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 asked as over 50, told no as mum had hormone related breast cancer. Now have to work out how to ask for a referral to a specialist for proper discussion, especially as I am now getting issues with sleep, moods etc

My symptoms started around that time. I had to fight like the devil
to get them to test my bloods ('are you sure you're not just stressed?') and they came back virtually riding a red horse called Menopause. I had to get a progesterone coil fitted before I could start oestrogel, could you swap that for the pill? You have to take progesterone if you still have your uterus (you can all take a pill but this was easier for me to remember) It's half the battle won, then you can lobby for a trial of estrogen.

It makes me quite breathless with fury to hear how many women have been robbed off by their doctors. If you went in for any other condition that involved insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, drenching sweats, waves of heat, muscle aches (to
mention only some) they'd insist on every test under the sun. But because it's just a 'normal' female issue, we're told to just go away and deal with it, that it will pass. Or maybe it's just all
in our heads and we need antidepressants?

My HRT was absolutely life saving and I say that with absolute seriousness. I couldn't have gone on another week the way I was. I cannot believe that in 2026 that women are still having to lie and beg for treatment that would be utterly standard if it were a male issue. It is scandalous.

I started at nearly 42. It took me a year to realise what was going on then nearly a year to convince the GP to give it to me- had to jump through blood test, supplements & refuse ADs twice.
It has definitely helped. I wouldn’t say all my symptoms are gone, but I don’t want to hit people at work with a chair anymore, I don’t wake up at 3am every night and the brain fog is much better ( if not entirely gone). Watch out for weight gain though

@1ladybird women use HRT when they need it not because of their age.

It's prescribed because of symptoms not as a preventative.

There is no point taking it if you have no symptoms.Average age of meno is 51-52. Some women have no symptoms at all, some slightly, some after their periods stop.

If a woman needs HRT in her 30s she is possibly having a premature menopause which is a medical condition and does require HRT.

I started HRT at almost 53 and had hardly any symptoms up till then. I'd only missed the odd period.
I've been on it now for many years.

You might get more info and experiences on the meno forum on MN.

@1ladybird It's nothing to do with cost (if women can't get it.)

I pay for mine as it's private and it costs me around £1 a day.

I don't think the UK is behind re. HRT.
Many women in other countries say it's hardly prescribed at all.

I'm 43 have irregular bleeding and periods, horrendous migraine along with hot flushes, sweating, anxiety, brain fog etc etc the list goes on... I tried hrt but didn't work for me the bleeding got worse so I stopped. Now been referred to gyne. If I could just have oestrogen I think I'd be OK... It's the progesterone that ruins everything! X

Agree with others, whilst it is still really difficult for women to get GPS to take their symptoms seriously, there is absolutely no reason at all to start taking HRT early. It is Hormone Replacement Therapy. You don't need to take it whilst you are still producing your own hormones.

Unfortunately I don't get on with the coil, I've tried it before. My current pill is the only one Ive tried over the years that I got in with and I don't want to stop.

My GP did put me on ADs this year which has helped the moods. But I still think I'm peri.

I loved my HRT unfortunately although I have been told it didn’t cause my breast cancer it did accelerate its spread. And it was the first thing I had to give up on diagnosis (followed by taking oestrogen blocking drugs)
I still think HRT is great for dealing with genuine issues caused by the menopause and I would still recommend it if you are suffering from them.It massively improved my menopausal symptoms for the 5 years I was on it
I was just one of the unlucky ones with an oestrogen positive cancer
But I wouldn’t recommend taking it as a preventative measure pre symptom as I think you may be just exposing yourself to unnecessary potential risk

Hi - it’s not too late, under 60 or within 10 years of start of menopause is good.

With recurring UTIs there has been a massive study recently which found that vaginal oestrogen can improve urinary symptoms and should be prescribed to women with this problem.

https://www.renalandurologynews.com/news/urinary-tract-infection-vaginal-estrogen-reduces-risk-serious-adverse-outcomes/

If you’re on instagram, this urologist might be worth checking out. Some really good information.

drsusannahla_touche