I was wondering if any of you gaining the weight in Peri had success with particular HRT or BHRT in losing the weight? Also do you think it was more a dip in estrogen or progesterone that caused the weight gain?

I've heard both ends that a drop in P or E can cause the weight gain. Also that P supposedly will help you lose weight if you are estrogen dominant in decreasing estrogen overload, helping thyroid hormone and water weight, but conversely that it's the pregnancy hormone which will increase appetite and can potentially convert to cortisol which will increase weight.

Then I hear other women had lost weight only when they got their E to optimal range bc the low E was storing in their fat cells to build up and hold on to as much E as possible and that E can help insulin resistance and lowering appetite by increasing serotonin, but conversely it inhibits thyroid hormone and can cause water weight gain.

So what's the deal? I know we're all different but would love to hear if anyone experienced weight loss or gain when trying hormones and which they think helped or hurt?

Yes, I went from 126 to 115. I am 5"2. It wasn't completely the hormones, but the hormones made it much easier. Brought my estradiol up to optimum, and then, importantly, I use testosterone too. Optimal doses, not just low dose for relief of symptoms. Lost the upper arm flab and the "meno-pot." My metabolism is much better. What the hormones do is improve the blood sugar insulin resistance thing that starts happening in peri, and I also, on the advice of my doctor, started eating low glycemic, less carbs. So rather than a bowl of organic cereal for breakfast, I have two boiled eggs.

wordsmith