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Original poster

To try HRT before the menopause has started

110 replies

FuzzyYellowChicken · 11/02/2025 19:02

Obviously I'm going to go to the doctor...

But has anyone any experience trying HRT in the years before the actual menopause?

I am 40.

Have mirena coil so no idea where I am with actual periods as don't have them.

Symptoms:

Extremely tired, fed up, no motivation, sad, irritable, hungry all the time, brain fog, struggling with job, no focus, not myself.

I know most people seem to go on it because of hot flushes. I don't have that. I feel that's still years off.

Has anyone tried it for my symptoms?
Are GPs open to giving it out for that? What was your experience?

I know there are risks (breast cancer etc) but I feel there are probably risks to me just sitting here eating crap and achieving absolutely nothing. Probably heart attack pending....

OP posts:
bottlemom · 11/02/2025 19:52

Wasn't hard for me to get prescribed at 41 either. Walked in, said I thought it could be peri and a prescription issued straight away, which has honestly been life changing. Though I appreciate not every dr is the same.

CaveMum · 11/02/2025 19:52

Hormone tests are notoriously unreliable as your levels fluctuate constantly. Go and see your GP, you may be surprised by how accommodating they are.

I’m 43 and have been on HRT (gel) for the last 6 months and had a coil fitted 3 years ago. With hindsight I was 37 when my first symptoms started and perimenopause can start 10 years before you actually reach menopause.

Monsterjam · 11/02/2025 19:50

To add. Not hard to get prescribed for me. Filled in online form with my symptoms, gp called same day and prescribed. Just told them my symptoms and that’s what I wanted, sure a female GP helped me

Original poster
FuzzyYellowChicken · 11/02/2025 19:47

MILLYmo0se · 11/02/2025 19:37

Average age of progesterone dropping is 25 so peri menopause starts long before menopause (average age of which is 52 I think).
I've never had hot flushes and I'm about ten yrs post menopausal. If there's no other explanation for your symptoms HRT is worth a try. The breast cancer link afaik is with combined HRT and it's not the first option generally it's body identical transdermal oestrogen (so a gel, patch or spray) and body identical progesterone (a tablet called utrogeston) Progesterone is essential if using oestrogen so as to prevent the womb lining thickening, your Mirena will already cover this function, but you won't get the other benefits of progesterone like helping sleep, calming anxiety etc

Thankyou. I think the mirena coil I have may provide the progesterone side of things? So maybe just oestrogen required. I wonder if there is a blood test to determine if the hormones are indeed the cause of the problem?

OP posts:
Original poster
FuzzyYellowChicken · 11/02/2025 19:45

SunshineLane · 11/02/2025 19:13

This is me! Heart palpitations as well. I need a gp appointment but I fear being fobbed off and coming away more depressed than I am…

Me too. Life is sure going to be pretty dull and sad if these symptoms are actually just because this is who I am now. Or they say I have to wait years. I honestly think I may have to quit my job.

OP posts:
MILLYmo0se · 11/02/2025 19:37

Average age of progesterone dropping is 25 so peri menopause starts long before menopause (average age of which is 52 I think).
I've never had hot flushes and I'm about ten yrs post menopausal. If there's no other explanation for your symptoms HRT is worth a try. The breast cancer link afaik is with combined HRT and it's not the first option generally it's body identical transdermal oestrogen (so a gel, patch or spray) and body identical progesterone (a tablet called utrogeston) Progesterone is essential if using oestrogen so as to prevent the womb lining thickening, your Mirena will already cover this function, but you won't get the other benefits of progesterone like helping sleep, calming anxiety etc

Titsywoo · 11/02/2025 19:35

You will find it hard to get a GP to prescribe under 45 even with symptoms - maybe if you go privately? I certainly had loads of symptoms from late 30s onwards. It has calmed down a lot in the last 2 years (I'm 46 now) although I am definitely still peri menopausal.

Monsterjam · 11/02/2025 19:30

I also have the mirena coil and started on oestrogen patches 2 months ago (I’m 42). It’s been a game changer, less worrying, better sleep, more energy and generally a calmer more relaxed feeling all the time.

SunshineLane · 11/02/2025 19:13

This is me! Heart palpitations as well. I need a gp appointment but I fear being fobbed off and coming away more depressed than I am…

AlertCat · 11/02/2025 19:10

I think perimenopause starts a long time before they tell you to expect it; I had a whole host of symptoms from about 42 (but possibly before then) but they’re so generic and vague. So you could have a go, but don’t be surprised if the GP tells you you can’t be prescribed them at the age you are.

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