Common Questions

Should I stop my hormone replacement while I am having my period?

The answer depends on your symptoms. Many women experience insomnia, fluid retention, irritability, or breast tenderness prior to their cycle as well as during their cycle. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms during your cycle, progesterone may help to cease the discomfort. Other patients may use their progesterone to regulate their cycles, and for them it may be necessary to stop the progesterone for a cycle.

What can I do if my nipples or my breasts are tender?

It is important to realize that these are caused by two different mechanisms. If you are experiencing nipple tenderness, lower the amount of progesterone that you are using until the tenderness resolves, as it is caused by too much progesterone. If you are experiencing breast tenderness, this is caused by too much estrogen and can be handled by either decreasing the estrogen or by increasing the amount of progesterone that you are using.

What do I do if my hot flashes or night sweats increase?

You may increase your estrogen temporarily until the symptoms resolve. Keep in mind that it may also be necessary to increase your progesterone to prevent any possible side effects (please refer to the BHRT Instruction sheet).

When will my symptoms resolve?

Patience is key. Every patient responds differently. Symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes can resolve in a matter of weeks, while low libido may take a few months to resolve. If you are being treated for thyroid, please understand that it takes seven to eight weeks to achieve maximum blood levels.

I forgot to take my progesterone for a few days, and now I am spotting/bleeding.

Not unusual. This is a very common occurrence when forgetting to use your progesterone for a few days. Your body is used to having more progesterone that stabilizes the endometrial lining. When you forget to use your progesterone for a few days it can signal the lining to shed. If you are a postmenopausal patient who begins bleeding, you should contact the clinic.

I am breaking out in acne! What can I do?

If you are taking testosterone, you may want to discontinue dosage until the acne clears. Resume again every other day. If you are on DHEA and break out in acne, you can do the same. Remember, we are replacing hormones that your body may have been missing for some time. If your skin was very dry and you were using heavy moisturizers, you may want to adjust your skin care products as well.

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