HRT — when did you feel relief and from what?

[Anonymous]

If you’re on HRT, can you share how old you are and were when you started, what symptoms you had and how it is going?

I just started (patch and prog. pills). I’m 46, (was?) still getting fairly regular periods but I have been having hot flashes for the past 5-6 months. I also have urinary urgency, plantar fasciitis, low energy, waking up at night due to night sweats, hair thinning, and so on. I’m a normal weight and was only briefly on the BCP in my 20s so I am hoping my risk of cancer won’t be too much higher than baseline.

Would love to hear how long it took for your symptoms to improve and also anything else you’re willing to share!

Should I still expect to get periods? Anything else I should be prepared for?

[Anonymous]

I started at 46 with vaginal estrogen for recurrent UTIs and urinary urgency/frequency. It took about 4 months to notice improvement, mostly being able to go a full night without getting up to pee. I added transdermal estradiol and oral progesterone at 47. My hot flashes went away immediately. I started sleeping better once my progesterone dose was increased about 2 months in. I’ve noticed my mind is a little sharper too. My hair thinning had not improved at all. I still get periods—HRT will not affect your periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started at 46 with vaginal estrogen for recurrent UTIs and urinary urgency/frequency. It took about 4 months to notice improvement, mostly being able to go a full night without getting up to pee. I added transdermal estradiol and oral progesterone at 47. My hot flashes went away immediately. I started sleeping better once my progesterone dose was increased about 2 months in. I’ve noticed my mind is a little sharper too. My hair thinning had not improved at all. I still get periods—HRT will not affect your periods.

Thank you! That is so helpful!

I am considering oral minoxidil for hair thinning but was going to wait to see if HRT helped. This makes me think I should explore it sooner.

So glad to hear you are sleeping better!

[Anonymous]

I entered peri with hot flashes at around 48 or so. They were really bad by 50 and I brought it up to my doctor who tested my hormones and said "Yeah, your hormones indicate you are post menopausal." She offered no help at all, certainly not HRT. The hot flashes got better for a while, then at 53 got really bad again. Sweating horribly at night, I needed a fan right next to the bed. I carried a little battery operated fan around with me in public, lol. I saw my new pcp, who happens to have a general interest in women's health and a particular interest in menopause, and she immediately suggested HRT (estradiol patches and progesterone). I've been on it since this past spring and the hot flashing is 98% gone, the yeast infection I had on the skin in my groin because it was always wet there because of the sweating from the hot flashing is under control, and I can suddenly sleep at night. I didn't know the trouble sleeping was part of the hormonal changes. What an incredible relief that has been.

Like I said, peri symptoms started in late 40s. I was officially in menopause after having my last period right when I turned 52. Went on HRT spring of being 53. Now 54 and feeling soooo much better. I think I felt improvement within a week or two, if not right away.

I went on HRT about a year after my last period, so I can't speak to how HRT affects periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I entered peri with hot flashes at around 48 or so. They were really bad by 50 and I brought it up to my doctor who tested my hormones and said "Yeah, your hormones indicate you are post menopausal." She offered no help at all, certainly not HRT. The hot flashes got better for a while, then at 53 got really bad again. Sweating horribly at night, I needed a fan right next to the bed. I carried a little battery operated fan around with me in public, lol. I saw my new pcp, who happens to have a general interest in women's health and a particular interest in menopause, and she immediately suggested HRT (estradiol patches and progesterone). I've been on it since this past spring and the hot flashing is 98% gone, the yeast infection I had on the skin in my groin because it was always wet there because of the sweating from the hot flashing is under control, and I can suddenly sleep at night. I didn't know the trouble sleeping was part of the hormonal changes. What an incredible relief that has been.

Like I said, peri symptoms started in late 40s. I was officially in menopause after having my last period right when I turned 52. Went on HRT spring of being 53. Now 54 and feeling soooo much better. I think I felt improvement within a week or two, if not right away.

I went on HRT about a year after my last period, so I can't speak to how HRT affects periods.

Wow, sorry to hear about your first doctor. Mine (GWU MFA) was the opposite, said my hormones were normal but based on symptoms I qualified for HRT. I held off for months hoping the hot flashes would go away until they were coming multiple times an hour.

Glad you are feeling a lot better at 54! I feel so much worse at 46 than I did at 44 that it’s hard to imagine feeling good again in 10 years (or hopefully sooner).

[Anonymous]

I’m 54 and just started HRT (patch and oral progesterone) about 3 weeks ago. Almost immediately I was able to sleep again. Hallelujah! It’s not perfect but I actually feel tired a few hours after taking the progesterone and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can drift back off to sleep. I’m still having night sweats but they aren’t as severe. Perhaps this will improve over time. I feel a little more clear-headed, which could be the hormones or the fact that I’m sleeping well for the first time in 2 years.

After not having a period for 2 months, I started a fairly light period today. That surprised me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 54 and just started HRT (patch and oral progesterone) about 3 weeks ago. Almost immediately I was able to sleep again. Hallelujah! It’s not perfect but I actually feel tired a few hours after taking the progesterone and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can drift back off to sleep. I’m still having night sweats but they aren’t as severe. Perhaps this will improve over time. I feel a little more clear-headed, which could be the hormones or the fact that I’m sleeping well for the first time in 2 years.

After not having a period for 2 months, I started a fairly light period today. That surprised me.

Thanks, OP here, I’m a bit envious your own hormones carried you through to age 54!

By way of an update, I stuck the estrogen patch on two nights ago and have taken two progesterone pills and I already feel a little better overall (still having hot flashes but they seem a bit less frequent and milder, and my heel pain seems to be letting up which is a minor miracle).

I remember being briefly (3-4 years?) on the BCP in my 20s and gaining weight on it, and my libido (usually high) being tempered. Hoping to avoid those two effects.

Is anyone taking DHEA or testosterone as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 54 and just started HRT (patch and oral progesterone) about 3 weeks ago. Almost immediately I was able to sleep again. Hallelujah! It’s not perfect but I actually feel tired a few hours after taking the progesterone and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can drift back off to sleep. I’m still having night sweats but they aren’t as severe. Perhaps this will improve over time. I feel a little more clear-headed, which could be the hormones or the fact that I’m sleeping well for the first time in 2 years.

After not having a period for 2 months, I started a fairly light period today. That surprised me.

Thanks, OP here, I’m a bit envious your own hormones carried you through to age 54!

By way of an update, I stuck the estrogen patch on two nights ago and have taken two progesterone pills and I already feel a little better overall (still having hot flashes but they seem a bit less frequent and milder, and my heel pain seems to be letting up which is a minor miracle).

I remember being briefly (3-4 years?) on the BCP in my 20s and gaining weight on it, and my libido (usually high) being tempered. Hoping to avoid those two effects.

Is anyone taking DHEA or testosterone as well?

I don’t think you can really compare birth control in your 20s to HRT in your 40s. HRT is replacing hormones that are no longer active in your body, where in your 20s you were piling on more hormones to different things.

BC is also a lot higher hormone dose than HRT. It’s really no comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 54 and just started HRT (patch and oral progesterone) about 3 weeks ago. Almost immediately I was able to sleep again. Hallelujah! It’s not perfect but I actually feel tired a few hours after taking the progesterone and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can drift back off to sleep. I’m still having night sweats but they aren’t as severe. Perhaps this will improve over time. I feel a little more clear-headed, which could be the hormones or the fact that I’m sleeping well for the first time in 2 years.

After not having a period for 2 months, I started a fairly light period today. That surprised me.

Thanks, OP here, I’m a bit envious your own hormones carried you through to age 54!

By way of an update, I stuck the estrogen patch on two nights ago and have taken two progesterone pills and I already feel a little better overall (still having hot flashes but they seem a bit less frequent and milder, and my heel pain seems to be letting up which is a minor miracle).

I remember being briefly (3-4 years?) on the BCP in my 20s and gaining weight on it, and my libido (usually high) being tempered. Hoping to avoid those two effects.

Is anyone taking DHEA or testosterone as well?

I don’t think you can really compare birth control in your 20s to HRT in your 40s. HRT is replacing hormones that are no longer active in your body, where in your 20s you were piling on more hormones to different things.

BC is also a lot higher hormone dose than HRT. It’s really no comparison.

Sorry should say 2 different things