Tracking your HRT: why it helps and how to do it
Short answer: keep track of which HRT you use (form, product and the dose your doctor prescribed), when you take or skip it, and how your symptoms change. After a few weeks you can see whether it works, and at your review you can show exactly what happened. Never change your dose yourself; do that with your doctor.
Why track it?
- You see whether it works. Hot flushes and sleep often improve only after a few weeks. With an overview you see the difference instead of guessing.
- You forget less. Patches changed twice a week or progesterone taken for part of the month are easy to miss.
- Your review goes better. After starting, there is usually a review after about three months and then regularly. Your own data makes that conversation concrete.
What to write down
- the form: gel, patch, tablet, spray or a mix;
- the product and the dose as prescribed;
- progesterone, if you still have a womb, and on which days;
- which days you took it and which you skipped;
- your symptoms: hot flushes per day, sleep, mood;
- any bleeding, even a little;
- side effects, like tender breasts or headaches.
Bleeding on HRT
Some irregular bleeding can happen in the first months. If it continues, is heavy or only starts later, contact your GP. Write it down so you know exactly since when.
In PERIOD.
In PERIOD. you record your HRT type and start date for free. With PERIOD. meno you can also track real regimens: gel, patches you change, cyclic progesterone or several products at once. You log doses taken or skipped, get reminders and see your HRT next to your hot flushes in the GP report. The app records what your doctor prescribed and never suggests a dose.
Sources: NICE NG23, Menopause: identification and management; NHS, Hormone replacement therapy (HRT); Thuisarts.nl (NHG), Overgang. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly does HRT help hot flushes?
Many women notice a difference within a few weeks; the full effect can take longer. An overview helps you see it.
Can I change my dose myself?
No. Always discuss changes with your doctor.
What do I bring to my HRT review?
What you use and when, your symptoms over the last weeks, any bleeding and side effects, and your questions.
Want your HRT and symptoms in one place? Download PERIOD. on the App Store or on Google Play.
