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!

And yet men can walk into Boots and buy medication for ED off the shelf.

This. It’s an outrage that women have to convince their GP of so much but men don’t have to. Still not over being discharged with some ibuprofen after a c-section to be honest. You can guarantee men wouldn’t be treated that way if they could carry children.

I’m not in UK but my gynae only gave it to me when an ultrasound scan showed that my uterus was menopausal. Then immediately on it at 51. Life changing. I’m not sure of the reasoning behind my Dr wanting to wait but I think it definitely could be argued that earlier is better if you are having symptoms. Those who haven’t had symptoms rejoice. Of course you don’t see the value. For those of us who have, it’s horrible.

I think the UK is quite unusually generous (aka reasonable) actually - I believe in Spain and Italy it's very difficult to get at all

Here are a list of some symptoms - probably not all. Might help some of you approaching GP although I have to say, I went in ready to argue it but they were happy to take me at my word at 45.

Thanks that’s a great extensive list.

How soon after starting HRT did you notice improvements? Was it a drastic difference on HRT or just a little help? Thanks

I think because I started as soon as I got a few, they weren’t that dramatic except for the sleep. It was my main one, I hadn’t slept well for about 6 months and within a week I was sleeping well again. I’ve been lucky with mine in that they seemed to agree with me from the start. Other friends have had to try a few different types before they got one that suited.

I started in my mid/late 30s (due to symptoms). I feel immeasurably better with it. I pay privately and see a specialist women’s health Dr.

One important thing to consider is that the levels of requirement as well as additional meds such as testosterone can change as you move through peri, meno & post. If you leave it too late, it is possible for the vaginal area to be atrophied and it is difficult to bring it back into good health at that point.

I would love to get HRT. I'm 42, pretty sure I'm perimenopausal, certainly displaying plenty of symptoms. My GP won't even test my bloods as I'm on the pill (Cerelle), and I won't come off it as it's my main birth control. So I'm stuck for now.

Is there a point where it's too late to start HRT?

I've not had a period for about 2 years. Since then, I have been struggling with chronic UTI issues and poor sleep. Would it still be possible to start HRT or have I missed the boat? I'm late 40s.

I started at 42 (5 months ago) after suffering from broken sleep, flat mood, itchy skin and hair loss.
It’s been fabulous for me. I did change from Evorel Sequi to seperate patches and oral progesterone though as I didn’t get on with the synthetic progesterone in the Conti patches at all. Body identical progesterone (in capsule form) suits me so much better and is an excellent relaxant for bedtime. I sleep like a baby now! Good luck!

Following

Was never once offered it.

OP HRT should kick in quite quickly, maybe a couple of months, if that? I’ve been on for about 7 -8 years now so can’t remember exactly. But as it’s a replacement rather than a treatment your body should react fairly sharpish.

However, prescribing is far from as exact science, so be prepared to go back to the GP if you are not entirely happy after 6 months or so. If GP is continuing to struggle to get the balance right ask to be referred to a Menopause Clinic.

Personally it addressed anxiety (which I knew must have been peri related as was never specifically an anxious person, and also couldn’t identify WHAT I was stressing about) as well as low moods and low libido. I definitely have more energy and less brain fog too, but obviously it hasn’t turned the clock back 20 years. Unfortunately!

Good luck, it’s a bit of trial and error!

Not everyone needs or wants HRT early. I’m 46, definitely on the tail end of perimenopause. I had 4 periods last year. So far I’ve had one in 2026. I don’t have anything I’d consider perimenopause symptoms. I do have cancer and some other chronic illnesses, but day to day, I feel quite well, sleep great, no anxiety. I may well need something when I finally hit menopause, which I’m guessing may happen in the next 2 years or so, but for now, I wouldn’t want to take HRT and generally feel fine.

I’m almost 42 and have been on it for 4 months. I started with the pessary’s 9 months ago after suffering with vaginal atrophy. They helped a lot with that but when other symptoms kicked in my gp was happy to switch me to full hrt.

I think a couple of things helped. My work offers support from a company called Peppy. I got a free hour long teams call with a menopause specialist. So when I first saw the gp I knew exactly what I was talking about and what I wanted.
Also my gp is a lady in her 50’s, I know it shouldn’t make a difference but I think it definitely does.

I started with patches on the lowest dose and I saw a definite improvement within 2 months. I have just had to change to the gel as I became allergic to the glue on the patches so had a bit of a step back on changing over, but 3 weeks in and it seems to be settling.
For me it was definitely the right decision.

I believe it's difficult to get testosterone prescribed on the NHS as a woman. Not impossible but difficult. Would have to be private.

What should an older man do if he has one of the 47 symptoms that aren't to do with female anatomy? ps: and since when is ignorance (no. 55) a "symptom" ?

yes, here in Italy it's impossible, I went private and managed to get it but I first had to see a cardiologist for a full heart check, have a mammogram, bone density scan, liver scan, hpv & pap test & full bloods, before they'd even consider it. You can't get it off your GP, you're referrred to a Gyno, who told me I didn't need it (male) so I paid €150 and saw a fab young female gyno. She changed my life!

It's not too late, I started it after being in menopause for 4 years!

I am 46 and my gp still won’t prescribe me it. She gave me the pill instead.

No. you don't need HRT if you are not experiencing symptoms.

However, women should not have to jump through endless hoops and have multiple GP appointments to find someone who listens to them.

No, why take medication for something you don't have?

I started with symptoms in early forties was told by a gynaecologist that it wasn’t peri ( he didn’t test my hormones so not sure what he based it on) I waited another few years got to 46 and got hrt feel loads better on it

And we can't even get vaginal oestrogen off the shelf.

Over the counter yes, but you still have to be interrogated by a pharmacist.

(edited: although having just seen what you have to go through in Italy - maybe we are lucky after all though it's not a race to the bottom)