Should women start HRT earlier in the UK?

[1ladybird]

I’d love to hear people’s experiences of HRT.

I’m 40. I have got a prescription for HRT soon to be ready to collect and try! What can I expect?!

Should HRT be something women are offered late 30s/ early 40s before menopause hits?

If you take it, how beneficial have you found it to be?

Main reasons for asking for it from my GP is huge dip in energy levels coupled with not sleeping well. Bloods all came back ok for other things.

Would love to hear other people’s experiences of pros, cons and if you wish you’d done it sooner!

I feel very very upset as I have two autoimmune issues, massive inflammation and have spent the last ten years talking to the GP(s) about my sleep problems and possible low estrogen levels and was made to feel like a hypochondriac. A pushy one at that. Periods finally stop altogether and suddenly, SUDDENLY, I'm getting offered HRT leaflet to go read and consider my options and told 'did you know, DID YOU KNOW, it may well help with both your sleep, your swinging, hormones and get this, your underlying chronic inflammation!

It's a good job I did my research and at least used progesterone cream over the years when things were bad or I'd be now dying from night sweats..but it wasn't high enough to solve all issues by itself.

I started at 45 when I started getting the vaguest on symptoms as the Davina Macall doc had just been on TV about menopause. Six years on I’ve had a very easy ride of it all - obviously I could have had an easy time but I wanted to do it for the other health benefits as well. I plan to continue forever more or less.
my lovely elderly neighbour is rising 90 and has been on them since hysterectomy in her late 40’s. She looks so much younger than her age and is always off doing things. Again, anecdotal but the evidence looks good.

Biggest pro for me is that the awful low mood has gone and it's generally just given me more get up and go. My periods now more regular, bit lighter and period pain better. It's not helped with poor sleep unfortunately. It's not cured everthing but it's definitely helped.

I’ll look the program up, not seen that! Fab that’s good to hear. I feel like it’s hard to get hold of for some people in UK as per previous poster.

I wonder if it’s a cost thing with UK and if it’s offered earlier in countries with different healthcare systems maybe.

Basic research I’ve done seems to think sooner the better. Hoping it boosts by energy and sleep!

No. About 25% of women have no to few peri symptoms at all, me included. Why pump hormones in to me when unnecessary? And at what cost to the NHS? Adding extra artificial hormones to a body which is producing its own adequately overloads the body, causing severe hormonal imbalances and can cause heavy bleeding. It is a REPLACEMENT therapy.

I started at 45- wish I’d started at 40, postponed it because I felt too young & I had two traumatic events one after another.

It is replacing what is being lost though. Plenty of evidence now that oestrogen helps protect against heart disease, dementia, etc. as well as for many, just having a general, all-round positive effect. I can't get it where I live and am miffed.

That’s very interesting I never realised it was only 25% of people who have no symptoms. So 75% do!

Yer I don’t think people should necessarily be pushed onto it/ take it if no symptoms at all but wondered if it should be more readily available/ offered.

Of course not mandatory. I think it’s a personal choice just like contraception when some chose barrier or other method rather than hormonal?

Sorry to hear you had a rough couple of years. Hope things are better now.

What would you say have been the main benefits since taking it? How long would you say after starting it until effects kicked in? Thanks

I started at 50 and that was the perfect age for me. I think that’s commonly when hormones really start to drop significantly and I felt the need to replace them. For me 50 seems like a more natural age to start. Before that I had a few symptoms but nothing different to PMT that I’ve had throughout my life.

Did your energy levels dip prior to this in your 40s? Did taking it at 50 give you noticeably more energy than before you had it? Thanks

Sorry to hear you can’t get it. Is that your GP or a regional/ trust rule?

Could be worth trying another GP? Hope you can get access of/ when you need it x

Not in the UK. Here it is seen as a fix for only 2 symptoms. They are not big on preventative healthcare so it is not used for that, unfortunately. I know I could easily get it in the UK but I'm also mostly over any symptoms I have had. I would like it for the preventative health reasons though as I think the evidence will only build in those areas.

Have you examined ALL the other reasons for the dip in energy and lack of sleep? I’d definitely recommend doing that before trying HRT.

That said, I’m 54 and been on HRT for a year. It’s improved my hot flushes an lot and my anxiety slightly. I’m aware of the bone health benefits and will definitely stay on it buts it’s not a magic pill some of hype seems to promise.

What in truth has benefited me more is stopping drinking (definitely the biggest winner!), reducing my stress levels, some mindfulness exercises, cleaning up my sleep hygiene habits a lot. I already ticked the exercise and diet boxes although I now absolutely do not shirk the resistance training twice weekly minimum (I run everyday anyway). I’m naturally very slight and my bloodwork in good ranges.

Do you know your iron and B12 levels etc?

It’s just a useful tip to pass on, if it helps at all. We just don’t always push all the big and obvious buttons before trying HRT, that’s all 🙂

My energy has gone off a cliff edge and I can't get systematic HRT because my bloods are "normal". It took two years of symptoms to get vaginal oestrogen. I'm almost 50 so not like all this is s great mystery.

I found it useful in the perimenopause (Very late Menopause here) It stabilized the mood swings and stopped other issues. I actually found the continuous HRT a nightmare, so have been off since April. They do say it is beneficial to start women on it early, from a bone density point of view. I found that the progesterone causes low mood.

I went to the doctor when I started having symptoms… not sure any point in taking before then

YES YES YES

I lied my arse off the second I hit 40 and I’ve taken it since.

The NHS is shit at dealing with women’s health - they’d rather wait until you’re a depressed anxious dried out husk who can’t remember your own name and then they’ll offer you something like they are doing you a favour

Just lie

Glad to hear that you have no symptoms. That definitely impacts in your decision re HRT. I'm sure you would be open to it if did have symptoms, so I wouldn't be so judgy about people who do choose to use it!

Fuck the bloods

”I am sure you are aware a one off blood test is not diagnostically helpful for peri menopause. Here are my list of symptoms if you do not feel able to prescribe systemic HRT to me please refer me to a colleague, ta thanks xx”

When the NHS starts making men prove they can’t get a stiffy before giving them viagra - I’ll reconsider my position on HRT

Misogynistic bastards

I’m hoping to get it next week. I’ve got a gp appointment. I was told I’d begun peri a few months ago but didn’t think I needed it then but the symptoms have really ramped up. My anxiety is awful.

How did you manage to get it? I’m 40 and over the last year or so I’ve completely lost my mojo. The ‘old’ me would’ve run rings around the person I am now!

Sleep is awful, anxiety, brain fog, periods all over the place and serious self doubt! Had bloods done, they say there’s nothing wrong with me and I’m too young!

If people had it before they needed it, there would very quickly be shortages. There were shortages a few years ago.

I have an appointment to discuss HRT in a couple of weeks. I’m a few weeks off 42. Periods are really irregular and and I’m snappy and not sleeping well. I can’t wait to go on it! I have a history of anxiety and that’s creeping up on me. I have friends who are adamant I won’t get it until I’m 45 but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m seeing a female GP so hoping for some empathy!