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I have been on bioidentical hormone therapy for 1yr. last month i strated bleeding and havent stopped. The doctor I'm working with seems to worry more about his plastic surgery practice then my bleeding problems. I take 200 mg progesterone every night.

By October 27, 2011 - 4:44pm
 
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Anonymous

Pellet HRT saved my life and my marriage. It sounds like some of you are not following a full program. I have my blood monitored prior to insertion, and then every 6 weeks. I take progesterone and DIM supplement to make sure that it is metabolized correctly. So far I haven't had any bleeding and my menopause symptoms have disappeared completely. My anxiety is under control for the first time in years and my energy levels and mood are back to normal. I am taking ADK supplements and my thyroid is being monitored as well. I have had some facial hair growth but I can live with having some laser hair removal if it means that I don't feel like I'm going crazy and actually have intimacy with my husband again.

January 9, 2020 - 6:23pm

So much to say, but I had great luck with compounded progesterones---although they are expensive because of the compounding---but especially in that form,progesterone has a very sedating and soothing action---I actually could go off one blood pressure medication because the vasodilating qualities of the progesterone made my bp go down. We are still experimenting with a number of possible delivery methods because I am still having hot flashes which make me extremely sick and unable to function. It really takes a doctor who is a hormone expert and who is willing to listen to you and work with you

November 2, 2011 - 12:33am

Why is a plastic surgeon working with you on bioidentical hormones. You don't say how old you are. I suppose the bleeding depends a lot on your age and if you have gone through menopause and why you are taking hormones. Are you only taking 200 mg progesterone and that is it? I won't go into my whole story, but I am now working with an m.d. who is a hormone specialist and is trained in naturopathic medicine and sees the whole person. I would think you need to talk to a different doctor besides a plastic surgeon. Or maybe I am not understand the whole story.

October 27, 2011 - 4:50pm
(reply to AlettaS)

I am 52, been completely through memopause for five years. There are two docs in this group and this certain doc was/is a plastic surgeon. I am using the pellets. I had an insertion last week and told the nurse of my bleeding. The doc came in and did the insertion. I asked him about the bleeding and he said "oh it's an estrogen thing" but he didn't offer any other ideas. I went to my obgyn who does not do the pellets and his advise was to take 200 mg progesterone for 12 days each month. will have a normal period as if I were on the pill. he also said if the bleeding does not subside he wants to give me synthetic estrogen (which I've never been able to take) to balance me out--it defeats the purpose of trying to go natural. I live in Cincinnati ohio and we have three HRC places here. I wonder if I should switch.

October 27, 2011 - 5:12pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Beclynn)

Hi. You should never ever be on hormone replacement therapy without taking progesterone at night every night. Estrogen, even bioidentical, can cause estrogen induced breast cancer which progesterone prevents. Do not allow your doctor to just insert pellets without testing your hormone levels one month prior to insertion to check levels half way between treatments which should be every three months....
Inserting pellets with hormones into your body is a serious procedure. You cannot leave it in the hands of a plastic surgeon who brushes off your concerns. You must get a consultation with a doctor who specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Google such a doctor in your area. Chances are there will be one associated with BodyLogic, for example, which is a nationwide group of doctors who specialize ONLY in bioidentical hormones.
Keep in mind that hormones can kill you if they’re not monitored properly. Don’t leave your life in the hands of a plastic surgeon. He is not being ethical at all. If I were you, I would stay away.
The bleading occurs when you have excess estrogen in your body, and you should consult a OBGYN to test your uterine cells, just in case there are mutations already forming. This is very serious. It’s actually a matter of life or death. You don’t want to just have pellets inserted into you without it being closely monitored. Be careful.

February 4, 2019 - 2:26am
(reply to Beclynn)

Hi Beclynn,

Very often, when a woman has just been started on HRT or in your case, Bioidentical hormones, bleeding can be common. However, it is important that your doctor rules out any possibilities. If you had just started bioidentical hormones, then this is likely the reason why your doctor simply said "It's an Estrogen thing". However, now that you have gone to your second doctor who prescribed Progesterone, please make sure you provide this information with the surgeon who does your insertions.

While bleeding is most commonly related to the shifting in hormones, if you truly feel like you would like further testing to rule-out hyperplasia of the uterus, you are your own advocate and you can certainly ask for further testing to be done.

Here's a list of our menopause groups-- browse through them you may find one of more of them to be helpful: https://www.empowher.com/condition/menopause/groups

Good Luck,
Rosa

October 28, 2011 - 1:46am
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