To wonder why I was never offered hrt

[paganbilly]

I've gone through menopause now but from what Ive been reading on here most women get offered hrt. My surgery never offered it until a couple of months ago after I'd gone through the menopause, that horse had already bolted.

Menopause is a natural part of ageing. I think (although I have nothing to back this up!) that you’re only offered HRT if you’ve had a hysterectomy or gone through it early? And afterwards, if you’re really suffering with related issues?

I don’t really know tough.

I had to ask and ask and ask then a lovely nurse at my gps suggested it and it was life changing im off it now and I'm coping ok,it wasn't easy to get ime.

It might be down to the views of your GP - I guess some are more likely to push it than others, depending on how they have personally interpreted the research and studies around it.

There was a big shortage of supplies for a good while. Think it's just been sorted, which is why they might have started being more proactive in offering it. Before then, depending on your surgery, you might have had to ask or even campaign for it rather than wait to be offered.

The only people I know who have been given it are people who had medical reasons to such as early menopause or other conditions.

In my experience it isn't the norm to offer HRT through an otherwise normal menopause. It might differ in other areas though.

Did you have troublesome symptoms ?

Did you go to your GP and ask for help?

What other treatment were you offered ?

It's not too late to go on to HRT if you're post menopause.

I was 19 months post my last period when I started and it helped me a lot. I wasn't sleeping, felt very flat and had strange aches and pains and was very hot at night. I just wasn't going to stand for living like that.

Oestrogen depletion lasts for the rest of your life, not just menopause, even if the more apparent symptoms dissipate.

But did you actually ask for it, OP and get refused? Or did you never mention it?
GPs are not mind readers! And most women get through the menopause without needing or wanting HRT.
No doctor is going to push a treatment with known side effects, including slightly increased cancer risk, to patients who have not requested it in the first place.
I’m a retired doctor myself, and never wanted or needed HRT. Living in Scotland, I actually appreciated hot flushes- I used to wait for one before getting out of bed on icy winter mornings!

And more of my friends, mainly in their mid-fifties, are on HRT than are not. SOmetimes it's just not discussed.

The only reason my GP knows I have gone through menopause was because I had to inform them at my smear of my last period. They offered a test just to confirm but other than not sleeping well had no other symptoms, so no reason to discuss HRT.

It possibly depends on the timing. 25 years ago women were routinely encouraged to go on HRT indefinitely, then some research was carried out which suggested it could have risks for some groups. Many GPs became cautious about prescribing it. Then the research was criticised on several grounds, and it is widely felt that if it is prescribed at the time of menopause and for a limited period, it is beneficial. Then there was a shortage of certain products... In general there has been uncertainty and differing opinions, and you may have started menopause at a time when GPs were hesitant to prescribe, especially if the patient wasn't requesting it.

Living in Scotland, I actually appreciated hot flushes

I love it!

I asked for it and backed up my reasons with the relevant symptoms. Your post is unclear as to whether you were having issues which you discussed with your doctor?

Certainly there was a time when it was offered almost routinely but then hrt implicated for higher rates of breast cancer and its use sharply dropped. During that time the newer GPS just weren’t familiar with prescribing it so even when it was found to be far safer than thought it still wasn’t and isn’t used as much.

But you can still ask for it if you think you’d benefit.

@S00LA

Did you have troublesome symptoms ?

Did you go to your GP and ask for help?

What other treatment were you offered ?

Yes, yes and none.

They didn’t offer you any treatment at all ? No gels, creams, patches etc ?

This forum is missleading in making you think that the majority of menopausal women are on hrt. In real life, it's a minority.

As HRT does come with additional risks, albeit not high, they don't go advertising it. They should mention it though if the woman is struggling and has tried everything else.

I do think it is unusual for a GP not to suggest it in your situation.

Or do you mean it was offered after you'd started the menopause but not whilst in perimenopause when you were struggling?

It is the case that some GPs seem not to know that HRT can be prescribed before bleeding has stopped for 12 months.

I had a hysterectomy and no one ever mentioned hrt, probably because I was 58, but I had not stopped having periods prior to the op. I thought it was only prescribed of you were having symptoms you couldn't cope with and asked about it.

I wasn't offered it. I had handcuffed myself to the doctors desk and I refused to leave without a prescription for the good stuff.

@S00LA

They didn’t offer you any treatment at all ? No gels, creams, patches etc ?

No, nothing.

@dontdisturbmenow

Or do you mean it was offered after you'd started the menopause but not whilst in perimenopause when you were struggling?

It is the case that some GPs seem not to know that HRT can be prescribed before bleeding has stopped for 12 months.

I was offered mirena which turned out to be unsuitable and ineffective, then a hysterectomy which was unnecessary, I was only offered hrt six months after no periods when I happened to speak to a different Gp about something completely unrelated.

I had no issues other than a drop in sexual performance. But I went to the GPand asked anyway because I have osteoporosis in the family, wasn't yet 50 when my periods went awol and wanted to use it as protection for my bones.

They prescribed it without quibble.

Lots of doctors are reluctant to prescribe HRT, despite its many benefits and NICE guidelines. It’s certainly not true that it’s routinely offered or suggested. It can be life-changing and it’s criminal that women aren’t more informed about it.

Just a little food for thought:
I was prescribed HRT but had to stop taking it as soon as it was discovered that I had Breast Cancer. After surgery I was told the receptors on the removed cancer cells were positive for both Oestrogen and Progesterone so must never go back on it.

Obviously they won't say the HRT caused the BC but it is fairly clear that is what the surgeon thinks.