My HRT Update: 7 Months Into HRT
What I’ve Learned, What’s Changed, and What I’d Tell You Now
Disclaimer:
What I’m sharing here is my lived experience. It’s not medical advice, and it’s certainly not one-size-fits-all. I’ve gained so much value from other women who’ve shared their journeys before me, and this is my way of passing that on.
If something here resonates, use it as a springboard, not a prescription. Do your own research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. You know your body best.
This post follows on from this one here, where I shared what it felt like in those early weeks of starting HRT/MHT.
And also this week’s post, where I shared about my comeback, I didn’t see coming.
Today, I’m sharing a live update because things are still unfolding. I’m 48 next month, and like many of you, I’m figuring this out as I go.
A friend of mine, Zoe Martin, after I asked her how her HRT journey has been, she said something that landed so deeply I had to share it:
“Better in so many ways and not in some. For me it’s clear it’s a process and one that can’t be rushed. Similar to grief.
Surrendering to the waves and anchoring into the fact that I’m 50 soon and every bit of effort I pour into me and ‘menopause’ is an investment in the rest of my life and I love that. 🤘”
Isn’t that beautiful?
That’s the energy I’m carrying into this update. It’s not just about symptom tracking or hormone tweaks; it’s about anchoring into this season with curiosity, grace, and a healthy dose of persistence.
Let’s get into it.
Back in October 2024, I started HRT. Some people like to call it MHT.
If you’ve read Lifting the Estrogen Veil, you’ll know that the Estrogel helped me feel noticeably better in those first few weeks. It wasn’t subtle. It was like I suddenly put high-definition glasses on.
But I wasn’t all the way there.
The fatigue hung on.
It had definitely improved, but it would still knock me flat. I remember waiting for a doctor’s appointment one day, and instead of sitting in the waiting room, I lay back in my car for a nap while I waited for them to ring me. That moment still sticks with me. It was deeper than tiredness; it felt cellular.
My HRT Timeline (real, messy, worth it)
October 2024 (age 47): Estrogel (2 pumps daily) + Prometrium (oral, 14 days per cycle)
December: Trialled Prometrium vaginally, nope, made my anxiety worse
January 2025: Switched to Slinda, a different form of progesterone. Much better for mood, and a game-changer for my adenomyosis and heavy bleeding
March: Added vaginal estrogen and testosterone
And that was the turning point.
Since March, my energy has been steady and consistent, not the unpredictable spikes and crashes I’d gotten used to. But maybe even more remarkably, my brain came back online.
My cognition, focus, and executive function all started improving. I could think clearly again. I could plan, start things and finish them. I didn’t dread basic admin. I felt capable, which had been missing for far too long.
I truly believe the testosterone was the missing piece for me.
It’s not often talked about unless it’s in the context of libido, but for me, it’s been about vitality, drive, and mental clarity.
Looking Back: The Signs Were All There
Like many women, I didn’t clock that perimenopause had crept in.
Unpredictable, flooding periods
Sleep patterns falling apart despite clean living
Anxiety, panic attacks, inability to manage stress, mood crashes, noise sensitivity, and random rage
Joint pain, dry skin, itching, urinary urgency and often
Brain fog so thick I thought I was losing myself
And of course, the exhaustion. Bone-deep.
Doctors offered bandaids. Antidepressants. Birth control.
I declined for years, thinking I was making the right, natural choice.
But eventually, I reached a point where I couldn’t out-supplement, out-exercise, or out-willpower it anymore.
The Scorecard Doesn’t Lie
Before starting HRT, I filled in the Australian Menopause Society Symptom Scorecard using the Modified Greene Scale. The symptoms were real and rated, 2s and 3s across the board.
My gynaeocholgiest said it was very clear I was in perimenoapuse and due to my loss of bleed which lasted 100 days) she said the end appeared near for me. That means 12 months without a bleed, then you become post menopausal.
Today? My scorecard is mostly are 0s and 1s.
I still have to manage myself well, but I have capacity now. And that changes everything.
What I’d Tell You Now
Your symptoms are real
HRT is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it can be life-changing
Testosterone isn’t just for libido; it might be what gives you your mind and motivation back
It’s okay to need help
It’s okay to try more than once
And it’s okay to demand better care
This hasn’t been linear. It hasn’t been easy. But it’s been worth it. Because I’m back in my life now, not just watching it from the sidelines.
If you’re earlier in this journey and want to read more, here are a few posts that go deeper:
Antidepressants or Estrogen? The Silent Psychological Toll of Perimenopause
There’s this weird moment a lot of us go through, but we don’t always connect the dots. We start to feel like we’re falling apart in ways we can’t explain.
Lifting the Estrogen Veil: Starting MHT and Feeling Myself Again
One week ago, I started HRT (now called Menopause Hormone Treatment or MHT), and it feels like I've been reborn.
And if you’re in the thick of it right now, hang in there.
You’re not broken. You’re not too late. You’re not imagining it.
There is a way through. And you deserve to feel like yourself again.
If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.
Or send me a message.
Robin, I’m glad you’re doing well on HRT. Your experience is exactly why I write about menopause and perimenopause from the standpoint of being a male, who due to cancer drugs that depleted my testosterone, has had the same challenging experiences as you.
Honestly, I don’t know which was worse the brain fog or the exhaustion. Just like you, my doctor never prepared me for what I was going to experience, and it was far more debilitating than I ever expected.
I cannot take HRT because of the danger of it relighting the fire of my cancer however, we’re letting my testosterone raise naturally and I’m starting to experience less fatigue and less brain fog.
You’re going to come through this in great shape with the tools you need to live your best life .
As someone who is making the decision about HRT/MHT, this post was very helpful to me!