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[Flossy]

Hello

I have been prescribed Estradot and Utrogestan and haven't yet started it. One of my main symptoms is anxiety and because of this I am struggling to bring myself to start taking it as I seem to worry about everything! 

I have a lot of fibroids, some large ones, which I have had for many years and haven't caused me issues other than heavy periods (which have stopped over the last year). My main anxiety around the hrt is that is will make my fibroids grow and then they could become a problem as they are already taking up a lot of space. My doctor has said it is unlikely the hrt would make them grow as the dose is far smaller than the body naturally produces and my largest fibroid doesn't seem to have increased much in the last 5 years anyway. However whenever I think about putting a patch on my lower abdomen it just makes me feel like the estrogen will be going straight into my fibroids as it is so close to where they are located and I feel uncomfortable about doing it. I just wondered if there are any doctors here or anyone who could explain if this is the case or not. It has made me wonder would a gel that is applied to the arm be less likely to affect the fibroids, or does it makes no difference as either way the estrogen is just absorbed into the blood stream and wouldn't absorb through my abdomen and into the fibroids?

Thank you - I am in such a stuck place, where I am deliberating so much over whether to start or not!

[Dotty]

https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/fibroids-and-the-menopause/

Hi this article from Dr Louise Newson, Menopause Specialist may help you. She explains that the oestrogen in HRT is not enough to make the fibroids grow. x

[Flossy]

Thanks Dotty. I have read this and it is what my doctor said too, but I have heard of women (and on this site) who have had fibroids grow or even appear for the first time after hrt so it doesn't seem black and white, unfortunately, even if it is usually ok.

[Kathleen]

Hello Flossy and welcome to the forum.

When I was in my late forties I was experiencing heavy bleeding and needed a uterine scan. A small fibroid was discovered but no action was necessary. About six years later I began HRT and no one mentioned that the fibroid could be an issue. Some time later I required another scan and despite the HRT the fibroid had disappeared. I am sixty six now and a few months ago I had my third ever scan and yet again no fibroid even after years of HRT.

I hope my story helps you and gives you the confidence to try your HRT.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Flossy]

Hello Flossy and welcome to the forum.

When I was in my late forties I was experiencing heavy bleeding and needed a uterine scan. A small fibroid was discovered but no action was necessary. About six years later I began HRT and no one mentioned that the fibroid could be an issue. Some time later I required another scan and despite the HRT the fibroid had disappeared. I am sixty six now and a few months ago I had my third ever scan and yet again no fibroid even after years of HRT.

I hope my story helps you and gives you the confidence to try your HRT.

Wishing you well.

K.

Hi Kathleen

Thank you very much for your reply, that is good to know. Can I ask what type of hrt you have been taking? I have seen some things that suggest the transdermal types could be more likely to affect fibroids than the tablets (but I need to take transdermal as I have high blood pressure)

Many thanks again, I really appreciate your reply

[Kathleen]

Hello again Flossy

My very first HRT was a tablet but I soon moved on to patches and then gel.

 I would say that I have been using transdermal HRT about 95% of the time.
I am now using Sandrena gel and after all these years I remain fibroid free!

I hope this helps and take care.

K.

[Flossy]

Thank you Kathleen, that is good to know. It feels a bit of a catch 22 with my anxiety making me nervous to try something that might in turn actually help the anxiety if I started it!

[JoJo42]

I’ve been on hrt patches for nearly 12 years (femseven sequi, then evorel conti then evorel sequi). I had a fibroid seen on a scan a few years ago, just had another scan in the last few weeks and the fibroid has not changed at all in size.