HRT side effects

Skin patches are a common way of taking HRT, and they’re quite straightforward to use. You’ll usually apply it to your skin and after a few days replace it with another. This option can be easier for you if you’re not used to taking tablets every day and would prefer not to take them. Since you only need to replace the patch about twice a week, it’s easier to commit to it than to a daily tablet.

HRT patches are available in both oestrogen-only, and as an oestrogen and progesterone combination. And since the hormones are absorbed through your skin, you can avoid some side effects that you would get from the tablets (like indigestion) and decrease your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attacks.

The specific side effect of HRT patches is usually irritation and redness of the skin in the area where you apply the patch, but this doesn’t happen to everyone. If this happens to you, your clinician might recommend a different patch, or for you to try an alternative form of HRT.

HRT tablets are one of the most common forms of HRT. You usually only need to take one tablet a day, so many women take this route if it’s the easiest for them, especially if they have been taking birth control for a long time, and are used to the routine of having to take a tablet every day. HRT tablets are also available in oestrogen-only or combined HRT, so all you ever need is one pill.

Compared to other forms of HRT, the tablets will put you at a higher risk of developing blood clots, but the risk is very small so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it.

Some of the most common HRT tablet side effects include: digestive issues, vomiting, indigestion, and stomach pain, dizziness, headaches, low libido, and PMS symptoms. But these can often also be attributed to menopause, so you might need to assess whether you feel better with or without HRT.

HRT gel, commonly known as oestrogen gel, is becoming one of the most popular forms of HRT. To apply it, you rub it onto a small area of skin of your arm or thigh once a day. Since the substance is absorbed through the skin, the risk of developing blood clots lowers significantly compared to when you take HRT tablets.

The side effects of HRT gel can include digestive issues, swollen and tender breasts, vaginal dryness, low libido, headaches, mood changes, and dizziness. But many of these are also menopause symptoms, so it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint what’s exactly causing these.

Some people have suggested that HRT gel will make you gain weight, but there’s no evidence that suggests that it does. Weight gain is, however, one of the symptoms of menopause, so the belief might stem from there.

HRT gel is oestrogen-only, so unless you’ve had a hysterectomy you’ll need to take progesterone separately as well – otherwise it can increase your risk of developing cancer.

The implant is a slow-release pellet that’s placed just under your skin. The biggest pro of the implant is that it lasts for a long time, and you don’t need to remember to take a tablet, change a patch, or apply any gel. This is perfect if you don’t want to worry about regularly taking or applying your treatment.

Shortly after having the implant inserted, there are a few risks to take into account. Your body might reject the implant, and if that happens, the pellet will find its way out of your skin. This is rare, but if it happens you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Aside from that, you might experience some pain and bruising in the area for a few days after the procedure.

HRT implants are oestrogen-only, so you’ll need to take progesterone separately if you need to use combined HRT.