if I need it). I think it's worth being in touch with your GP to check you have the right dose of progesterone to protect your uterus, and waiting patiently for a couple of months after changing the dose to feel the full effect, but other than that, why not take enough to really get on top of your symptoms? The maximum licenced dose is four pumps, so you're not doing anything crazy. I hope it works out for you. x
If I did a blood test what would be a safe level of oestradiol? How do you know if you're taking too much? I'm on 100mg of Utrogestan, would they really advise more than that?
I have a mirena rather than taking Utrogestan, so I don't know what doses are prescribed. On the BMS website there is a prescribing guide that mentions what the side effects of too much oestrogen would be
The best place I have found for really detailed information is Daine Danzebrinks series of videos (interviews with chairs of British Menopause Society)
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