Did you start HRT in peri?

[Yeahyeahyeahnooooo]

I'm reading lots that HRT should be started in peri rather than waiting for full blown menopause.

My symptoms aren't awful, some brain fog, tiredness, aches and pains, manageable but not great.

Did you start early, was it life changing, did you get your GP to prescribe easily? Not a journo I promise, just looking for advice and anecdotal evidence.

I started at 47, i was advised not to take earlier but i had struggled since 45.

Yes - started at 47! Been amazing & saved my marriage. My mood swings were horrendous & I was going to leave my DH as I hated him so much, until a friend mentioned peri (one night when I disclosed everything that had been going on to her) and within a few weeks of HRT I felt normal again! Also stopped the brain fog & confusion in work. Amazing stuff! (Oestrogel)

I started on a natural alternative when I was 47 and it worked pretty well for a few years, but then the symptoms got worse and I started HRT aged 51. I will never come off it.

Do you know what peri and full blown menopause are? Menopause is the point at which you no longer menstruate. Perimenopause is the long period of transition that leads up to that point, during which the most debilitating symptoms are often experienced. It's very unusual to wait for menopause to start HRT these days.

I’m in the same boat as you at 44, some
symptoms but feel as if I should wait until I can’t sleep or get hot flushes. Main thing distressing me is very dry eyes and skin around my eyes, and now eyelash loss. But I’m not sure those are things that warrant hormonal intervention.

Why do you feel you should wait?

Yes. Though as pp said “full
blown menopause” isn’t a thing, “full blown peri” might be

I started at 45, I’ve been told I am definitely still ovulating.

my friend is post menopause and has just started taking it but I think that’s unusual. Most people I know- mid-late 40s and peri, are on it

I started HRT at 43 - I had anxiety, ridiculously heavy periods, some night sweats, palpitations and insomnia. Would absolutely recommend getting started in peri. I see no benefit in dragging out the misery. And some stuff takes a while to resolve - the palpitations and insomnia didn’t resolve straight away. So why delay even further?

GP was very good, but they were specialising in menopause so I didn’t have to start quoting the Nice guidance!

I’m out the other side of menopause now and didn’t take HRT at any point. Had most of the hideous symptoms except the heavy periods and still have insomnia and night sweats.

I suppose I get the impression that many women I read here are saying they are not sure if it made a huge difference to the smaller symptoms. I think I’d rather have really clear and debilitating symptoms so I can know if it is helping? Plus it’s been years since I’ve used hormonal contraception for example, I felt so much better when I stopped that, so I think an instinct to only tinker with my hormones when there’s a great enough need to do so. I guess what’s a big enough need will be very individual.

My symptoms aren't awful but I started to try and make sure they didn't get worse and because there's some evidence that started early, HRT is protective for heart & bone health and against dementia (I'm high risk).

I've only been on it a few months and it hasn't changed my world, but so far, so good.

I started quite late ( 52) and that was not through choice I can assure you (but because of my useless GP who turned me down at 48. )When I went to a menopause day at my work I discovered most of the women there were already on HRT, which finally prompted me to pay for a private appointment. My friendship group who are up to ten years younger than me are all starting to take it. I honestly don’t understand the concept of trying to struggle on if there’s something that can help.

Yes, I was 49 and having horrendous mood swings, awful sleep and hair loss, plus brain fog and aches and pains. It has helped so much for the mood swings, sleep and hair loss. My periods are all over the place with it, which the nurse I see at my local surgery is going to investigate and try and get to the bottom of. All in all, I wouldn't want to be without it.

Yes, but I was late to peri (57). It did ease the anxiety / brain fog / hot flushes / night sweats, but I also wanted the bone density and retention of muscle mass advantages.

I started in peri, I was 50. It was life changing. I can’t believe I am saying this, but don’t start too early. I started at a point my symptoms were stopping me working and living my life, so probably too late. But I have been surprised at how much I have had to increase the dosage, and how quickly, and now I am on the maximum, there is nowhere else to go. I just have to manage now, knowing there is no other medication that can help. If you are managing, I’d keep managing until you can’t any more. Personally I’d use other things like exercise, food, supplements with the symptoms you describe.

At 45 have the mirena and estrogen patches

@barkygoldie but there are benefits to taking it such as protection against osteoporosis and reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

I am 51, started HRT because I had been in peri for a few years but no horrific symptoms just niggles, mainly brain fog, memory issues and very over emotional at everything and the anger I felt which I rarely experience normally. I was experiencing low moods for ages too which is very unlike me. Also a lower libido which is shit because I love sex. The libido part and low moods are what pushed me over the edge.

I knew my oestrogen was dropping because my endo symptoms improved but I had regular periods and no night sweats which is the "classic" peri symptoms but actually they aren't. I have started on the lowest dose because I have endo. I don't feel worse and I am only 5 weeks into taking the HRT. I did it because of the protection it offers as well as improving the symptoms I do have.

No. Nor later. I had no symptoms, so therefore no need for HRT. Not sure why someone would medicate when their symptoms are described as "manageable".

This isn't good advice. The dosage needs might increase as you get older and your natural hormones decrease but that's no reason that women in their mid 40s should suffer through less severe symptoms without HRT when a lower dose may help.

Manageable can mean a lot of things. It can mean unpleasant but not debilitating. Not sure why any woman would willingly suffer through symptoms even if 'manageable' when there is a safe treatment, but we are all different.

Yes, I started at 42 because my memory issues and brain fog were debilitating. My brain did not work at all, I felt like I'd had a lobotomy. I forgot my address at one point.

Plus being hot and sweaty constantly, all day and all night long, just made me feel like I was about to combust.

I'll never come off HRT. I hated the Pill when I was on that in my youth, but HRT is a much lower dose so doesn't have the negative side effects the Pill had.

It is good advice. If you start HRT at say 40, at a low dose, it will need to be increased every 3ish years. So by 50, you"ve increased the dose 3 times to MAX dose. By 53 you can no longer increase.
This is why i held to 47.

No but I have very little symptoms. I’m glad as I’d rather not take it all

You don't need to increase your dose every 3 years. You might, but you might not. And if you do, the increase is because your natural hormones decrease, not because it becomes less effective. So if a lower dose is effective in mid 40s it's effective. It won't have any impact on the dose you will need at 50 or 55.

Yes, I started at 46 - progesterone at night, gel in morning. Vaginal estrogen cream. It helps. Have upped the gel recently as was very irritable and low