Doing much better on synthetic than bio-identical HRT

Sorry if this question has been asked before.

I have been on HRT for the past five years, now 52. The worst symptoms have been hot flushes day and night, profuse night sweats and mood swings.

I first saw a functional doctor who put me on bio-identical HRT (Oestrogel and Utrogestan). I never experienced complete relief on them. I tried adding a pump or two of Oestrogel daily and also switched from cyclical to continuous use of Utrogestan (so 100 mg daily instead of 200 mg for 12 days a month). No change in symptoms.

A gynaecologist then switched me to Femoston (2/10) and the symptoms went away. The night sweats stopped and it was such a relief. I was finally able to get a whole night´s sleep (never happened on Oestroge + Utro).

Then, I read an article about all the dangers of oral estrogen, and how progesterone always should be bio-identical, so I went back on Oestrogel and Utro hoping that this time around it would be different.

After 48 hours, all the symptoms came back. I now tell myself I should go back on Femoston and stop worrying about the risks as they seem minor anyway.

But, what I cannot understand is why Femoston is working so much better for me than bio-identical HRT? Is it possible for oral estrogen to work that much better than transdermal E, although the latter is said to be the best for us and also mimicking how nature does it? As for the difference between dydrogesterone and Utrogestan, I don´t know if the latter is weaker, or poorly absorbed, or what the problem is, I just notice that Femoston works so much better. And that applies to both the two weeks when I am on estrogen only and the two weeks I take both hormones.

I was diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism over 20 years ago and have been struggling with weight gain and weight management ever since. I have read that oral estrogen will cause weight gain whereas transdermal E will not, and also that oral E increases TBG levels that in turn will make less thyroid hormone available. The latter is not a problem as I can just add a little more thyroid hormone. But weight problems...I don´t know if it´s true that only oral E causes weight gain as I did not lose weight on Oestrogel either.

Either way, it would be interesting to know if there are other members with thyroid disease, and what your experiences with different forms of HRT have been. I would of course love to hear from anyone who did better on other forms of HRT than bio-identical HRT!

[Dollymae06]

I am exactly the same my Gp insisted to change from Femoston to body identical Oestrogel and Urogeston this has been 8 months now and I'm up to 4 pumps daily but it has not worked for me. I have started taking Femiston 2 days ago some I've got left and I have a Gp call back tomorrow if they won't prescribe Femoston I don't know what I will do. I will either have to change GP or buy them privately. Thanks for reading.