Finding the right progesterone is challenging. I had a premature menopause in my early thirties so used HRt for nearly 25 years. Over that time I tried virtually every HRT going. It is trial and error. Through my 40s I used Oestrogel daily with progesterone (I think it was dydrogesterone which is not available on its own any more!!!???) for 10 days each month - a great combo fro me fro nearly 10 years. I began to get bad stomach cramps as time went on so stopped HRT for three years - this was around the time all the scares in 2002 following that very flawed trial. Essentially I lost three years of my life. I then went to a menopause clinic which tried my on various continuous HRTs which didn't suit me - headaches, break through bleeding, cramps etc. and finally had a Mirena fitted with Oestrogel alongside and this was the best combo I'd ever had. I felt rather sleepy and spaced out for the first few months on the Mirena - it was so great to get quality sleep.
When the Mirena had to come out after 4-5 years, again I tried doing without HRT for a year!! Then tried Utrogestan with OEstrogel. Utrogestan made me feel really great (almost high) BUT I kept getting cramps and breakthrough bleeding, so when I hit 60 I thought I'd just give up on HRT.
We're all different. I believe HRT will always bring some side effects for most women BUT if the benefits outweigh the side effects then it's worth putting up with minor inconveniences.
Keep busy if you can. Eat well, get good exercise and do things that give you pleasure. Try not to overthink things. Maybe see a private gynae who specialises in HRT if you can afford it - that's what I had to do. DG x
