this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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So most contraception is a combo of oestrogen and progesterone (but there's also oestrogen only and progesterone only). Oestrogen is also the main hormone used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, but you have to have progesterone on top of that to protect you from womb cancer (if you still have a womb).
Interestingly I struggled all my adult life trying to find hormonal contraception that didn't make my emotions out of control and spiral into destructive depression, and I gave up in the end. It happened again on my first go on HRT. After getting some professional advice I discovered that that's a known effect of the type of progesterone used in the most widely prescribed (ie cheapest) contraception and HRT. As soon as I was switched onto the micronised bio-identical progesterone it was like a dream, I felt normal. Not one doctor in all those years of trying different forms of contraception mentioned it could be the progesterone - maybe they didn't know? There definitely seems to be a scary lack of understanding about hormones that's for sure.
Testosterone in the UK isn't widely prescribed, on the NHS you can only get it through a specialist clinic, or you have to go private like I did (it cost me ยฃ185 for the appointment, and ยฃ90 for the prescription for 6 months).
The hormone doses that are prescribed in HRT are not the same amount as our natural levels have dropped by, really the 'R' in HRT is misleading as what is prescribed doesn't replace what we've lost, it just gives a little top up to lessen the symptoms.