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Original poster

Would you take HRT?

74 replies

LardLizard · 19/07/2018 12:55

If yes or no what’s your reason ?

OP posts:
ClarkWGriswold · 19/07/2018 16:03

Thanks Storm4star. My rational mind tells me worrying is fruitless and I could easily be fine. I've got PCOS so have never had the best hormones Grin but in the last couple of years I have had really erratic periods (I'm now at the stage where I have a brown/old blood 'period' for one or two days once a week! Still better than the 'gushing through a tampon every half hour' of a year ago though!), a hairy neck/chin that I have to tend to every day and I can't for the life of me lose any weight.

I've joined a health club in the last few weeks to at least keep my body moving and try to be fit and once DD2 starts school in September I plan to hit the gym hard on my days off - at least it will make me feel better.

I know I do need to make an appointment to at least have my hormone levels measured though.

mycatplotsdeath · 19/07/2018 16:07

I went through menopause at 36 as did my mother.
I chose not to take HRT. I decided to plough through but I'm not going to lie, the night sweats and hot flushes and crying over nothing were a killer!

Babdoc · 19/07/2018 16:11

I live in Scotland. Hot flushes are fab- I used to wait til I got one before venturing out of bed on cold winter mornings! It’s the only time I’ve ever had warm feet. Grin

RiverTam · 19/07/2018 16:23

I think I would take it. My mother is very against it, just because I think she thinks you should just soldier on through, but I remember her menopause and it was no fun living with her, and I don’t want that for my family, or me! But I would do a lot more reading up on it first.

DinosApple · 19/07/2018 16:26

My mum didn't take HRT and her periods stopped at 45 after 10 years of symptoms.

She's now in her 60s and has osteopena and has to take calcium tablets, and be careful with those as they can lead to kidney stones.

She's reckons I should take it if needs be.

Vagabond · 19/07/2018 16:26

There is a natural health company called Metagenics who make a product called "O-Lift". It alleviated my awful (terrible!) hot flushes in a few days. I won't be without it. I recommend most highly.

Strax · 19/07/2018 16:31

I did for a while but I've stopped for the moment. I don't have any menopause symptoms (other than no periods!) but because I'm young, I was taking it for the protective effects. I got fed up of going back to having a withdrawal bleed monthly though! So I'm not going to bother until I've passed the year without a period mark after which my gp should agree to put me on the ones that don't give you a bleed.

CrabappleBiscuit · 19/07/2018 16:35

Almost identical to Allergictoironing but I'm still on it.

Also the risks are minimal unless you have specific issues. It protects against osteoperosis and is generally not a bad thing at all. Read the NICE guidelines on it. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

Thymeout · 19/07/2018 16:36

My GP told me to come to see her when I had my first hot flush. I took it for 10 years till I was 60 then stopped with no withdrawal symptoms.

A gynaecologist recently commented that I was physically much younger than my age. I'd heartily recommend it if you have no family history of hormone-related cancers.

WitchettyGrub · 19/07/2018 16:39

I am on oestrogen patch as I had a hysterectomy at 39. I am now 48, will stay on it as long as I can!

CrabappleBiscuit · 19/07/2018 16:39

Also if you go through premature menopause - i.e. before 40 the NICE advice is that HRT should be given -

Managing premature ovarian insufficiency
1.6.6 Offer sex steroid replacement with a choice of HRT or a combined hormonal contraceptive to women with premature ovarian insufficiency, unless contraindicated (for example, in women with hormone-sensitive cancer).

1.6.7 Explain to women with premature ovarian insufficiency:

the importance of starting hormonal treatment either with HRT or a combined hormonal contraceptive and continuing treatment until at least the age of natural menopause (unless contraindicated)

that the baseline population risk of diseases such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease increases with age and is very low in women aged under 40

that HRT may have a beneficial effect on blood pressure when compared with a combined oral contraceptive

that both HRT and combined oral contraceptives offer bone protection

that HRT is not a contraceptive.

1.6.8 Give women with premature ovarian insufficiency and contraindications to hormonal treatments advice, including on bone and cardiovascular health, and symptom management.

1.6.9 Consider referring women with premature ovarian insufficiency to healthcare professionals who have the relevant experience to help them manage all aspects of physical and psychosocial health related to their condition.

primoestate · 19/07/2018 16:40

Been on it for 23 years. Since I was 35 after I had a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed.
Have tried systematically to come off it but my body isn't ready.....not sure I ever will be.

Fintress · 19/07/2018 16:41

Thankfully I didn't need it as I sailed through it but my friend did and it saved her marriage and her sanity. She put on a lot of weight as a side effect but it was either that or being a homicidal maniac. She did come off it for a short while due to the weight gain but had to start it again.

mrscee · 19/07/2018 16:44

I take it and have been doing so since I was 35 I have premature ovarian failure so it was advised to take it to protect my bones. For me it would be risky not to take it because of a lack of oestrogen.

FeistyOldBat · 19/07/2018 16:45

I've been taking it since I was 45, am 71 now, and don't intend stopping. I still have all my reproductive bits, and no history of cancer in my family, except my mother who was a heavy smoker all her life and died of a smoking-related cancer. I have my blood pressure checked every six months and do as much exercise as my disabilities allow, and eat sensibly.

I went almost the whole way through the menopause without realising. I was getting excruciating pain in my long bones, especially my legs, and in my joints, and thought it was due to the very springy floor in a new office building. Turns out it was the menopause causing that. Painkillers wouldn't touch it.

I love not having those awful sweats any more, and having got rid of the bone pain. My disabilities cause other pain but that is manageable with the proper pain management regime; the menopause-related pain was unresponsive.

IfNot · 19/07/2018 16:52

I'm thinking about it-my hormones are all over the shop.
Why does it make you gain weight though?

TheWernethWife · 19/07/2018 16:59

Loved it.

Rafflesway · 19/07/2018 17:03

I have been taking hrt for 5 yrs now but only take half dosage.

I originally tried to avoid it but had 10 yrs of horrendous menopause symptoms. Hrt made me feel like a new woman within days. 😁

Tried to come off it last year but started to feel dreadful and old again within 3 weeks so quickly restarted. Am quite happy to keep taking the half - or less - dosage forever if necessary. (I am early 60's)

Rafflesway · 19/07/2018 17:06

ifnot I have actually lost weight since I started taking hrt.

However, it was discovered I had an under active thyroid when I began taking thyroxine and this was 6 months before beginning with hrt so not sure if that makes a difference.

NotAgainYoda · 19/07/2018 17:08

I do take it for perimenopause symptoms. It has really helped me. The risks are low for most people and have to be balanced against the effects of not taking it affecting your quality of life, mood and relationships. Some GPs are not up to date on the NICE guidelines and make it more of a big deal to take it than it is.

seventhgonickname · 19/07/2018 17:09

Im taking it.My quality of life has improved imeasurably.Still get overheated in hot weather but much better than without.

FishingIsNotASport · 19/07/2018 17:09

Never taken it, never plan to. I wanted to go through a natural menopause so focused on diet and exercise. Cut out processed foods, cut down on dairy and alcohol and upped my level of exercise. Had a few mild menopause symptoms (hot flushes, lethargy, memory loss) which were unpleasant but nothing too severe. Alcohol definitely made any symptoms much worse. I'm post menopause now and feel like my old self again, minus the monthly transformation into the Hulk!

TransplantsArePlants · 19/07/2018 17:09

Rafflesway

Me too. Lost weight on HRT

Lambzig · 19/07/2018 17:21

I am scared to take it because I had eight ivf cycles and think I have messed with my hormones enough. I am starting to rethink though as the symptoms are hideous.

ThriceThriceThice · 19/07/2018 17:26

I’m perimenopausal - but my symptoms are generally not too bad - fatigue and fuzzy mind are the worst things. Lots of my friends have gone through menopause without too much hassle. It’s a bit like childbirth - you hear all the horror stories, but lots of people have no or very little problem. My Mum died of hormone-related cancer so trying to stay off HRT - but will take doctors advice if symptoms get worse.

However, I would echo that exercise and healthy diet make a huge difference. You really need to be doing weights. After 45, it protects against osteoporosis and helps reduce fat (although not necessarily weight as you build muscle). I have a weights class at the gym which I do two or three times a week - I feel toned and strong and I love it.