AIBU to think that any woman who can should take HRT?

[HRTevangelist]

It's fucking brilliant and has turned my life around. I have more energy, I can concentrate, I've lost a stone without trying, I've been promoted at work and my facial hair has completely gone. I am unstoppable!

This is truly amazing stuff. It should be considered for all peri women as routine before looking at alternatives as necessary.

Well touch wood I don't need it so I wouldn't want to take it for no reason.

But if things do change, I would like it without being lectured by the GP (always assuming I can even see the mythical creature that is a GP) about the risks of breast cancer.

It should not be routine, but it should be on demand.

I agree - and god I wish GP's would stop gatekeeping it from us - it's harder to get than rocking horse shit - seriously

I bloody love mine

I did a similar post a little while again. I'm only 41 and it's life changing. Only thanks to mumsnet I realised I had peri symptoms at yougish age - hot flush, migraines, tiredness, periods weirdly lite. My bloods were normal but GP still put me on HRT and it's been fab

And GP was amazing. No wrangling or anything. Suggested hrt off the bat, sent me loads of literature and prescribed patches

Whispers (sex is much better too)

agree and there needs to be more re-education about the breast cancer risks and alternative ways to take it which don't carry those risks.

It was a life changer for me.

I suffered headaches all my life till I went on HRT. I'm so much better now.

My GPs have actually flat-out lied to me about HRT.

YANBU, @HRTevangelist.

It definitely should be readily available and first line treatment rather than the anti-depressants 40+ women offered.

Can I ask how long it took to kick in? I've been on the gel for 3 weeks and am not noticing a significant difference. I so so want the positive changes to happen.

No because many women don't need it.
I sailed through peri menopause and full menopause with no symptoms at all apart from menstuation stopping.

Doesn’t it make your periods come back? That’s what puts me off. Having suffered stupidly heavy periods for years , I don’t want them back! I’ll happily put up with the flushes and poor sleep. However, I would like my brain back.

Yes it really is. My GP was fab as well. I'd got a coil from the gynae consultant to deal with horrendous periods following gynae surgery +peri and I felt like I was losing my fucking mind. Went to GP and said I cannot cope with this so she gave me oestrogen gel and now everything is tickety boo.

@speakout how about your bone density reduction ? are you having that checked frequently to see the speed?

Yes I agree. I'm my best self every day. It's incredible. No periods as on continuous HRT. Will stay on it til I die

@Madamswearsalot it took about two months before I noticed consistent long term changes although I did feel sporadically better and calmer and more capable during that time. I checked in with the GP after four weeks though at her request to see if I wanted to wait it out or if I felt I really needed something else.

If they want to.

It wouldn't be right to tell anyone they should do. It is their decision.

(Unfortunately it hasn't done anything for my beard)

Not for me. Had minor issues such as flooding and hot flushes and sore joints but nothing that required any medication. I realise I’m lucky but I’d hate to be medicated as a matter of course.

8 years on (59) I feel fab, loads of energy, look better than I’ve ever done.(caveat - never been a stunner).

@Watto1

Doesn’t it make your periods come back? That’s what puts me off. Having suffered stupidly heavy periods for years , I don’t want them back! I’ll happily put up with the flushes and poor sleep. However, I would like my brain back.

It shouldn’t do if they put you on to continuous HRT.

Bigwave No I don't

I keep fit and have a good diet. I really dont want medication.

I've made an appt with my GP as I'm convinced I'm peri. Terrible anxiety and brain fog and feel like my zest for life has disappeared.

It only clicked the other day that it might be menopause.

Can I ask what HRT you are taking @HRTevangelist?

Just to de-rail, please check that your treatment doesn’t contain ‘Premarin ’, derived from the urine of mares kept permanently pregnant and in horrific conditions. There are synthetic versions available.

I personally don't want too because of the increased cancer risk. Exh is a cancer researcher and didn't want me to take the pill either, I trust him on this one. I'm managing ok at the moment on non hormonal interventions and an amazing dp

@Watto1 I don't have periods but I do have the mirena as well. Even with the mirena I was getting a fair bit of bleeding until I started the oestradiol. Now I don't get anything at all. It's so freeing.

I'm postmenopausal. I don't take HRT because I have never felt the need. I've had a relatively easy time of it.

Yes, it should be freely available to those women who want or need it and for whom it is suitable, but not pushed on every menopausal woman.

How do I know if I need to go on it?