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[robotwars]

Hi! I’m so confused, tried numerous HRT, I’m allergic to adhesive in patches, plus GP thinks the progesterone isn’t agreeing with me as always have side effects.
I don’t want to have periods back, she suggested SSRI but I thought these were anti depressants and so worried about trying them!! Anyone else used them?

[Flossieteacake]

There is an antidepressant called venlafaxine which can help with meno related hot flashes.

Have you tried estrogen gel? That could be worth a try. Would you like to say which progesterone you have tried? I ask as your GP may not be aware of all the options. 🙂

[robotwars]

Hi! I’ve tried gel and utrogestan, evorel conti patches, I also tried HRT pill but all of them I had side effects from the progesterone and bleeding, not sure whether to try another hrt or the SSRI - I’m 58 now and had full meno for 2 years!!! I’m already on ovestin and vagifem!!! I have appointment next week with meno specialist at my doctors surgery, been waiting 6 weeks for this appointment!!! Just feeling so confused

[Flossieteacake]

It can be so hard to find the right progesterone. It could be the gel was okay for you but you reacted to the ultrogestan. It is good you have a meno specialist appointment soon. Perhaps it would help to arm yourself with all the info? This is a link which will tell you all the various HRT preparations.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatment.php

It could be worth trying the gel alone just for a week or two to see if you have any side effects. If not then you know you can take it and need to find a progesterone. For example there is cyclogest which is a pessary that could be worth a try as it can be cut so you could get used to it slowly to allow your body time to adjust to it.

It is good you are able to take Ovestin and Vagifem. I remember how much pain you were in from VA.

[Penguin]

I was 5 months on an ssri-type antidepressant before starting hrt and the ssri did very little, if anything, for the perimemopause symptoms. It helped a little with anxiety and sleep but that's all. Not enough for me to not add in hrt.

I agree with Flossieteacake, and wondering whether you could try just the gel for a couple of weeks. If you're okay with then, then experiment with progesterone, perhaps vaginally (you can use utrogestan that way) or rectally (if they'll give you cyclogest). Lots of ladies on here have said not taking oral progesterone and using another route reduces the side effects. I've only ever used it vaginally so have nothing to compare it to.

[Teresa]

I would really try and hold off from starting an SSRI if you can and try and wait to see a specialist. Like others have said, it could be be that you reacted to the Utrogestan ( wrong amounts can cause bleeding) and it might be that the patches estrogen part of your HRT was fine. You might even find a mirena coil suits you better as the progesterone is provided straight to the cervix. What other side effects did you have apart from bleeding?
Have you tried all the different patches? It might not be the adhesive but other things they use?