Question 66
Dear Doctor N,
I want to continue on the hrt but do not want to gain weight. I am in shape, go to the gym all the time, have tried prempro gained weight with this and then estrab .625 with protreium 100mg, didn't like that either so I was going to try orthoprefest its estorgen all the time and with progesterone every other 3 days off then 3 days on but then thought maybe the patch would be better. I have read so much and now not sure where to go please help.
Reply:
I would opt for the patch and use the Prometrium for 10-12 days a month. The bottom line is oral estrogen stimulates the liver to abnormally increase its production of SHGB, which binds to testosterone and leaves less of it available to exert its effect on maintaining lean body mass. This results in less muscle, the tissue that burns calories at a higher rate. Fewer calories are utilized leaving more to turn into fat.
Read the section of the web site, Menopause & Weight Gain for more about this.
Dr N