There are many documented advantages to menopausal hormone therapy (the new way of saying HRT; hormone-replacement therapy)

MHT is good for preserving cognitive function, bone mass and reducing the risk of heart disease.

This questionnaire can be helpful to see how your low hormone levels are affecting you and guide your decision to have an estradiol implant replaced. This list of symptoms is not exhaustive.

As your body adjusts to the new hormones, there can be some changes. These are expected to settle within 3 months. If they don’t settle and they are bothersome, we can adjust doses. Please be aware, hormone-implants cannot be removed.

Bleeding. This could be a brown discharge, light spotting or sometimes more like a heavy period and may come and go or last for a few weeks, but if you are experiencing it for more than three months after starting HRT, get in touch with me. You do not need to stop taking your hormones if you experience bleeding.

If you choose to have an estradiol implant, please complete this registration form for Why Aesthetics.

Breasts. Your breasts may become tender, be quite painful and more sensitive around the nipples. This can last for several weeks, but usually settles with time. Wearing a well-fitting, supportive bra can help with tenderness and pain, but it if it doesn’t settle, the dose or type of HRT may need to be changed.

Bloating. Progesterone can cause an uncomfortable, bloating feeling, but this should settle down with time.

The Blues. You might find you suffer from low mood or are more tearful in the first few weeks of HRT. This usually improves but, if it does not, we should consider changing the type of progesterone you are on.