When and How to Take Hormones for Better Results

It took me years to figure out what is now working for my body when it came to hormone replacement. I started with progesterone alone, mostly to help with sleep. For a while, that was enough. I finally slept through the night and felt like I could function again.

A few years later, I added estrogen. I now use patches and change them twice a week in the evening when I take my progesterone. I’d heard that dosing them together could improve their effect, and it seems to help me feel more balanced overall. While the estrogen gave me a noticeable boost in mood and memory, I also noticed I put on an extra seven pounds that haven’t come off since. I thought sleeping better and balancing both hormones would help, but no such luck. Still, I’ll admit I’d take the seven pounds of weight gain over the horrible hip pain and bursitis I endured for almost ten years before I finally got on estrogen HRT specifically.

I take progesterone at night because it’s calming (and easier to remember to take before bed). I’ve since learned that most experts recommend taking estrogen in the morning to align with your body’s natural rhythm. However, since patches release estrogen slowly over a few days, the time of day you apply them matters less than staying consistent with your schedule and applying them to clean, dry skin.

In addition to the patch, I use an estrogen cream three times a week. It helps with vaginal dryness, itching, and occasional headaches. The cream works locally and doesn’t raise overall hormone levels much, but it makes a difference in comfort and quality of life. You can also use the cream on your face—I’ve started doing that, though I haven’t seen any benefits yet. I’m hoping it might reduce the dark circles under my eyes.

Given that our hormone levels will continue to drop as we age, I realize this is a moving target and I’ll likely need to adjust again at some point. But almost five years post-menopause, this is where I’m currently finding some relief.

Have you experienced anything similar with HRT? Did adding estrogen change your sleep, weight, mood or joint pain? What’s working for you—or not? Please share your thoughts and experience with HRT in the comments below.

Sources for Curious Readers:

• North American Menopause Society (NAMS): menopause.org
• Cleveland Clinic – Hormone Therapy Guide: clevelandclinic.org
• Harvard Health – Timing of Estrogen Dosing: health.harvard.edu
• Mayo Clinic – Vaginal Estrogen Use: mayoclinic.org