HRT before the women's study...

anyone out there used or know someone else who used hormones prior to the study making drs nervous about giving progestin along with estrogen?

Im just wondering. I don't know many women who seem to do really well with just the ERT and I know about the increase in risks associated with the joint pill, but I was hoping to hear something about this.

Were women better off (as in the way they felt) when they were taking Prempro or some other form of combined pill? Could this be why so many of us have so many issues these days after hysterectomy...because they don't prescribe the joint pills any longer?

I understand progestin is not progesterone, but I'd still like to know if we felt better in general when they gave both.

I was using hormones prior to the study and I still use them now. I use estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. I am doing well, hormonally speaking. It did take me some time to find balance, had a lot of ups and downs along the way, but I didn't give up.

Keep in mind that what you will find here in the jungle is mostly those women whom are having problems. That is why they are here, seeking answers and support. Those that are doing well really don't have a need for us, although they are welcome to post.

True...I have noticed that ones who are doing well seem to post less often.

I'v often wondered why we can't just be given ordinary birth type control pills i.e 30mcg of oestrogen + progesterone. I used to feel great on those.

I have had a TAH and ovaries removed so not sure what the problem would be....?

My Gyno was adamant( no uterus no progesterone ). He told me if I was his wife or daughter he would say no . I was thankful I could get a straight answer from him it made my decision to only use estogen , we will have to see about that study , thats the one they are going to do next .Women on estrogen only who have had hysterectomy.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by louisa2 I'v often wondered why we can't just be given ordinary birth type control pills i.e 30mcg of oestrogen + progesterone. I used to feel great on those. I have had a TAH and ovaries removed so not sure what the problem would be....?

FYI, birth control pills contain progestin, not progesterone. There is a difference. And while some ladies do use the bc pill for their hrt, it is not very common as the level of estrogen in the bcp is higher than most of us need after surgical menopause.

It's really strange your Doctor would be adamant about no progesterone without a uterus, since the only given is that women with a uterus must have both oestrogen and progesterone for cancer prevention and must not use oestrogen only. We can do without it post hyster as we do not need to regulate the lining of the uterus anymore, but if we feel crappy we can certainly take it.

Hi!

I use both estrogen and progesterone as part of my hormone therapy. Not all women in surgical menopause feel the need for progesterone but some of us need it to feel balanced.

As for doctors who refuse to prescribe progesterone for someone without a uterus, I wonder how they deal with women who have had a hysterectomy but still have ovaries which of course produce estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. It isn't that we can't use progesterone post-hysterectomy--it's that it isn't needed to protect against the risk of uterine cancer with estrogen only therapy. Just because it's not needed for that doesn't mean it's not needed at all. There's information about progesterone (and lots of other good hormone reading) in this link: Hormone Jungle Articles.

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Exactly. And I just read recently that it helps with bone growth, which given that I have osteopenia in my spine now, I would think they'd want to try everything they could. I guess it's better marketing for them to give me fosamax or actonel, then to say, 'here, take this progesterone...it will help'

I don't really know if it will help or not, but was surprised that she didn't at least mention it.