Menopause Discussion > Alternative Therapies

Red Clover & Sage as taken off HRT

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dangermouse:
Fibroids are caused by high oestrogen so I'm not surprised that your GP doesn't want you to add in more of it.

Progesterone therapy can shrink fibroids (your gyno can advise you further) or you could have them removed. I'm terms of herbs, give them a try, as many women are helped with sage and black cohosh but do some research to check you don't choose oestrogen stimulating herbs.

runningfool:
Thanks very much!

Hurdity:
Hi runningfool

Your doctor is quite wrong to insist you stop HRT due to fibroids - depending on your precsie situation - they are  NOT  a contra-indication to HRT and you should not have been made to stop as Dotty said! Yes oestrogen can make them grwo but there are ways round this if you need h and would like to continue with HRT.

Here is the info from this website:

Fibroids   
    Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterine (womb) wall and are dependant on estrogen. They tend to shrink after the menopause but shrinkage may not occur, or they may even increase in size with HRT use. Increase is thought to occur in 25% of HRT users and mainly occurs in the first six months of therapy. There is some evidence that transdermal (patch or gel) but not tablet HRT nor tibolone may promote fibroid growth. [ref 24] Fibroid size can be monitored by regular examinations and sometimes by ultrasound scans. There is some evidence that the use of the progestogen releasing intra-uterine system, Mirena may cause fibroids to reduce in size. Mirena is often used in the perimenopause by women who have heavy periods and/or require contraception and can provide the progestogen part of their HRT.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossF

Progesterone cream won't do anything to help your symptoms - it's far too weak and not strong enough to shrink the fibroids. As you can see from the info a Mirena coil may help to shrink the fibroids and then you can also add oestrogen (patch, pill or gel) to deal with your hot flushes and sweats.

I'm also a bit confused by your saying you bled on Elleste Duet - this is supposed to happen as Dotty said - ie if you take two different types of tablet ie half the month one colour (oestrogen only) and half the month another colour (oestrogen and the progestogen), then you should have a monthly withdrawal bleed. It is only the conti type that is a no-bleed HRT - but even in this case some bleeding or spotting is normal for up to 6 months. If you had not had a period for 3 years then it is usually the conti type would be given anyway...

I wouild certainly look into this before the herbal remedies which really don't work like oestrogen does - mainly placebo effect or perhaps some of them eg Black Cohosh or red Clover have a mild oestrogenic effect.

Hurdity x

runningfool:
Thanks very much for this. Yes, I think the doc had a knee jerk reaction to my bleeding - I actually complained about his attitude anyway, as he basically made me feel it was my fault for continuing to take HRT when I was bleeding - and said I might have womb cancer. Made me feel joyful as you can imagine...

Will avoid the herbal route then - thanks - but I had an awful time when I used Mirena for birth control. Hurt like hell and had to have it removed.

Dancinggirl:
running fool - it's terrible when GPs have an attitude problem.  Do consider having a Mirena as this would give you the non bleed HRT option and you can use any amount of oestrogen as gel or patch alongside. Discuss this with the gynaecologist when you see them as it can be a no hassle alternative to HRT as pills - a Mirena will also shrink fibroids and polyps!!
DG x

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