HRT

[GratS]

Most of my closest friends are taking HRT and I feel a bit like they think I am silly not to be doing so as it has so many extra benefits on top of helping ease menopausal symptoms and because they say it makes them feel amazing. But I don’t have bad menopausal symptoms yet, and I can’t really afford to take something just because it makes me feel ‘fab’! I think it is wonderful that there are options out there now to help with menopause and that there is much more talk about it in media and amongst friends, but AIBU to say I feel a bit pressured by them to take it even though I am ok at the moment ?

Heya. I'm sure your friends would be possibly be concerned if you were really suffering and refusing to consider options which could improve or alleviate your symptoms. However, it sounds like you're doing just fine as you are. Plus it's your choice and yours alone.
I've taken hrt for many years because I feel vaguely human on it. My symptoms were intolerable to me before - low mood, crawling skin, sweats, insomnia, brain fog. You name it. I knew I had to try anything. Your friends are lucky it makes them feel "amazing" though. My personal experience is, even on it, I don't feel 100% - it's not always a miracle by any means. I still get itchy skin and some hot flushing even on the max dose. Have tried different types too. Your friends are right, there are benefits on top of relieving symptoms e.g. reducing the risk of osteoporosis etc. However, there are also health risks too and my GP is always trying to get me to come off it. Most of my friends have had to fight to get it/stay on it and know how to quote the NICE guidelines. It's not the elixir of youth or anything - what it is, is a lifesaver for many many women. Good luck, I hope you continue feeling well.

Thanks so much for your post @GinJeanie. Sorry to hear you have had such a tough time pre and on HRT. I think maybe my friends are going through the honeymoon period with it - it feels almost like they are talking about it like they talk about Prosecco! I suspect it won’t be an all encompassing cure though, like you say hormones are more complicated than that. I grew up as a huge HRT fan as my mum was a doctor and lectured in HRT long before her male colleagues thought it was a good idea. So I shall definitely consider it if I start getting symptoms (currently only reflux and my usual pmt which I can cope with). I just feel that my friends are slightly taunting me with ‘oh you should try it it’s so brilliant, everyone’s on it’ type conversations when I don’t actually feel it is necessary yet.
I have noticed it is my friends who drink more who are getting worse early symptoms and turning to HRT quicker but I think that might only be anecdotal rather than a known fact?

If you don't have significant symptoms, and you are not hitting menopause early, then no real need for HRT.

As for making you feel 'fab'... I've never found that, it just restores me to almost where I was before chronic hot flushes, insomnia etc. So fab in comparison to that, but not better than my pre-menopause normal.

I am a huge fan of hrt and it has given me my quality of life back after debilitating symptoms (I’m a non drinker and healthy lifestyle for what it’s worth). However it is of course your decision and if your symptoms are fine you shouldn’t feel pressured. Maybe your friends don’t realise how evangelical they are being as they are genuinely enthusiastic about how it helped them. Is it worth mentioning to them?

@EssexLioness I think that is probably what it is and I just have a bit of HRT Fomo! But that isn’t a good enough reason for taking it. I will definitely be considering it if I do get symptoms that I can’t cope with.

I can understand that! I love mine. But if you aren’t getting terrible symptoms then I don’t hink you are missing out. Part of the reason why people rave about them is the difference it’s made in their lives so feeling well again after feeling so rubbish before. If you feel ok now then you wouldn’t get the full benefit from it. I feel amazing on mine but only because I felt so awful before. It isn’t a magic pill - I don’t feel like a twenty something, I just feel like a well forty something woman. But it sounds like you already feel that way anyway. Obviously there are other benefits of hrt which you are already aware of eg osteoporosis, heart disease but personally I wouldn’t have chosen hrt just for these reasons, if my symptoms were ok.

Early menopause here. Hot flush and tiredness whochnincould have coped with but I started it mainly to protect my bones. Added benefit that it had massively improved my sex drive and dryness issues which I didnt even realise was an issue until i started hrt.

@GratS

They shouldn’t be pressurising you, each to their own, but as perimenopause is the best time to start you need to make your mind up.

I had an unexpected surgical menopause at 40. Wasn’t expecting my ovaries to be removed. The lovely lady surgeon put in an oestrogen implant while closing me up and day 2 when the other hysterectomy ladies could barely walk I was up helping them and felt wonderful.

That was 30+ years ago and I’m still on it. Compared to my friends I feel and look amazingly young for my age. (not glamorous just ordinary but at least 10 years younger.) My health has been excellent the ones who chose not to use HRT are all suffering from some of the long term effects of low oestrogen - osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy, incontinence, low libido, sleep problems, osteoarthritis etc.

It may be contraindicated for you but if not then do think about it.