Menopausal symptoms - now or later?

[PrettyCandles]

Say you're peri-menopausal, and you're having the hot flushes, mood swings, sagging dry skin, etc etc. So you start taking HRT and all that miserable stuff stops. Presumably all those symptoms will happen again in any case when you stop taking HRT.

But if you start the symptoms in, say, your early 40s, then you could probably expect to have them for as long as 10 years until your periods finally stop, after which the symptoms will fade or stop completely. So if you take HRT for 10 years or so, until you stop having periods, and then cold-turkey on the HRT, will you get the symptoms over and done with much faster?

[madlentileater]

good question.
let's hope someone knowledgable comes along.

[PrettyCandles]

Anyone know?

[howtotellmum]

There are 2 points here- first, if you are peri-meno in your early 40s then you might be through the meno long before your 50s. But you could still have flushes and all the otehr delights of the meno after your periods stop. (I had what can be described as peri-meno for a year or so at 51-52). So it is not right to assume that you will have symptoms with or without HRT for 10 years, if you have a meno at say 45-46.

I think your post is a bit confusing ! HRT is often not taken until after the meno- not just in the peri meno. The worst symptoms of the meno often happen once your periods have stopped- the flushes don't stop just because your periods have stopped- they can continue right into your 60s and 70s for some women!

Most women take HRT either in the peri meno (usually late 40s for most women) if their symptoms are pretty unbearable, or after the periods have stopped. If you are peri meno in your early 40s you may be heading for a premature meno (defined as before 45) and need HRT anyway to protect your bones, at least until that age of the average meno, which is 51 in the UK.

If you take HRT after your last period(which is when alot of the worst symtposm begin) you continue for a year or so, to try to get you over the worst of the fall in hormones, then stop- gradually over a few months, cutting back on the dose. If your symptoms come back, you would re-assess and maybe continue with HRT again.

There is no one-size fits all answer. Some women ( my mum) had flushes and sweats into theri 60s and 70s- the option is to take HRT for along time, but this carries the increased risk of cnacer. Some women take HRT for a year or two toget over the worst of the symptoms, and some for a bit longer.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I'm 49 and definitely perimenopausal - am suffering occasional hot flushes, and my menstrual cycle is much less regular/predictable than it used to be. I'm also suffering from awful acne, which for me is the worst symptom!

I have refused HRT - my mum died from breast cancer aged 66, and had been on HRT for some time.

One thing that I have discovered is that sugar/carbs (including alcohol) make the hot flushes worse.

My GP has also suggested that I try to include more soy products in my diet, as apparently that can help. There are a lot of soy supplements too.

[howtotellmum]

because- It might be worth you seeing a gynae or going to a private meno clinic- google.

My gynae who is brilliant- won't name him but is right at the top- says that HRT is only contra indicated if you have a first degree relative ( your mum would count) who died of /had breast cancer before the age of 45. In these cases, it is up for discussion and not a definite no.

If you look at the stats- 1:8 of us will get breast cancer at some point. How many of us would have got it without HRT we will never know. You will never know if your mum would have got it if she hadn't been on HRT.

Soya is controversial- it is thought to mimic oestrogen in the body but caution is being advised for its use in the same way as HRT- it may not be risk free.

Have you tried exercise? some studies show that moderate to high exercise regimes are as effective as HRT.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

exercise!

[howtotellmum]

TRy it! My gynae is talking of doing a survey on the benefits of exercise versus HRT.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Goodness, you'll be telling me to stop drinking next!

[howtotellmum]

pretty- I am still trying to get my head round your question-

the upshott of it seems to be - if you take HRT for along time, starting peri meno, does it mean that you "over ride" the symtpoms of the meno?

The answer is "no"! For a start, no-one would give you HRT- or shouldn't- if you are having mild peri meno symptoms. If you are having a prem, meno, then yes. Hormone tests would show if and when you were through meno and not peri any more. But most of the symptoms of meno start after your last period and can continue for manyyears- so taking HRT before the end of your periods will not prevent the symptoms you may have in your 50s and even 60s- does that make sense?

[BecauseImWorthIt]

HTTM - but thanks, I think it is good advice. I'm not suffering badly enough (yet) to go beyond the GP, but I am looking at my diet and am trying to gird my loins to get myself back into the gym. Weight baring exercise is something that would be a good idea anyway, as well as general fitness.

[howtotellmum]

Because...well, yes! I can't drink for medical reasons- nothing to do with hormones or meno- so it's not an issue- well, it is, but I just live with it.

[howtotellmum]

Can I reccomend "your change, your choice" by Michael Dooley-(see Amazon) half is on conventional ways of helping the menopause, half is on alternative stuff including herbs, yoga, exercise, diet, etc etc. Great book, great dr!

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Thanks httm - will check that out.