Never had ANY belly fat until menopause. After being on HRT for almost a year, eating clean and exercising 5 days a week, still no improvement. Searching desperately for help, which brought me here.
Yes, absolutely! But, it didn't happen by itself. In addition to eating clean and excercising, lifting weights and increasing protein intake has been transformational. Anyone interested, should look into body recomping (recomposition) losing bodyfat, while building back lost muscle, will reset your metabolism.
Yes, HRT helped me lose weight effortlessly. I really didn't need to do anything. When I was getting 1mg Estrogen patch I went down from 192 lbs in January to 155lbs now (September). But they have reduced my Estrogen drastically to 0.25mg because of endometriosis. Can the IUD stop bleeding even if I am back to 1mg of Estrogen?
I’m not sure why everyone talks about hot flashes only when there’s a mirage of problems associated with menopause like struggling to breathe and chronic anxiety attacks
I know!! There are so MANY symptoms with menopause & perimenopause that are horrible & dangerous. Like tachycardia, blood pressure changes, thyroid issue, memory, cognitive decline, heart rate, cardiovascular issues in general, breathing, etc. Everyone wants to only talk about hot flashes & weight gain. 🤦♀️
Yes, this! I expected hot flashes, which I had, but they paled in comparison to all of the other horrible symptoms I was experiencing throughout my body and mind. What a terrible surprise. I had no idea these things were coming. I started on Estradiol patches a couple of months ago and the change is miraculous. 80% of my symptoms went away. Now I just need to add a little bit of testosterone and I think I will feel like myself again. It infuriates me that the medical profession is so unhelpful with this major issue that 50% of the population will face.
I used to get hot flashes at work and I used to want to jump out of my skin with embarrassment thinking my face is pink everyone can see it grrrrrr. I think the hot flashes made me have anxiety. The entire thing just sucks!!!
Alcohol!!! It wasn’t until I got very honest about my alcohol use and seriously cutting back was I able to really get ahead of my menopausal belly fat! We can NOT handle the wine cocktails and beer like we did in our youth!!😢
That is so true. I have all but stopped drinking and it’s made such a great impact in my overall health. It’s been psychologically strange not to connect social times to drinks but it’s been about 2 years (this also started at 45 years old for me) and I feel really proud of myself for not indulging in that unhealthy coping skill to deal with my stressors and problem.
WOW!! This is so good, One of the best videos I’ve seen on the topic. I wish you could do a seminar and educate other doctors who have absolutely no knowledge on the subject or refer back to an old study that is not relevant. THANK YOU 🙌❤️ additionally I think intermittent fasting a few times a week gives your body a chance to reset and helps the gut/ digestion.
I am 5 feet tall I all of a sudden started crazy periods. Gained weight 🤪 night sweats. Was horrible I started at 36 years old... yeah 36.... I started prometrium and wow. Night and day I went from 114 pounds down to 102 pounds. I changed my diet less sugar less carbs. Sex was not painful started to have great sex again. My life has changed. Lots of excersise. I feel great.
So you just take the 100 mg Prometrium and no estrogen? I gained 3 pounds on both..so upset I stopped both, because that was the reason I started hrt..to lose weight. Do you think just the Prometrium would help?
Almost 8 months post op abdominal Hysterectomy rt side ovary had to go too. 1 ovary left. 45 yrs old. I eat very good and consistent. I workout 3-5 days a week. Combination of strength, cardio and Hiit. Feel like I have been struggling with the crazy 10lbs I gained very fast after surgery. Wondering if I need to consider hormone therapy bio identical??? Thank you for your information. Glad I found your channel.
This is an excellent, quality video that perfectly describes everything I’ve gone through with perimenopause symptoms (some severe) and how HRT has turned my life around. It’s actually given me my life back and I feel so much better about everything and I am grateful. Thank you Dr. Hirsch!
I’m glad you’re getting the word out. So many doctors still look at that old study from 2002 and are afraid of HRT. That study had a lot of flaws. Plus it was almost 20 years ago. Women shouldn’t have to suffer.
New subbie. I just started Climara yesterday. I had a hysterectomy in December. After the surgery I started gaining weight slowly. I was not eating much at all. I'm not sure what is going on. I wanted to know if Climara will help with losing weight?
@triciafrank8582 week 3 and I gained 5 pounds but working on this. The first few days I felt AMAZING but now I don't notice much other than bloating which I hope resolves by the 3 month mark as some say. Libido is much much better. My Husband loves this lol. Oh and sleeping is easy. Falling asleep faster than I ever have. Mood feels better too. So all in all a win I think. Thanks for asking.
@denise3432 bloat goes away for sure. I did get migrains for awhile but they went away by taking coenzyme Q10. At about the 5 month mark all my menopause symptoms came back. Have now upped my dose. First few days lots of bloat again and tears but day 7 feeling great.
Dr. Hirsch, is there an optimal dose for systematic estrogen therapy to provide long term benefits such as sleep, osteoporosis, reduced risk of cardiac problems/Alzheimers/diff cancer/etc? Does even the min dose of 0,0375 mg of estradiol?
Im on the Climara patches for almost 2 years which helped tremendously. But now im gaining belly fat which i never had. Do I need testerone too? Its definately not water retention. Im wondering too if theres supposed to be bllos work to show the levels we are supposed to take??
Surgical menopause at age 48. Bye uterus, cervix, and ovaries. On estradiol for 1mg by mouth for ten years then .5 for 2 yrs then nothing at all. At 62 I don’t have any hot flashes, fatigue, or sleep problems. In fact I get 7-10 hours every single night. Through a great deal of focus, journaling, and effort I have lost 45 pounds in the past two yrs. Struggle every day to exercise (walk). You are very helpful and encouraging! My only worry with no HRT is my sagging face ha ha ha! Surely lack of estrogen hasn’t helped! Thank God for Retin A and sunscreen
Hi Thanks for sharing this video. My reg doc wouldn't prescribe HT and started gaining in my belly. Another doc prescribed progesterone (even though I do not have a uterus) only...a year and a half later I have gained 25lbs(went to weight clinic & used food diary...still gained), recently diagnosed with insulin resistance and of course my belly is bigger than ever. I'm very depressed about this. I already have swelling in my legs(wear stockings & use leg pumps) but I don't have ovaries due to partial hysterectomy so is estrogen is a good option. This is getting out of hand but no one seems to want to listen; I'm worried about what visceral fat is doing more than potential issues from estrogen. Thanks again for this video!:)
You definitely need estrogen & probably not the progesterone. Also, have a full thyroid panel completed to check T4, free T4, T3, free T3, TSH, thyroid antibodies, etc. Most women who go through menopause whether naturally or via surgery induced develop thyroid issues & unfortunately go undiagnosed due to poor medical management. Doctors know this but still do not test patients as a regular part of a check up or in blood work. It's medical malpractice in my opinion.
Would it be possible for you to create a video that talks about peri menopause and links to migraines please. My migraines and peri menopause symptoms have increased so much lately and it’s really impacted upon my quality of life. Thank you.
I have not had a period in over a year but when I go to the hospital with the right side pain, they tell me that I am still bleeding although I haven’t bled in over a year I’m not sure what doctor to go to. I went to an OB/GYN and they didn’t mention it, nor have I heard anything sense, I am confused to as to what type of doctor I need to go to. I live in Michigan. I am 48 years old. I just don’t understand the right sided pain but at this point I’m willing to try anything I still get the hot sweats, and the chills, which is a little strange, at this point, I am ready to go to an HRT specialist but I’m not sure if that’s right considering it the right sided pain and the hospital telling me that I’m still bleeding. I’m not even sure if they did hormone checking or not in my belly in two weeks went from normal to six times the size is very, very confusing and very scary. Any ideas would be helpful. Thank you.
We know that for women who take estrogen after hysterectomy that there are mostly benefits in health from doing so. Would recommend she talk to her provider right away!
When no uterus left to absorb (hysterectomy) the HRT is useless . Been through it before and after. Don’t be fooled. Estroidal patches and premiering cream only thing that will keep chronic yeast and bacterial infections post menopause away. Boric acid if occasional beginning of those symptoms works best. All other symptoms nothing and o mean nothing works. You’re life is changed forever. I became suicidal exactly 6 mos after hysterectomy and still on hrt. Stopped hrt. Waste. Taking several antidepressants and antipsychotics per day to keep me not wanting to kill myself. All other bad symptoms of menopause deal with on daily basis. Was perfectly emotionally and physically healthy prior. I’m a totally different person. Nothing and I mean nothing helps. And you will immediately begin to age. Quickly. Very sad. No one talks about this . Especially prior to surgery. Alone . Forget sex. Can’t remember shit. Arthritis and thyroid again exactly 6 mos after surgery when hormones completely dissapear. The people who say these things actually work are people who still have their uterus. Have fun being fat forever.
I have a question. I’m on progesterone 100 mg and estradiol 0.05mg but my hormones symptom are still there like; bloating, skin sensitivity, lack of sleep..). I called my dr. To increase my estradiol but my dr. Was out of town and the sub Dr. Told me I should increase my progesterone to 200mg and I said no and I said I’ll wait until my dr. back in town. What do you think I should. Thank you for all you do. Btw, I never had any problems to fall sleep and slept all the way in the morning. I do understand if I take estradiol I have to take progesterone.
I'm 48 & hot flashes have started & on top of that I have cold flashes,anyone else?? Omg I didn't know it's a thing! Holly it's weird how I start shivering early morning. Anyways I'm gonna see a hormone specialist in August & I will definitely start HRT😊
@@melissajones9652 right! It's crazy..I did see a hormone specialist & now I'm on estrogel. Only 2 pumps on my arm & omg...what a relief. No more hot or cold flashes & I sleep through the night 😁😁 HRT is a blessing
These are good points, im trying to write an article on this right now but am not finding any good studies on the direct action of any hormone supplement on weight. Do you have any suggestions for studies on this?
Thank you! Do you know where to find a professional who can take a look at my numbers and give advise about it? I live in The Netherlands and don’t know where to go.
When women are greater than 10 years from hormone therapy you can still use it I prefer to use a transdermal option at this point like a patch or a gel in it does depend on your medical history so you need to see a doctor for further guidance
Can u please be more scientific? By hrt do u mean Estrogen cream, Prog pills? Testosterone lozenges? Test patches? Pellets vs cream and pills?What is the blood level Estrogen do we want to have? Whats ideal test levels for menopausal women?
This is my Big Question too!!! Please talk about the amount of estrogen and is it the patch? I'm taking .075 a week. Is that enough? I weigh116 lbs and love a couple sodas or more a day. Just started in Oct2023.
If you have a total blood testosterone of less than 10 ng/dL as a menopausal woman, you will not have a good time keeping the weight off. I know that HRT doctors dont think testosterone is important but if you just look at young healthy women... they often have testosterone levels of 30 ng/dL or more. The HRT doctors who have the best results with happy and not very anxious patients....they start with bioidentical progesterone and Testosterone before addressing any extra need for estradiol. The reason for this success is that women convert testosterone to estradiol levels that the body wants. And progesterone is needed in hormone regulation of at least 6 other hormones including cortisol and thyroid hormone. It is a flat out lie that is presented by many doctors that progesterone is only needed if you have your uterus. I am a man and I take 80 mg of progesterone cream a day and I know I dont have a uterus😂 But progesterone helps men too in many ways. Combating stress and too much cortisol is a main one Get the 2 hormones that crater 80% during menopause which are progesterone and testosterone....then in many cases, estradiol may not even be needed as women will get it from adequate testosterone blood levels
@@mymayapapaya Testosterone preparations can only come from prescription. The govt reats it as a schedule 3 drug like morphine or other opioids. The government tracks the amounts prescribed and it has to be prescribed unless you buy it on black market. You will have to go to a hormone clinic like DEFY MEDICAL ( clinic that I use). The hormone clinics need blood work and a drs physical and a consult on your health and condition before you can get a testosterone prescription. Some like creams but I think injectable testosterone is best.
Estring is a great option it’s only going to work locally to help with vaginal atrophy symptoms. Now there is a systemic ring called the Femring which is a another option - yet this is systemic hormone therapy.
Very informative vedio . I am taking estrogel from 2 month .my dr find high bp .my bp is just fine before . should I wait and watch my bp or start taking medication.can I take HRT and bp madicine together and my haemoglobin is 14.2 .my gynae consider it clotting factor . what is your opinion
Hi Ashu, hard to give direct medical advice. As a menopause doctor, when my patients have high blood pressure ideally it should be controlled with medication, and a patch is a good option. A clotting risk for me is a history of an unprovoked blood clot.
I’m seeing a menopause specialist on Monday at women and infants hosp. Unfortunately, you don’t take my RI health insurance so I had to cancel. I’m 56 and been suffering for 3 years with major symptoms. My gym was reluctant to try HRT due to my mom having triple negative breast cancer 3 years ago. However, after watching just about all of your videos and podcast, I definitely want to start HRT ASAP. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and valuable information with us. You are amazing and congratulations on your beautiful little boy! 💙
Read the book Estrogen Matters. It's all about hormones and one author is a breast cancer oncologist. You can have mammograms and monitor the breasts. Heart disease and osteoporosis will kill more women than treatable breast cancer
Karen, I’m 57 and am seeing a menopause specialist through NAMS at the end of this month. I’m post menopausal five years now and still don’t have great sleep, I’m fatigued, etc. How was your visit? Did you go on HRT??
@@crh251 I started HRT 4/19/21 . I’m on estradiol weekly patch and progesterone 100mg at night. It was the best decision I made for my overall health. Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, palpitations, fog brain all gone . I was sleeping maybe 3-4hrs of broken sleep a night for the past 5 years. I’m now averaging 6-7hr of sleep. More energy, more exercising and I just feel so much better. Our bodies need estrogen. I wish you the best.
It was my understanding that Micronized progesterone in Prometrium 100-200mg orally per night acted like a diuretic and does not cause water retention. Is that accurate?
@@heatherhirschMD It is so confusing. I don't know if I just need to give it more time or if I just can't handle any oral Micronized or Synthetic Progesterone.
Is there a minimum age when to start hormone therapy? I’m 37 and I’m already starting to have symptoms. Also, I still have my period, if I will have hormone therapy- am I still able to get pregnant once I’m ready?
I started prometrium at 36 I was having crazy periods gained weight. Horrible night sweats my family had a not so happy mommy and wife. Since starting I feel like a new woman.... lost the belly weight sex is awesome no more night sweats. You should definitely talk to your doctor
Nemy James Good lord girl! If you’re considering having a child you better get on it! The longer you wait the less likely you are to be fertile and to have a healthy child. I had my last baby of four at 34 and the doctor checked for Down’s syndrome and other scary issues because he said I was an “older mother” and therefore high risk.
@@shelahogletree7711 34 is not an "older mother." You're doctor was wrong. Sure, you should check your baby as you get older because of the chance of issues and complications but closer to 40 and over is really when you need to worry. More women are having babies in their 30s these days and it's just fine. Thinking a 34 year old is an "older mom" is an outdated mindset of older generations.
@@cold_spring_ranch how you doing ? Did you have anxiety and depression? What type are you using? Im 40 but looking back started symptoms at 36 still struggling badly but on week 3 of hrt patches
