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Original poster

HRT in the long term

36 replies

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 15:26

I've been reading a lot of recommendations on here for HRT and am considering it, but what I'm not sure about is what happens in the longer term- when you stop taking it do the meno symptoms come back or have they passed?

Also, if you don't stop, there must come a point where the risk of taking it is getting too much as you get older, I think it's more risky the longer you've been taking it? So what's the longer term strategy for people taking it?

OP posts:

Mariell · 11/09/2021 15:32

I decided not to take it and have been fine without it.

I went through the menopause well over a decade ago.

pembelimum · 11/09/2021 15:34

Watching as just started taking it. Age 43

JudgeRindersMinder · 11/09/2021 15:35

I’m on it for life! It’s a replacement for a hormone deficiency

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General health

lljkk · 11/09/2021 15:37

The fans say you can take it forever with very low or non-existent health risks. The fans also say they must take it forever to keep symptoms at bay.

Original poster

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 15:38

I’m on it for life! It’s a replacement for a hormone deficiency

But doesn't it get more risky the longer you take it/ the older you get?

OP posts:

TheHouseIsOnFire · 11/09/2021 15:43

I think the point is that the risk, while there, is minimal compared to the potential benefits. The increased risk of getting BC as you age anyway means that for many women they’d have suffered through crappy meno symptoms without HRT, only to get BC anyway. Drinking alcohol and being overweight apparently carry more risk than HRT. Depression/anxiety/exhaustion from meno symptoms could be alleviated with HRT or ‘self treated’ with wine, cake and binge watching Netflix instead of going to the gym. You have to weigh up what works for you, much as people have had to do with covid vaccines and birth control etc. The side effects of which can also ge quite unpleasant but the risks of going without even more so.

Original poster

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 15:48

So is it that for most people, once you're on it you're kind of on it for life?

OP posts:

dementedma · 11/09/2021 15:51

I'm 57 and still on it. Been on it for years and it gave me my life back. Weirdly though, I've recently started hot flushes again! Maybe need to up my dose

Buddywoo · 11/09/2021 16:07

I am 75 and still on HRT. I have been on it since I was 40 and intend to continue for the rest of my life. My GP agrees with me.

My bones are strong and I still walk tall. MY GP says the small increased risk of breast cancer if far outweighed by all the other benefits.

Bagelsandbrie · 11/09/2021 16:14

Definitely a risk / benefit situation.

Certainly for younger women who are peri menopausal the benefits hugely outweigh the risks. I am always a bit when women in their 40s refuse to take HRT because they believe it will give them breast cancer / blood clots (both hugely outdated views- modern HRT does not increase the risk of these, see Newson Health clinic website for evidence on this) and yet they’re quite happy to risk heart disease, osteoporosis and bowel cancer - the risks of which are all reduced by taking HRT.

As people age these risks become more balanced up against each other but the benefits of keeping taking HRT is huge, so for most people it’s beneficial to keep taking it forever.

Original poster

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 16:27

and yet they’re quite happy to risk heart disease, osteoporosis and bowel cancer - the risks of which are all reduced by taking HRT.

Can't really say anybody is 'happy' for this just because of not taking HRT

For me, it's one thing to take it for a few years but I wouldn't want to take it for decades, and I don't think theres much info out there about what happens when you stop taking it.

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 11/09/2021 16:31

@Poetrypatty

and yet they’re quite happy to risk heart disease, osteoporosis and bowel cancer - the risks of which are all reduced by taking HRT.

Can't really say anybody is 'happy' for this just because of not taking HRT

For me, it's one thing to take it for a few years but I wouldn't want to take it for decades, and I don't think theres much info out there about what happens when you stop taking it.

I think it’s because actually there isn’t a lot of evidence about women who’ve been taking it “forever” and then stop taking it… HRT in its current form is a relatively new thing. All we can do is look at the evidence in terms of benefits etc.

umberellaonesie · 11/09/2021 16:34

I have taken birth control for all my adult life.
I will move to HRT when I need it.
I don't have the time or inclination to manage symptoms of something that can be helped with hormone replacement. Just like I don't have the time or inclination to manage monthly PMT/PMS/ menstruating now.

Allywill · 11/09/2021 16:34

My mother is 78 and still on it. She had some pressure from the GP to come off it - she told the doctor “Joan Collins is still on it” the GP said “who is Joan Collins?” 😂 There was thread recently that said how well Joan looked so it is obviously working for her - my mum too in fact - she is still working a few hours a week and has more energy than me.

Greenbather · 11/09/2021 16:40

Interesting question, I'm having a small experiment with this as I'm currently having a break from HRT after 7 years taking it due to mix up with prescription/holiday timing.

I was interested to see if I felt any differently, or even better, felt the same as I do on HRT which although not perfect (still have some insomnia, aches etc) is 100% better than I felt without HRT.

However I can sadly say I feel horrendous again and will be starting back on the HRT very soon. The only discussion I have had with GP is about changing type of HRT in a few years to the non-bleed kind at a certain age, there has been no pressure to stop taking it altogether or to limit the number of years taking it, think that is going to be up to me.

Based on this current experience I do think I might be on it for life, not a great thought really but my quality of life is seriously impaired without it.

Original poster

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 16:45

Thanks Greenbather and sorry that stopping didn't work out for you. It's useful because it helps me to weigh it up a bit if I know that by taking it the chances are I'd be on it for life - at the moment it doesn't feel like my symptoms are 'bad enough' for that, even though perimenopause is annoying. I don't really understand about the bleed/non bleed HRT - do you end up potentially having periods for more years if you take HRT?

OP posts:

Original poster

Poetrypatty · 11/09/2021 16:46

“who is Joan Collins?”
Sounds like it's working well for your mum Allywill

OP posts:

KrakowDawn · 11/09/2021 16:51

I'm 47. Should I be on hrt? How do people know?

Greenbather · 11/09/2021 17:01

On the type I am you have a bleed. I am on this type because of of symptoms of early menopause at 45. When I am 55 I can move to a non-bleed type. I would say the periods are now more like those you get on the pill, and it's a small price to pay compared to what I felt (feel!) like without HRT.
I did try and manage my symptoms through more natural remedies for some time before going on HRT, but I suppose each woman is different in their symptoms and ability to cope with them, there is not a right or wrong answer regarding taking HRT imo.

Bagelsandbrie · 11/09/2021 17:07

@KrakowDawn

I'm 47. Should I be on hrt? How do people know?

If you have symptoms of the menopause and want to take HRT you should ask your GP about it. They may want to do blood tests to rule out other conditions but prescribing HRT shouldn’t be dependent on blood tests.

Bagelsandbrie · 11/09/2021 17:09

@Poetrypatty

I take the mini pill (for contraception and because I don’t want periods), oestrogel 4 pumps and utrogestan 100mg every night and never have any periods, ever. I’m 40 and in early menopause due to autoimmune issues. I don’t produce my own oestrogen at all.

Greenbather · 11/09/2021 17:15

Absolutely HRT is not a one size fits all medication, and often involves experimenting with different types/combinations until you find a good personal solution.

GoWalkabout · 11/09/2021 17:38

I would also be interested in people's experiences of stopping - as I understand it it is the fluctuations in hormones that cause the symptoms not just the 'lack', so symptoms would not necessarily be there when it is stopped? I have taken oestrogen since 45 and will continue until at least 51 for primary prevention of osteoporosis (I work with patients with this condition and it is awful) and fully intend to stay on it after that currently.

shmashing · 11/09/2021 17:53

No way am I ever coming off HRT. My MIL was on it til she was 80 and her GP told her it was time to stop. Within a couple of months she was suffering from many of the symptoms she had had when she was peri menopausal and went back on it until her death.

Freebird61 · 11/09/2021 17:58

I found it very difficult to stop and took it for 13 years from 47-60. I tried several times with my symptoms returning each time but did cut my dose down considerably during the last 5 years. Eventually I was in 1/4 patch per week when I was diagnosed with breast cancer so I had to stop immediately.
I had symptoms for a couple of weeks and then they subsided.
My cancer was hormone positive for both oestrogen and progesterone and I think the hrt was a factor , however I was also found to have osteopenia when I had a bone scan which shocked me after 13 years of hrt.
I am now on 5 years of hormone therapy which virtually blocks all your oestrogen which really feels like the menopause all over again but I have no option than to just get on with it!
I'm lucky that my prognosis is good but my advice would be to only take it if you really need to for as short a time as possible. The thing is it really works and it's hard not to take something that will make you feel better. I can't say despite everything I regret taking it as I could barely function without it and quality of life is very important but just be mindful of the risks.

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