…to ask if you decided to have HRT, & whether you’d recommend it?

[VenomHost]

I’m 52 & menopausal. Symptoms fairly mild but include weight gain, hot flushes & some insomnia & anxiety, although the last two likely to be partly due to a very stressful couple of years

Am considering HRT to hopefully ease these symptoms & also because I have read that HRT can be beneficial for bone & cardiovascular health & reduce risk of dementia.

If you decided to have HRT how easy was it to get, are you worried about any side effects or associated risks and have you benefitted / are you glad you’ve had it?

Oops - voting button added by accident!

I had a phone appt with my doctor and started the conversation with 'I want to go on HRT'

We reviewed the risks, he put me on a low dose and three days later I slept through the night for the first time in three years.

Life changing

I have just finished my first month of HRT and already feel the benefits. I had a telephone consultation with a very understanding GP. Over 45 they don't need to do blood tests but should prescribe on symptoms alone as per NICE guidelines.

Hadn’t slept for 6 months. Literally no sleep. Worse than newborn type no-sleep. Flushes and doom every 20 minutes all night every night.
Had thought I’d swish through with aromatherapy and some deep breathing. I was wrong.
Phone consult with GP. No quibble at all. She offered. I’d done my research and accepted.
Still have trouble going to sleep but so so much better. Still fat though.

It’s brilliant. It sorted out all my symptoms plus some issues that I hadn’t even twigged were menopausal symptoms.

I was offered either a coil or hrt that meant return of errant awful periods so have opted for ads to begin with. I am 45. I can't face either. Annoyingly periods erractic but still within two years so they can't offer hrt with no periods. Really need to lose weight.

This happened on Mon so no idea of effectiveness for me. Hoping for improvement of mood, fatigue and just some bloody energy back. I can't lose weight as so down about life.

Been on it just over 6 months. Absolute game changer. I’m 49 and my symptoms were mild but numerous, it was only whilst at the doctor’s for something else she asked if I was experiencing any menopausal symptoms. I recounted the various things I was “just putting up with” and she was firm that I didn’t need to live like that and put me straight on HRT , leaving me to decide best dosage as I am using a gel and tablets combo. It’s not perfect, but life is so much better for being on it. I’m not too worried about side effects, any concerns I had were dispelled by the doctor …I’ve survived a stroke so I’m happy to be here and enjoying myself not dealing with menopause!

I'm early 40s and started hrt last year. Bloods were normal which not unusual for peri.

But omg the hot flushes, I felt like I was living in a furnace - I had to wear shorts and vest tops permanently (not a good look for work). I was flushed and sweaty all the time which isn't a good look on an overweight lass. Then there was insomnia and weight gain.
It only occurred that it could be menopause when talking to ladies at work. Spoke to mum who only then told me she had finished menopause by 44 😳. Also my stupidly heavy periods which iv always had went down two days of light flow.
Luckily iv an an amazing gp who started me on hrt. I mainly wanted it for hot flushes and insomnia but I am worried about my bones. My female family memebers have history of bone issues which I do wonder due to early menopause

I've been on and off for a couple of years. First attempt (intermittent-combined) didn't really make any difference to the symptoms I was having at the time (not the most common ones). I came off for six months and then started getting the more common symptoms so went back on. My symptoms it was SO much better for 6 months. Then when I'd gone 11 months without a period I was having a check-up and she said to try move to continuous-combined. All my symptoms came back within 2 weeks (including a full-on proper period!!). I've now gone back to the intermittent-combined and my symptoms have improved instantly. My point is, it definitely works but you may need a bit of trial and error to work out what exactly works for you.

I have an amazing GP who spent so much time talking me through my options. It's been amazing for me, I am much more even tempered, my aches and pains have subsided, hot flushes and night sweats disappeared almost immediately and I am sleeping better than I've done for years.

I got HRT straight away, though this is in Australia. I had a full MOT, as the doctor wanted to know who died, of what and when when putting together a family health background.

My only symptoms were being woken up on the hour every hour from 1.00.a.m. in the morning with a hot flush - no sweat, just the heat. Naturally it affected my sleep and in full-time work !!!

HRT worked a treat. Significantly, my doctor said I should try an HRT "holiday" after a while, just to see if I still needed it. I used it for 18 months before a second "holiday" showed my symptoms had gone. I was very lucky indeed to have such s short time in getting the menopause done and dusted.

On HRT for about 6 months now.

I echo what others have said. Life changing.

I was on my knees with lack of sleep / dreadful sleep quality. Absolutely a million times worse than newborn stage.

The emotional rollercoaster - rage, despair, profound anxiety. I described it to my GP as wanting to leave my body, like pull off my skin. 😔

I was on Evorel patches plus Utrogestan. The Utrogestan was awful. So I'd have 2 good weeks, great weeks, then a temporary return of symptoms while on Utrogestan. I changed to Duphaston & it's been great.

It's given me my life back. Not all symptoms are gone but I am like a different person.

Btw, I'm 45. I was dealing with some aspects of this since turning 40, with it being particularly bad once I turned 43.

HRT is an absolute lifesaver, and I am not overstating. I feel it literally saved my life. I've been on it since I was 41, now 48, and I have no plans to stop using it.

If you can go to a private peri/menopause clinic, definitely do so.

I'm 46 and just took my last contraceptive pill today. Not going to take anymore as I've been wondering if possibly going through the menopause as get hot and clammy really easy even now in the winter. Other symptoms as well so will wait and see what happens. I've been on the pill for years but I don't have a cycle as I take a pill everyday and have no bleeding at all so wouldn't know when I was coming to menopause.
Does anyone know how long it takes to restart if at all? Will I get any bleeding? If I don't does that mean I possibly am going through the menopause? Or could I still spot or get a withdrawal bleed?

I started low dose continuous combined HRT tablets over five years ago for relatively mild menopausal symptoms (flushes and vaginal dryness but no mood disturbance, aches and pains etc). It sorted those symptoms out and I've never had any problems with it apart from the occasional tiny bleed in the first year. I'd recommend giving it a go if you have no medical reasons not to.

It changed my life... It is magic . All of my symptoms and health niggles vanished within a week. Try it and see... You can always stop.

I'm almost 41 and pretty certain I'm perimenopausal, how likely is it my GP will hand it over without any fuss?

My main symptoms are:

• periods have gone a bit weird. Over the last year or two they've fluctuated and are still regular-ish but for the last six months I'm always either a 3-4 days early or 3-4 days late. They last longer too, 7-8 days instead of 4-5 and around day 4 I get no bleeding at all. I call it the "girl, you thought..." day because it tricks me into thinking its stopped then it comes back with a vengeance the next day until it finishes at around day 7-8

• I now get all of the PMS symptoms after decades of none. Cramps, sore boobs, mood swings, nausea, spots. I hate it.

• ovulation pain, again after decades of not having it I now get it where month and can tell you exactly which side I'm ovulating from based on where it feels like I'm being stabbed. What the fuck is that about!?

• hair loss. And not just on my head, my legs and my bits have gone a little bit patchy too.

• heart palpitations and costochondritis. These are definitely hormone based because I kept a diary for the GP as part of investigations into it and I get the palpitations in the day or two around ovulation and then palpitations and costochondritis from around 3-4 days before my period arrives until a day or two after it ends.

• joint pain, particularly in my ribs and my back but also my arms and shoulders

• headaches. I remember my mum always had a headache and practically lived on ibuprofen. Well now I always have a headache but in particular during ovulation and then again during my period and its not just a little headache it's like a three day long continuous headache that somehow manages to go down the back of my neck too

• sleep issues. I can't get to sleep until the early hours and then I can't wake up in the morning. Other nights I am nodding off by 9pm and then also can't get up in the morning

• dry skin and itchy skin. No wrinkles (yet), hypermobility has one benefit and that's youthful looking skin, but bugger me is it dry and itchy particularly my legs and the backs of my hands

• armpit hair. Never in my life have I grown armpit hair except now I do. Fair enough, it's roughly four strands per armpit but that's still more than I have ever grown

• brain fog and tiredness. It's like my soul is tired, if that makes sense? I know what needs doing, I know how to do it, I just can't seem to muster up enough Give A Fuck to actually coordinate the steps involved to get it done. I forget things too, walk into a room but forget why, pick up my phone to Google something and forget what it is, go to the shop for something and come back with everything except that thing. It's annoying.

I've had blood tests to check iron, thyroid, liver, etc and they were all fine. GP booked me for ECGs and 48hr heart monitor when the palpitations and costochondritis started, they were all fine. Some of my symptoms (bloating, upper back pain) gave him concern about ovarian cancer so he sent me for an ultrasound and did three separate CA125 blood tests, all normal. Had an abdominal ultrasound for the pain under my ribs, normal. Had a mammogram and ultrasound as I found a lump in my breast, all normal. Eye tests all up to date and normal. Blood pressure is fine. I don't think it can be anything other than peri.

@Hospedia

You can try your GP but they are notoriously useless when it comes to peri/menopause. Go to a private peri/menopause clinic if you can. It is well worth it. My peri started at 39/40, and going private is literally one of the best things I've ever done for myself. It saved me.

As vain as it sounds, the hair loss is the thing upsetting me the most. I had lovely hair and now it just looks a bit thin and lank, not helped by someone I know asking me the other day "are you losing your hair!?" because the wind blew and they saw how thin it is

I was finally prescribed it this week after a bit of a battle. I'm 48, hot flushes, insomnia, mood swings, so not sure why another GP discounted this completely last year and gave me ADs instead.

I'd then tried to raise it via Livi due to not being able to access GP, but it was ruled out again as (rather confusingly) I had/have long Covid symptoms and there are some crossover.

I was at surgery for blood tests when a different GP asked me about peri. She was brilliant.

@Hospedia

It's like my soul is tired, if that makes sense?

It does. I was the same.

I could nearly guarantee that HRT will be transformational for you.

I felt the difference in a day. Honestly. I slept better after one night.

@middleager

I was finally prescribed it this week after a bit of a battle. I'm 48, hot flushes, insomnia, mood swings, so not sure why another GP discounted this completely last year and gave me ADs instead.

I'd then tried to raise it via Livi due to not being able to access GP, but it was ruled out again as (rather confusingly) I had/have long Covid symptoms and there are some crossover.

I was at surgery for blood tests when a different GP asked me about peri. She was brilliant.

I forgot to mention my brain fog

@Hospedia

As vain as it sounds, the hair loss is the thing upsetting me the most. I had lovely hair and now it just looks a bit thin and lank, not helped by someone I know asking me the other day "are you losing your hair!?" because the wind blew and they saw how thin it is

You are not vain at all. Of course hair loss is upsetting. I hope you immediately try to get HRT. Don't be afraid to advocate for what you need.

I felt the difference in a day. Honestly. I slept better after one night.

This was exactly my experience. My horrible insomnia was gone in one day. The debilitating anxiety I had was completely gone within 3 days. HRT save me.