Migraines and HRT

Colleen, i think the reason is, if the cheaper versions work for some women then the government are saving money rather than dishing out the more expensive HRT to everyone. I think most women are started on the cheaper, synthetic HRT.

Hi Colleen. i think it's exactly what Maxine said. doctors try the first line treatment for many conditions largely due to money. I researched hrt alot myself before having 2  x  20min appointments with my gp to discuss it etc. i have a fab relationship with my gp & she is also a specialist in gynae/meno & very clued up. she was happy to put me on the utrogestan first time & totally understood why - that its pure not synthetic, better tolerated, & more effective than synthetic in helping with peri/meno symptoms. bingo the first regime i went on worked. I am lucky though - many ladies on here struggle with their gp's - who are often clueless about peri/meno & hrt & simply follow "nhs protocol" rather than thinking a about the individual patient. x

Hi Colleen,

Like everyone is saying, cost.

I find it really hard to believe that as it is well known horse urine types (those beginning pre eg premarin and prempac) are badly tolerated by humans. Also that these types were the ones used in the studies known to cause breast cancer, that caused the HRT scare. Yeah hard to believe that they are still allowed to use these let alone they are still the first 'go to' choice to prescribe.

Oestrogel and Utrogestan are bio identical (that is the estrogen and progesterone are the same as your own body would make).

As I understand from my own research, because it is a natural product obtained from plants it cannot be patented and the patent is only available on the delivery method (the glue on patches and the alcohol Base for the gel). Therefore less money is made all round.

I urge anyone reading this to Google information on the horse farms where basically pregnant mares are kept pregnant with uncomfortable correcting buckets strapped to them in awful conditions for most of their lives.

Due to this I threw away my doctors first offering premarin.

There are other manufactured HRTs available Tibolone (livial) for one.

If your doctor is not sure about the types of HRT ask for it directly, I did and was told by the same doctor previously prescribing premarin and livial 'oh yes those are a lot more natural'.

If this GP had my best interests at heart I would have been prescribed these two items in the first place.

You really need to educate yourselves and be armed with your facts and information. Most of all they don't seem to want to give you it unless YOU ASK.

Please feel free to pm me if you want some help pointing you in the right direction for research.

ditto 100% zigangie. great post. x

Hi Colleen,

Utrogestan is the only bio identical progesterone as far as I am aware.

It is identical to what your body would make, the others are synthetic.

It is therefore my opinion that utrogestan would be the safest form of progesterone a woman can take.