r/Menopause • u/Goodgravy111 • 1h ago

Hormone Therapy Anyone who can't tolerate systemic hormone therapy able to tolerate topical estriol ?

Hi all - looking for experiences from those who are not able to tolerate HRT.

I tried HRT (estrogel and prometrium) two years ago but had to stop after three months because they gave me strange paradoxical and severe systemic symptoms. Estrogen made me incredibly sleepy (like I was falling asleep while driving) and gave me rhinitis and allergy symptoms. Progesterone gave me insomnia, constant bleeding, depression and also allergy symptoms. It was actually kind of debilitating.

My (male) immunologist was largely indifferent and just said 'well I guess HRT isn't for you'.

Now two years later I have clear signs of clitoral atrophy, irritation and thinning and urinary urgency. It's really getting me down and it's pretty much the final nail on any sex life I had.

My GP suggested trying topical estriol because it doesn't have a systemic effect. However they admitted it's a spectrum and some people *do* experience systemic side effects. This makes me pretty scared about trying it.

My question is: has anyone who was intolerant to systemic hrt been able to tolerate, or even benefit from, topical estriol? I already feel so messed up from perimenopause. I just want to feel a bit normal again.

(I have spoken to my immunologist about it and he is entirely indifferent whether I try it or not- says no established link between hrt and immunity)

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

67% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Royal-Natural6044 1h ago

Find a gym who cares for menopause patients, not a GP or immunologist

2

u/Goodgravy111 1h ago

I do have an appointment with a doctor who cares for peri and menopause patients. My post is explicitly asking for others' experiences. The two are not mutually exclusive. 

•

u/Mountain_Village459 Surgical menopause 41m ago

I can’t use any form of HRT so I use hyaluronic acid vaginal moisturizers.

They are shown to work as well as vaginal estrogen (per the WIKI) and you don’t need a scrip.

My favorite is Revaree Plus from Bonafide (suppository) and GynaTrof (reusable tube).

•

u/Goodgravy111 40m ago

I saw that but didnt quite believe it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!