Getting a prescription is only half of it. Getting HRT right is the other half, and it is the part that often gets missed. If you are on HRT and still not feeling like yourself, you are not alone, and it does not mean HRT has failed you. It usually means something needs reviewing.
Why HRT sometimes isn't working
- •It hasn't had long enough. HRT can take around three months to settle before you judge it.
- •The dose may be too low for you. Absorption varies a lot from person to person.
- •The type or route may not suit you. Patches, gels, sprays and tablets are absorbed differently.
- •The balance may need adjusting, including the progesterone part or adding testosterone where appropriate.
- •Some symptoms may have another cause worth checking, such as thyroid or iron levels.
The common thread is that many women are started on one dose and then never reviewed. Without a follow-up, you are left guessing whether it is the dose, the type, or something else.
What a proper HRT review looks like
- •A structured review of your symptoms since starting, not just 'how are you getting on?'.
- •Consideration of dose, type and route, and whether an adjustment is warranted.
- •Blood tests where they add value, for example checking testosterone levels or absorption.
- •A clear plan and a follow-up, rather than a single appointment and silence.
How Solene fits
Solene is a nurse-led menopause service. A nurse prescriber working through a CQC-registered practice can review your HRT, adjust the dose or type where appropriate, and keep following up until it is actually working, with no GP referral and no waiting list. That ongoing management, rather than a one-off prescription, is the point.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Any change to your HRT is a decision to make with a qualified prescriber who knows your history.
On HRT but still not right?
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