Anyone taking hrt?

[Miladymilord]

I've been prescribed HRT to alleviate symptoms of the menopause. I'm 52, had a period back in February, nothing since. Symptoms were hot flushes, sleeplessness, RAGE that came out of nowhere, no sex drive, aching joints, fatigue.

I've been prescribed elleste duet 1mg and took my first one today. I'm so scared of developing breast cancer though!

Anyone else taking hrt?

[Emerald13]

I am 42 and a year on hrt. It is considered safe nowdays and it helps a lot with symptoms. If you haven’t contradictions I think that you can try it. Hrt doesn’t cause cancer, it promotes the growth of an existing cancer. At first I was in panic about cancer, now I feel more secure. Try not to worry so much! 💐

[LizzieSiddal]

Milady I’m the same age as you and am off to my dr next week to talk about taking HRT. I’m having horrendous mood swings and rages. (Thank fully dc have left home so it’s only poor dh who is taking the brunt). I have been worried about cancer but I read that out of thousands of women only 1 extra person will get cancer due to HRT. On the other hand, HRT makes a women less likely to have a heart attack and to get osteoporosis.

Sorry I can’t link to what I read, hopefully someone will be along in a mo who’s more info than me.

[funmummy48]

I'm 53 & have used HRT patches for 6 years. My life before then was so intolerable that any health worries were pushed to the side in order to have a good quality of life.

[borntobequiet]

I take HRT and intend to keep doing so as long as possible. I value my quality of life, and HRT is a big part of that.
I know someone who experiences hot flushes in her 70s. She had a very uncomfortable time in her late 50s and early 60s but refused HRT as she suffers health anxiety and was convinced she would get cancer if she took it.

[LizzieSiddal]

funmummy can I ask what the difference is between pills and patches?

[Fairylea]

I am 37 and take the combined pill as a form of HRT as I do not produce my own estrogen. It’s been life changing for me. I intend to take some form of HRT for as long as I possibly can! I think it’s much, much safer than it used to be.

[Miladymilord]

Thanks all. Day two today. I'm swinging wildly between wanting a better quality of life and thinking meh maybe it wasn't too bad perhaps I could manage with herbs! Habent had a hot flush at all today! Will report back.

[funmummy48]

I'm not sure what the difference is between patches and pills but I was prescribed patches and have got on well with them, so have stuck with them. A colleague of mine was allergic to the adhesive on the patches so she switched to the tablets.

[Miladymilord]

Still no hot flushes..

[Snog]

I've taken combined HRT for a year. The hot flashes disappeared within a few days. Sleep improved after a few weeks.

My hair and skin also improved hugely. It didn't really help with anything else.