…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?

Yes, 1 year now, really helps! First prescription/disease didn’t make much difference so went back to GP and was referred to Menopause clinic at my local hospital and they changed it and now much better. So ask for a change if doesn’t have a big impact. Not worried about side effects as think it protects against more problems then it gives. GP will advise if your family history is relevant. Spoke with an expert at my local Menopause clinic and he said that some women are on it for a few years and others can be only it for the rest of their lives. It depends and varies person to person. I highly recommend it!!!

Re HRT and dementia. From the Alsheimers UK website:

“Hormone replacement therapy

Some women choose to have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when they go through menopause to help relieve some of the more unpleasant symptoms, such as hot flushes and mood swings. HRT is usually a combination of oestrogen and another hormone called progesterone, although there are different types.

Studies looking at whether replenishing oestrogen levels using HRT can reduce women's risk of dementia have been inconclusive and contradictory. For example, some studies of women who were already using HRT during menopause found that their risk of dementia was lower than those not on HRT. However, other studies found no strong evidence for this. There is some evidence that HRT may even increase dementia risk. Clinical trials looking at the use of HRT to treat Alzheimer's disease in women, rather than prevent it, did not show any beneficial effects on cognition.

Until there is better evidence, the potential benefits of HRT as a way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease do not outweigh the potential risks of HRT, which includes an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Hormones may still provide a way to treat or prevent dementia though. Researchers continue to look for other hormones, and other ways of using oestrogen, which could be safer and more effective. More research into why women are more likely to get dementia than men is also important to help us understand exactly what causes it.”

I'm in my first month of HRT, and already feel vastly better than before.

My symptoms were generally mild but numerous - anxiety, low mood, insomnia, brain fog, lack of motivation, mood swings, gut issues, etc. It wasn't until I started to get appalling symptoms of vaginal atrophy (felt like I had broken glass in my vagina and the itching / pain meant I actually wasn't leaving the house some days) that I gave in and made an appt with a private online menopause clinic.

I'm now on Evorel Conti and Ovestin cream, and feel much more myself again. My memory is still pretty shit but I figure that probably doesn't change overnight. Everything else, much improved!

Thanks for the responses! I’ve learnt a lot - seems my achy joints, which I’ve put down to just getting older, may be another menopausal symptom. I was totally unaware of that possibility before reading this thread.
Also had a complete panic at the weekend when under pressure I couldn’t work out how to call some one in my contacts on my phone … is that what people mean by brain fog or am I going bonkers after all?

I'm peri menopausal/menopausal but not had a period for about 10 months, do your periods restart with HRT?

Life changing. Do it.

Also had a complete panic at the weekend when under pressure I couldn’t work out how to call some one in my contacts on my phone … is that what people mean by brain fog or am I going bonkers after all
This is a great description of brain fog. I thought I had early onset dementia.

I started last september and after 6 months I can honestly say the impact was marginal. I went back to my GP 2 weeks ago and changed from the patch to the gel and upped the dose. I'm waiting for the benefits to really to kick in but I do think that my concentration is a bit better already and I feel less fatigued - though of course that could be as much to do with a bit of sunshine than the treatment. I REALLY wish I was one of the "game changer" group but so far I'm not.

Been on it for years now with a break between and a different type.
I could not carry on without it. Not blowing smoke up your ass, I simply could not function anymore.
Brain fog is gone although words escape me often, I no longer get the aches that made it impossible to walk or drive. Sweats reduced massively from several times a night to probably 7 this year so far and they are manageable sweats, not sleep on several towels and hope it doesn't get through them all or have a shower and change whole bedding a few times each night.

Hair has definitely thinned and I dont think that's coming back now, but all in I'm happier, currently on novofem cannot remember previous but it was patches that then became unavailable.

@VenomHost

Thanks for the responses! I’ve learnt a lot - seems my achy joints, which I’ve put down to just getting older, may be another menopausal symptom. I was totally unaware of that possibility before reading this thread. Also had a complete panic at the weekend when under pressure I couldn’t work out how to call some one in my contacts on my phone … is that what people mean by brain fog or am I going bonkers after all?

Achy legs and knee pain was the worse for me. I went on hrt talblets 2 months ago and it's completely gone !

@TeeBee

Thanks. Yeah, I'm already doing that. The usual tricks for losing weight just don't seem to be helping as much as they usually do. Already doing weights/HIIT so will keep up with that. Thanks. It might be worth a try.

HIIT might be the issue as it raises cortisol levels which can inhibit weight loss, and in some instances, actually cause weight gain. LISS and weights/resistance training is far more effective for losing weight during perimenopause.

@vjg13

I'm peri menopausal/menopausal but not had a period for about 10 months, do your periods restart with HRT?

No they don’t.

However, to have reached menopause, if you are over 50, you need to have had a whole 12 months without a period, and if you’re under 50, 24 months. I know a few people whose periods suddenly restarted a few days/months short and suddenly found themselves menstruating regularly and for a few more years.

I asked my doctor as I was having menopause symptoms. I originally started on tablets but went on to patches. I've been on it now for about 8 years and don't want to sound dramatic but it saved me from a life of misery. Definitely worth having a chat with your doctor and seeing if it's the right thing for you.

I am so much happier taking it...talked to the gp told her I was like a mad woman, could cry etc..not depressed..had a blood test.. 1 month later I was a new person.

HRT saved me! Initially my symptoms were not too bad but oh my god when they kicked in!

I would wake up soaked through several times a night. I had brain fog, low mood, aching joints. I initially had a low dose and them moved onto gel and tablets.

It saved me.

As you cannot work out relatively simple stuff that's a touch of brain fog and anxiety. I would honestly give it a go if I were you. It also protects your bones.

Even with some trial and error it's worth it.

Six months in, feel better than I have done in over two years.
Brain fog gone, no hot flushes, I actually feel the cold now, which is very strange. Sleep through the night, hair has stopped falling out, weight stabilised. My patches will need to be wrestled off me when I'm old and grey!
Total game changers.

Not surprised by all the positive responses here!

Are there any reasons why it would not be an option for everyone? I remember many years ago it was associated with cancer risk, but I believe that has essentially been debunked? Or maybe different range of options for different individual cases?

I too have had a great experience with HRT.
After a couple of years of sweats, awful sleep, grumpiness and brain fog I asked for it via telephone and was given it. Been on it 10 months and it has been life changing, the best being no sweats and a full nights sleep! Another great thing has been, I’ve suffered from terribly painful bunions for 5 years, always thought it was just one of those things, about 5 months after starting HRT the pain hs completely gone- I’m able to wear whatever shoes I like again. I’d highly recommend HRT to every woman.

@MorganBrocklehurst thanks for you reply.

Until there is better evidence, the potential benefits of HRT as a way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease do not outweigh the potential risks of HRT, which includes an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke

This is quite misleading of the Alzheimers website. The benefits of HRT categorically outweigh the risks except for women with certain conditions eg a genetic risk of breast cancer. And the cancer risks were greater from the tablets - most women take it via a patch these days.

As for "delaying onset of symptoms", menopause is a hormone deficiency. Those hormones don't come back, so you either continue with HRT until you die, or the symptoms come back or you're lucky and they don't. My mum is still on a low dose in her 80s.

I am experiencing sporadic and very brief hot flushes and haven't had a period since before Christmas so should look into getting it myself.

I think if we stopped calling it menopause and called it something like reproductive hormone deficiency, it would be taken more seriously with fewer taboos because it wouldn't sound like a middle aged woman thing.

TBH hasn't made a massive difference to me. I cannot remember what I was first on, but I've been on Femoston 2mg since September. Bleeding still a bit irregular, very tired, achey joints just recently, mood and anxiety not great. I spoke to my GP last week, I'm having a pelvic scan to check my womb lining, but may need to rethink things.

You can have HRT if you are in menopause and you have not been menstruating for a while. My friend of 58 has just started HRT

I’m just about to start HRT.
I went down the private route because of cervical cancer history and a lack of faith in my GP.
I paid £250 for an hour consultation and some follow up emails and calls. Am about to start oestrogen patches.
I have horrible brain fog, awful insomnia, increased migraines, joint aches, weight gain, continence issues, prolapse issues…..it goes on. I need to try something as I feel like a shadow of my former self.

My DM swears by HRT and has been taking it for 15 years! (she’s now 65). We have a family history of osteoarthritis so DM also takes it for this reason. When my time comes I will also be taking it 100%.