Great article Annie, thanks for sharing. I really like Dr Louise Newson, would love to go see her, wonder how much it would be. Also, I don't agree with trying a regime for 3 months if it isn't working either. In fact when I've switched hrt's and it hasn't worked I've been physically unable to do so, and I always feel sorry for the women who are advised this x
But it does take time. I don't think you should stick with it if it's making you feel absolutely crazy. But you should stick with the ones that make you just feel a bit miserable and uncomfortable because it takes 12 weeks for physiologic changes to have an effect. Perhaps I'm more patient because I am also hypothyroid and still titrating dose for that. With hypothyroidism you change dose and have to wait 6 - 8 weeks before you can test again. During that time almost everyone will feel worse for a period of time. But your body catches on and makes adjustments and things settle just in time to repeat the dratted process.
I had a Mirena for peri symptoms. I felt miserable, bloated, tired and disinterested in life and at my 3 month check up I said it wasn't working for me and I should probably have it removed. The doctor talked me into giving it longer. She said it can take up to 6 months to settle. I never went back because long before 6 months I was fine and never gave it another thought until it was time to have it removed as it had expired. I wish I'd had another put straight in, would have made all this easier.
I'm not feeling a bit out of sorts and miserable with Utrogestan at the 6 week mark, but I'm not giving in. 3 months and I'll have a blood test to see what's happening to my levels and take it from there. People might miss good fits of HRT by giving up too soon because of side effects. Forget the "couple of weeks" mantra the doctors give us. I don't think they ever mean that. But if they said it might be 6 months before you feel well none of us would go for it.
Again, I don't mean stick with it if you feel absolutely awful or crazy or anything like that.