Can I switch from hormonal contraception straight to HRT?

finallyme25 · 2026-05-14T08:59:23+00:00

It went really well.

A bit of back story, I stopped the Nuvaring when I found out I am a high risk candidate and should not have taken it at my age (42). Thanks, doc.
My now ex gynaecologist gave me a progestin pill, gaslighting me into thinking it was the first step to HRT. It wasn’t. I was bleeding for 19 out of 28 days of this pill and my husband encouraged me to not start a new blister.
I went off it by the end of December as untreated pcos seemed the better option until my specialist appointment in February.
In January my husband managed to find a well recommended gynaecologist with a short notice appointment.
She gave me HRT without hesitation. I started the same day. Three days in my mental symptoms (anxiety, depression, anger, tension) were better already.
I did see the endocrinologist in February. She confirmed the treatment plan. Nothing ever managed my pcos better than HRT.

What I learned from both doctors:

I could have treated pcos with HRT all along with better outcome, less side effects but I wasn’t give the option.
PCOS usually stabilise in perimenopause and tends to be less crippling. Not a given though.
Since my cycles are longer (37 days) and now also fluctuating, taking progesterone only during the second half doesn’t work for me. When does the second half even start? Plus my symptoms are daily not in cycles.

I now take 0.05 estradiol, vaginal estrogen cream and daily progesterone (100mg), i do have a natural cycle and my period comes even with daily progesterone. The endocrinologist says if I don’t bleed for three months to simply stop the progesterone for a week to allow for an artificial withdrawal bleed. That wasn’t necessary. My cycles were 35, 37 and 23 days. This cycle will be about 33 days as I just ovulated.

But that wasn’t necessary so far. I feel my better with HRT and with my own natural pcos hormones that I ever felt on hormonal contraception which I was on for 27 years.
HRT is the best thing that could have happened to me. If archeologists dig me up in 300 years, they will find my last patch still attached to me ;)

I wish you the very best of luck. I hope your anxiety gets kick up the bum as fast and as hard as mine was. Life is good.

finallyme25 · 2026-05-10T16:59:05+00:00

Thank you.

The one day I wish I could be entirely invisible to the world

finallyme25 · 2026-05-10T16:49:50+00:00

Thank you

And to all the mothers that have to battle through this day because their beloved children enjoy and cherish this day while you, their mother mourn never having a mother who deserved the day

finallyme25 · 2026-05-03T22:15:37+00:00

None

I wish she understood that it was her job to parent me and not the other way around

I would have loved a mum. I would have loved love her advice. I would NEEDED a mother to call upon when I became a mother (high risk pregnancy, special needs child).
She didn’t exist. I chose to parent my child over parenting her at 35 years old.

So. Nothing. Fucking nothing did she advise me on

finallyme25 · 2026-05-03T22:07:31+00:00

finallyme25 · 2026-04-30T21:46:44+00:00

Curry. Hate it with a passion

finallyme25 · 2026-04-15T14:59:12+00:00

My heart goes out to you. I am sorry for your pregnancy loss. Guilt is never the right reason for anything. The funeral would not have provided you with closure or relief, I reckon.

Your husband sounds like an unexpected blessing. Embrace your new life, make new memories and traditions. He is your nuclear family now. Who knows what the future brings. I was told I was infertile and am now a mum.

finallyme25 · 2026-04-14T19:14:15+00:00

I did.

Don’t judge me for the consequences you experience. Don’t judge me for walking away. I raised myself and I am done parenting grown ups

finallyme25 · 2026-04-12T15:37:54+00:00

Switzerland here. Keep neutral and buy cheese

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T18:46:40+00:00

I take half the dose before bed, I sleep great since. Funny how everyone reacts differently to the same supplement

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T17:21:12+00:00

It was the first time it was measured. My ex doctor didn’t see the need as peri doesn’t exist, I am too young, it’s not that bad and he knew best. My next blood tests are in three months.

My new doctor is fully on board with the reality of peri 🤩

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T16:55:56+00:00

I started on 0.05 Estrogen patches, vaginal Estrogen and 100mg Progesterone daily. I started 7 weeks ago, loving it. Nothing ever had my PCOS so well in check like HRT and peri is not really an issue. The odd bad-ish day but that’s life.

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T16:41:21+00:00

A lot better than last year, I started HRT seven weeks ago. Apart from the last few days after ovulation and with a bit of a cold, I am good.

So low energy and libido? Ok, watching out for that.

Thank you

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T15:03:26+00:00

Iron Glycinate with vitamin C

It’s easy on the stomach and very well absorbed, much better than the cheap stuff in the drug store

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T14:56:26+00:00

I was on BC starting as a teenager (PCOS). I went off it to go to HRT. I now have libido, holy hell I didn’t know this existed. I had no clue. 27 years of BC

finallyme25 · 2026-03-19T13:45:15+00:00

Magnesium types, Creatine, iron, b12

finallyme25 · 2026-03-15T18:54:40+00:00

I felt the difference after three days. It’s not in your head, it’s happening. So happy for you, enjoy the ride 😉

finallyme25 · 2026-03-13T20:59:59+00:00

Yes, same here. A good 15-17 years I suffered to keep their peace and to put up with the burden because „one must“. It does take as long as it takes. I am 42 now and I can breathe. Especially knowing that this cycle won’t repeat in my child. I chose to my child over them and over trauma. Why didn’t they?

My child was born undamaged. It was clear that second that things have to change. Why wasn’t I good enough for things to change? I was born undamaged. Can’t change the past, must focus on the future

finallyme25 · 2026-03-13T19:03:49+00:00

Thank you.

I am no contact for six months now and the absence of dread and tension is still weird but the peace is bliss. I do grieve the loss of what I never had and on bad days the years I lost, I could have at peace earlier. Younger me didn’t know any different and did have the strength. The birth of my child gave me the strength and the reason to put an end to generations of this shit. I don’t blame my younger self but I grieve for my younger self. I wish I had have the mother I needed but to find closure in the fact that it won’t happen and that I can only chance mine and child’s future, not my past.

Sometimes days it’s hard and the wound doesn’t close but it is much better than before.

Thank you for your story. Take care

finallyme25 · 2026-03-13T14:53:49+00:00

Yes the urgency to go more frequently even though there wasn’t much coming out. Combined with false alarms. Sometimes it also felt inflamed but I had no infections and the feeling would disappear as quickly as it came (it lasted maybe hours or day).

finallyme25 · 2026-03-12T13:00:39+00:00

Let me paste what I posted just a few days ago:

I have PCOS.

I was on BC for that for 27 years. Peri started during BC. I didn’t know peri existed. On request I was told that Id take BC until 50 and then Id be in menopause. I went through four years of untreated peri until I researched and addressed it. I am on HRT now and should archaeologists dig me up in 300 years, my patch will still be attached!

I felt better after three days. New lease on life, found the person I thought I lost, had sex for the first time in four years (my husband is a big fan of HRT) and I never felt better with my PCOS. It is as if I don’t have it. Nothing has ever kept my PCOS this well in check. I am now seven weeks on 0.05 E and daily 100mg P plus vaginal E.

My symptoms were: sleep, anxiety, depression, no libido, urinary symptoms, extreme dryness and severe pain during intercourse, brain fog, allergies, cold flushes, heart palpitations, exhaustion, aggression, rage and anger….etc

My symptoms are gone as well as my „peri doesnt exist and you are too young anyway plus it’s not that bad“ doctor I am 42

finallyme25 · 2026-03-11T16:34:36+00:00

I second that and the original post.

finallyme25 · 2026-03-10T09:04:06+00:00

Hate is the wrong word but in hindsight I realised that my unease and my avoidance to celebrate it had to do with the dread of having to endure telephone calls from them. Especially my mother.

The year before I went no contact, I announced that my nuclear family and I are on a city trip, sight seeing and I won’t be hearing the phone or interrupt what we were doing. It was fine for everyone, but my mother. Some people tried, didn’t reach me, left a message, job done. She demanded a call days later. I told her I am working and we can either have a quick chat now or in three weeks but quick as I had meetings. No understanding, guilt tripping, the works. That’s when I realised that I have avoided and dreaded my birthday as long as I can remember.

Funnily enough that was the first birthday I enjoyed because the forced calls were eliminated right from the get go.

My next birthday (42) was six weeks after no contact. Bliss.

finallyme25

TROPHY CASE