Does HRT cause weight gain?
Many women are concerned about weight gain during the perimenopause and may also be concerned that HRT leads to further weight gain.
All of the evidence-based data that we currently have suggests that HRT does not cause weight gain and that it is, in fact, the metabolic changes associated with menopause that influences weight gain. Of course, in reality, weight gain is multifactorial and hormonal shifts are likely to be only part of the jigsaw puzzle.
If HRT is used to manage menopausal symptoms, many women actually find their weight easier to manage, and may even lose weight. This is because the right HRT regime will gradually shift metabolism back towards a pre-menopausal metabolic state (leading to a healthier weight distribution).
Progesterone (and synthetic progestogens) can sometimes lead to fluid retention, which can mimic weight gain, but there are alterations that can be made to HRT regimes to minimise this impact.
