To take HRT when my symptoms aren't that bad?

[GooseyLucy123]

I've got the appointment with the GP to decide tomorrow, she's sent me the RCOG guidance about how to manage the menopause to read beforehand, which talks about other options such as CBT and diet & exercise. My symptoms are: depression (I've had clinical depression before, but these mood swings (and the anger) are new), anxiety, night sweats, insomnia (I can't sleep in now which used to be my superpower!). I am tired and stressed (aren't we all). But I don't get hot flushes. GP did a blood test as I'm not quite 45 yet, and results were all normal (this included vit D, thyroid, iron as well as LH and FSH. The only thing slightly elevated was LH, but not by much, apparently).

I exercise regularly and eat healthily. I can't work out if HRT would be the amazing panacea some have found it, or the benefits might not be worth the risk. Am I being unreasonable to take HRT when things aren't that bad? Any advice welcomed. If it improved my sleep I think I would be very happy.

@12548ehe9fnfobms

I've just started, I'm 1 month in and it's a game changer. I'm 46. My sleep is much better quality, my joint aches have completely gone, breast soreness has gone. For me it's the accumulative impact of all the symptoms. I am happier now than I have been in the last 6 years.

Can I ask what you're on please?

Those 3 symptoms you have are the exact 3 that cause me massive issues (I am so over having sore breasts all month!).

I'm also 46. I do have Hashimoto's and am hypothyroid, so initially thought my symptoms were caused by that (and they still could be). However, I've done all I can to get my thyroid into a better place, including self-medicating with T3 meds as levothyroxine just doesn't work for me.

Periods are a bit all over the place, so that combined with other symptoms above suggest I'm peri-menopausal, and I could definitely do with something to try and help me feel better.

I'm currently weighing it up. I am in my late 40s and have very few symptoms.

But my mother has taken it all her post menopausal life (low dose patch) and I went to a webinar that Dr Louise Newson did a few weeks ago and she said that we should all be taking it to avoid osteoporosis, heart problems and dementia.

I am not very keen, I didn't take the Pill for long because it killed my sex drive, but I am more worried about brittle bones and dementia than I am about that.

I am surprised you describe your symptoms as not “that bad”. They sound bad enough to me - you don’t have to get hot flushes for it to be “that bad” - and we don’t have to be on our knees before we take it.

It has changed my life; the insomnia, hot flushes, severe irritation and mood swings have disappeared. My libido had remained high throughout, probably even higher since perimenopause but I’ve heard that HRT can help with low libido.

I remember when my mum started HRT 30 years ago and said she felt like a new woman! I feel the same.

So pleased to read this thread. I cried on DH today as I am so fed up with the way I feel. Anxiety, low mood, exhaustion, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, no bloody libido at all and a constant feeling of tearfulness mixed with fury...I am absolutely not myself anymore and I'm only 48.

I don't want to be fobbed off by the GP so am going straight to the Newson clinic. I'm not having a bloody coil either. Just give me a prescription!

I'd go for HRT just for the sake of your bones!
Osteoporosis is not fun.

I’m in the exact same position, and will be starting HRT. Try it, see how you get on.

I started it just because I was experiencing poor sleep. It has made a real difference where nothing else did. Recommend you give it a try OP

@anungratefulwretch

So pleased to read this thread. I cried on DH today as I am so fed up with the way I feel. Anxiety, low mood, exhaustion, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, no bloody libido at all and a constant feeling of tearfulness mixed with fury...I am absolutely not myself anymore and I'm only 48.

I don't want to be fobbed off by the GP so am going straight to the Newson clinic. I'm not having a bloody coil either. Just give me a prescription!

I think there are quite a number of GP who seem to be of the opinion that feeling like this is part of being a women and you just have to get on with it; either that you're it's all in your imagination.

There's absolutely no reason why any woman should have to live feeling like this for years. Yes, it is part of being a woman but when we have a simple medication that can stop, most, women feeling like shit for years it ought to be freely available to those that want it; no one should be fobbed off by their GP.

Reading this thread I'm beginning to wonder if, at 73, I should request being put on it again for the health of my bones and my heart, especially as I didn't want to stop taking it in the first place.

I took hrt from the age or 47 to 60 as I had horrendous menopausal symptoms. It definitely made me feel a lot better, however I was then diagnosed with breast cancer which was estrogen and progesterone positive so probably caused by the hrt.
I don’t know how I would have got through the menopause without hrt as it was so awful despite what happened , but I would say only take it if you feel you can’t manage without it because there is a risk . As for protecting your bones I was horrified to find I have osteopenia despite being very active and supposedly hrt protection for 13 years .
It’s such a hard decision to make, my gp said to me once that if something happened in the future she didn’t want me to be filled with regret about my decision to be on it so long and actually I’m not, I tried for years to come off it for my symptoms to return . Obviously when I was diagnosed I had to stop taking it and I was ok after several weeks but now have a lot of the symptoms due to hormone therapy I need for 5 years. I’ve have no choice but to put up with them now but they’re not as bad as the menopause was.

Reading this thread I'm beginning to wonder if, at 73, I should request being put on it again for the health of my bones and my heart, especially as I didn't want to stop taking it in the first place

My mum has had various GPs try to stop her having it but she has always managed to win them round. As I mentioned upthread she is on the lowest dose patch (she's 82).

It is also worth knowing, for women reading this, that if you have localised symptoms like vaginal dryness etc, you can get topical treatments. You still need a prescription but they can make a big difference without having to persuade a GP to let you have HRT.

I'm the same as you, very sporty, run every day, cycle and walk too, was never really bothered by the menopause except for sleep. But having heard so many good things about it (not least the effect of osteoporosis prevention) I gave it a try, and feel like a new woman. I'd definitely give it a go if I were you.

It's artificial hormones. It comes with risks. Menopause is a natural part of life. Eating well and exercising goes a long way to alleviating symptoms. To each their own but I hate how the medical profession push HRT onto anyone post Menopause

I had a private consultation with the Newson clinic while I was waiting for an appointment with my local NHS menopause clinic. I had only very mild symptoms and wanted to ask when would be the best time to start HRT as I definitely wanted it at some point for the protective element. Having worked in health research I was satisfied with the safety. It was reassuring to find that the Newson nurse, and the NHS HRT specialist doctor, said exactly the same thing, which was that there was no need to wait until things became awful, and that it was entirely reasonable to start on low- dose estrogen gel given my age (49). I had a Mirena replaced for the progesterone element and, although it was technically a "difficult" replacement for the doctor due to fibroids and other issues, actually it was OK for m me. They used a numbing gel which was very effective. That's the progesterone element of HRT sorted for 5 years now.

@MenopauseSucks I could have written your post. I’m 47 and I have a box of patches to start next week when my period arrives. My symptoms are pretty much wild and terrible PMT and anger. The other symptoms I can live with, they are marginal. But it’s like pmt gone wild.

I was also wondering if I needed to be “worse” but suddenly completely ready to try it, if this mood bollox stops (it’s severity each month is inconsistent but the timing is always the same)

I hope it works, for us all!

I’d definitely take it if I could (breast cancer). The insomnia in particular is a right bugger.

I had an online appointment with a specialist nurse practitioner who prescribed Oestrogel and Sandrena - both bioidentical.
My energy levels have shot up (I even hoovered the whole house!!), I've stood up for myself more at work without any nagging self doubt and has more sex. So far so good

@Mojoj

It's artificial hormones. It comes with risks. Menopause is a natural part of life. Eating well and exercising goes a long way to alleviating symptoms. To each their own but I hate how the medical profession push HRT onto anyone post Menopause

Men don't lose their hormones just over halfway through life do they? So why should we?

I'd rather be able to walk up stairs in my 50s thanks.

I'd be on crutches by now if it wasn't for HRT, instead I've bought a second house in France and I'm starting a new farm business.

Fuck that 'natural so I'll be a martyr' shit.

I’m menopausal. No periods for years and very high FSH. HRT didn’t help any of my symptoms and I gained a stone in a month, despite eating exactly the same. And of course, being menopausal, it took me bloody ages to lose the weight. You couldn’t pay me enough to take HRT again!

Go for it.

As soon as my period had stopped for 3 months, I was in front of the GP asking for HRT, even though my symptoms were relatively 'minor' so far. We have osteoporosis in the family, it hit my mum and grandmother hard, so not taking any chances.
Bonkers that women have to fight so hard to maintain their health and sanity as we age. men don't.

@Mojoj

It's artificial hormones. It comes with risks. Menopause is a natural part of life. Eating well and exercising goes a long way to alleviating symptoms. To each their own but I hate how the medical profession push HRT onto anyone post Menopause

It’s hormones largely synthesised from plants, identical to our own.

@anungratefulwretch

So pleased to read this thread. I cried on DH today as I am so fed up with the way I feel. Anxiety, low mood, exhaustion, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, no bloody libido at all and a constant feeling of tearfulness mixed with fury...I am absolutely not myself anymore and I'm only 48.

I don't want to be fobbed off by the GP so am going straight to the Newson clinic. I'm not having a bloody coil either. Just give me a prescription!

Did your GP actually fob you off, or did you just see an opportunity for a bit of doctor bashing?

'I had an online appointment with a specialist nurse practitioner who prescribed Oestrogel and Sandrena - both bioidentical.'

Do you mean oestrogel and utrogestan? because sandrena is transdermal oestrogen like oestrogel so you don't need both.

@shedmistress who said anything about being a martyr? Menopause IS a natural part of getting older. That's a fact. It's also a fact that a good diet and tailored exercise programme designed to strengthen bone density can help avoid a lot of the health issues associated with the Menopause. Or you could opt to ingest artificial hormones and accept the associated risks that go with it. Like I said, to each their own.

Menopause is a natural part of getting older in the same way that osteoporosis, high blood pressure, arthritis etc.etc. are.
Good diet and tailored exercise don't even touch some of the symptoms of menopause. So yes, you would somewhat of a martyr to not consider HRT.