Anyone with medical knowledge about HRT around? Not sure if GP is fobbing me off.

[menopausalminnie1]

My GP has told me that I don't need HRT. I'm not sure whether she is right, or if she's fobbing me off to save money.

I am 55. I still have periods, albeit erratic. I have no issues with low mood, but I am very achy, especially in my lower back, which impacts how long I can walk for. Just had a long holiday with lots of walking, which was agony quite frankly.

I've read that HRT can cause cancer, so it's best to avoid it, if you can manage without. But other things I've read contradict this and even say that all women should take it for bone health etc.

Any experts out there who can advise me please?

Have an MRI to see what’s causing the back pain - could be a disc issue, could be a bit of arthropathy. Go to an osteopath, physio, orthopaedic specialist etc.

HRT is a separate issue.

HRT doesn’t cause cancer. I’ve never heard of it used for back ache. Try physio.

If you still have periods, yes, you're in peri. You need to be one year without periods to be considered post menopausal.

Are you having any other symptoms, OP? What made you think menopause?

I'm a bit confused. You want HRT for back pain? Have you other symptoms of menopause?

Not all women should have HRT, no.

This is why I went private - there was a woeful lack of knowledge (and sympathy) in my local GP surgery at that time.
My gynaecologist wrote to my GP to specify the correct HRT to be prescribed and they respect that.

The GP is talking complete tosh. This bullshit that women should shut up and put up really rips my knitting.

Firstly, HRT is good for your bones and protects your heart. Some studies suggest in also protects your mind. The risk to people with a family history of cancer does exist, but is smaller than some people would have you believe.

If men went through the peri, there’s no way they would be fobbed off like this.

Go back and see a different GP!

Meant to add! I’m on HRT. Had mild symptoms of low mood and fatigue but also had sore joints. HRT has helped all of the above !

Only because the GP refused to put the OP in HRT.

The GP has done SFA.

Not checked if it could be anything else and not put the OP on HRT.

Well HRT for back pain alone wouldn’t be the right thing to do necessarily. There are dozens of other things that could be causing back pain. That should be explored first.

We really need to stop this narrative that every possible symptom or health issue in women over 40 is because of the menopause or perimenopause. It’s dangerous and misinformed.

Here is the latest data from Nov '24 www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/resources/incidence-of-medical-conditions-with-and-without-hrt-a-discussion-aid-pdf-13553199901

Obviously not 100% safe for everyone

This is just bollocks!

Find a GP with more up to date knowledge about it.

Though I can't say it's directly related to HRT I ended up with atypical hyperplasia with suspected early stage cancer. I had a total hysterectomy, early stage endometrial cancer was discovered and my suspicion is that the progesterone I took wasn't properly balanced with the oestrogen. I was taking the progesterone in tablet form and after an earlier hysteroscopy I was offered Mirena coil. I turned it down which could have been my mistake. Looking at those stats from NICE indicate that the increased risk is very small so I was just unlucky. The flip side is that HRT protects bones, heart and reduces dementia risk.

I went to a private clinic and got sorted. Worth a go, can always stop it if it does not help

Hrt has so many benefits, bone health (1 in 5 elderly women that break a hip die within 5 years!), decreases risk of certain cancers. The increased risk of breast cancer is so low, similar to putting a stone on in weight. It absolutely can help with aches and pains. Change GP ASAP.

HRT does slightly increase your risk of cancer, but do remember that when they talk in numbers and percentages they are talking about real people.
And it’s not just breast cancer but most of the gyni cancers.

If you have no symptoms then you have to carry out your own risk assessment. Many, many women sail through menopause, you don’t hear about them because women don’t tend to make a fuss if there’s nothing to make a fuss about.

I had a lot of muscle and joint pain during menopause and took HRT. It got rid of hot flushes but had no effect on aches and pains. After much research I realised it was probably magnesium, B12 and D3 deficiency. I now take supplements and it’s so much better.

In addition it’s also old age. We are living until well into our 80s and have sort of assumed that age related wear and tear has also been shifted forward. It hasn’t. 60 yr old women feel exactly the same as they did 50yrs ago. Kidding ourselves that we are aging slower is rubbish. I have to keep reminding myself I’m 60 and that despite feeling like I’m 30 my body is worn. I have good bone density, that of an average 30yr old supposedly, but I don’t feel 30. And my back isn’t good, I have to look after it.

After 4 yrs of HRT I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a shock, I trusted the information that HRT only slightly increases the risk, but what I wasn’t aware of is that the overall risk for all women throughout their lifetime is 1 in 7. The risk of breast cancer increases with age without factoring in the small increase with HRT. It’s not just HRT that causes bc, risk is accumulative so you need to look at the whole picture.

You may need to explore your mums cancer type to see if it could increase your risk of other cancers. Have a chat with your GP to see if you qualify for Genetic risk assessment.

I think your GP is talking rubbish. I just listened to Davina McCall's podcast Begin Again from October talking to a female health doctor who says vaginal pessaries should be used from early 40s to reduce vaginal atrophy and UTIs.

Episode here: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FLIGHTSTUDIOGROUPLTD3996182442.mp3

You can get oestrogen pessaries from Boots without prescription.

As you're still having periods you can get HRT the accounts for that. I'm struggling as I am not absorbing oestrogen very well but my GP is brilliant and has a nurse-led menopause clinic.

Aches, palpitations, hot flushes, brain fog, unexplained anger, depression are all signs of menopause. Basically if you don't feel like yourself, try HRT.

I get back pain without HRT. Pain isn't limited to my back though.

Thanks everyone, some really good info here. I will read those links and documents. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.