Does anyone know and take soya FREE Hrt?

I have been prescribed a combined HRT for osteoporosis as I am going through the menopause. To my disappointment, I have found that it contains soya based ingredients. As I have hashi's and don't do well when soya is eaten over time, I am reluctant to start it, but concerned about long term effects of osteoporosis as well as a few menopausal issues.

Does anyone know of any soya free Hrt products which don't interact with thyroid meds?

Thanks!

[bagpuss61]

Ive looked into this too as I react badly to even soy in creams.

I asked my doc for a soya free HRT and she said there isnt one.

So Ive resorted to buying Onas plant based estrogen and progesterone cream online. Took me a little while to get the amount right, but it seems to be doing the trick. ( I started low and gradually worked up, as i understand thats what they do with HRT )

[Hidden in reply to bagpuss61]

Thank you! What plant are these creams made of, is it Yam? Also, is it really expensive and does it work for things like vag atrophy? Also, what does your GP feel about these creams, and has it affected your thyroid levels at all? Sorry about all the questions, appreciate it.

[bagpuss61 in reply to Hidden]

Hasn't had any negative effects on my thyroid otherwise i wouldn't be using it. And yes its Yam. I don't discuss it with my GP, because they they are not educated in plant based creams. worked very well for VA, I used a very small amount directly on the outside of my vagina and it did the trick. I dont get it anymore so I use it on my arms and thighs now.

[Hidden in reply to bagpuss61]

Thanks. I see you can get it at Holland and Barratt, if you are based in the UK and familiar with that shop, do you think that would be a reputable place to get it?

[bagpuss61 in reply to Hidden]

You can only buy them from the online website onasnatural.uk/collections/...

and this one

onasnatural.uk/collections/...

[Hidden in reply to bagpuss61]

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately it's too expensive to take it long term for me as I already buy my own thyroid meds and other supplements. Thanks for your help and information, appreciate it. Nothing's straightforward in the thyroid world is it 🤔🙄😄

[bagpuss61 in reply to Hidden]

Just to note, those products last me about 6 months.

[Lovecake]

Do HRT patches contain soy? I’ve read the packet ingredients and soy is not mentioned, but this does not mean I am correct.

[Hidden in reply to Lovecake]

Yes, I think all oestrogen and progesterone is soya based unfortunately.

[TiggerMe]

I use Lenzetto spray which is body identical and made from yams .... estradiol and octisalate in ethanol

You can use Utrogestan as a pessary and avoid the stomach and liver?

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks! Is octisalate a form of Progesterone? Can you get the yam based estradiol and the octisalate on the nhs? I can't really afford any more meds and supplements as I buy my own NDT plus other things.

[TiggerMe]

No, the octisalate is an ingredient of Lenzetto "It is a colorless oily liquid with a slight floral odor" Lenzetto does smell nice, you spray it on your forearm 😉 Yes available on the NHS.

Utrogestan is the progesterone which is body identical but does contain soybean lecithin but like I say used as a pessary it could avoid the issues?

[Hidden]

Thanks 😊. Is the Lenzetto spray a good form of oestrogen? I have been prescribed it due to osteoporosis, so it would have to work in the same way as soya based oestrogen to help maintain bone density. Also, does the Lenzetto affect your thyroid levels? Sorry about all the questions, appreciate it!

[radd in reply to Hidden]

MapleMoose,

Both Oestrogel and Utrogestan are derived from yams, have identical structure to own natural hormones, and Utrogestan contains soy lecithin.

Soy lecithin has the soy proteins removed leaving only the fat, and even that is only found in minute amounts to help in the stabilising of the tablet. It is just called soy lecithin to identify it from other forms of lecithin such as sunflower or egg yolks.

Thousands of women medicating thyroid hormone replacement are taking Utrogestan without the issues related to soya. Lenzetto Spray contains the same 17β-estradiol as in Oestrogel, just in a spray form which some women prefer. 

All HRT can effect thyroid hormones through binding transporter proteins. This is why it is important to supplement only the amount required to replace, which will balance proteins/hormones. I have never had issues but some women need to increase thyroid med dose slightly.

Both are available on the NHS and you previously said you had been prescribed Oestrogel + Utrogestan.

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Thank you radd. I think I'm intolerant to soya. I ate it and drank it for years when tring out a dairy free diet and it was during that time I developed hashi's. I had no health issues prior to that. When I consume it now, I get like a swelling feeling in my throat. I don't normally, so I put it down to a soya sensitivity.

[radd in reply to Hidden]

MapleMoose,

Yes, there’s quite a lot of thought soya can instigate Hashi as has multiple interactions with thyroid function. 

If you are intolerant of soya then I guess it would be prudent to avoid the lecithin too.  Shame, I love my HRT 😊

Beware that only Utrogestan & Bijuve contain micronised progesterone. That is body-identical. Evorel Sequi & Conti contain a synthetic form of progesterone called norethisterone that is not body identical and may suit some people but give unwanted side effects to others.  

[Hidden in reply to radd]

radd,

Thanks for the helpful information about the progesterone. Someone else suggested that the pessary form of utrogestan may have less impact on the soya lecithin affecting the system.

[radd in reply to Hidden]

MapleMoose,

'Precautions:Utrogestan Vaginal 200 mg Capsules contains soya lecithin and may cause hypersensitivity reactions (urticarial and anaphylactic shock in hypersensitive patients). As there is a possible relationship between allergy to soya and allergy to peanut, patients with peanut allergy should avoid using Utrogestan Vaginal 200mg Capsules'.

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

[Hidden in reply to radd]

🤔 Interesting, and a tad disappointing... thanks for that insightful news.

[Hidden]

Hi

Estradot patches are derived from soy. Evorel are from yams. I switched from Estradot for this reason as I have Hashimoto’s. I’m honestly not that sure how much they actually impacted in my levels really. It was the pharmacist that pointed it out. I would have continued with them as I didn’t react to the adhesive, they stick nicely and are tiny. I’m not keen on the Evorel,but I seem to absorb more estrogen from them. So yes- there is HRT that isn’t derived from soy! X

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Butterfly 1942. I presume Everol is both progesterone & oestrogen? Why are you not keen on the Everol? I too have Hashi's and I am convinced soya set it all in motion years ago when I was trying a dairy free diet and consumed tons of it. I probably had a predisposition for possible thyroid issues, but I had no issues at all with my health prior intake of soya., so I 'd rather avoid it where possible. Is the Everol readily available on the nhs?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi

Yes good news is it’s readily available- I’ve checked stocks, and it’s available in Conti (no bleed post meno) but only 50mcg estrogen and I think which isn’t enough for me at the moment. It’s also available as estrogen only (I have a 100mcg patch) but you need to add the progesterone. I’m trialling provera as I struggle with utrogestan. I had a coil previously. I absorb from the patches but they leave red marks on my skin which is a bit unsightly. I’m very skin sensitive though as I didn’t notice this a few months ago when I used them. I have used gel but I find the dosing a bit uneven. I may need to go back to gel if the skin irritation gets worse but I want to give it a couple of months to settle in. If it works, small price to pay for a bit of red skin!

Yes, it makes you wonder whether the soy early on exacerbates the Hashimoto’s so good idea to avoid for the time being.

I’m very pro HRT as it changed my life- even more so than Levo! I’ve had a bit of a spike in symptoms from messing around with preparations due to the gel shortage, but am sure it’ll get back on top of symptoms eventually!

Let me know how you get on. It’s worth trialling and persevering for a few weeks. It could be the missing piece of the jigsaw x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! It's crazy, I'm really anxious about taking it, but need to take the plunge at some point for osteoporosis. All the best on your health journey 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

thank you MapleMoose. You too!

[Lovecake in reply to Hidden]

I have Evorel patches. I swap sides with each patch, which I know you would do. I find it’s best to leave the place where the patch is taken off for a couple of days, then after a shower, rub dry with a rough towel. It causes less red/irritation for me.

Some people use baby oil too. I’ll get round to trying that one of these days…😊

[Hidden in reply to Lovecake]

thank you Lovecake! I’ll give this a go