To try HRT before the menopause has started

[FuzzyYellowChicken]

Obviously I'm going to go to the doctor...

But has anyone any experience trying HRT in the years before the actual menopause?

I am 40.

Have mirena coil so no idea where I am with actual periods as don't have them.

Symptoms:

Extremely tired, fed up, no motivation, sad, irritable, hungry all the time, brain fog, struggling with job, no focus, not myself.

I know most people seem to go on it because of hot flushes. I don't have that. I feel that's still years off.

Has anyone tried it for my symptoms?
Are GPs open to giving it out for that? What was your experience?

I know there are risks (breast cancer etc) but I feel there are probably risks to me just sitting here eating crap and achieving absolutely nothing. Probably heart attack pending....

Thank you @Sidge , I don’t want to really come off the combined pill but I feel I may be starting to experience some peri symptoms but it may be best to stay on it and see if it reduces symptoms? It’s a minefield!

@Cloud44 often for younger women a combined pill can be really beneficial. By inhibiting ovulation and giving you a “steady state” of oestrogen it can be helpful for fluctuating hormone levels.

The newer pills which contain estradiol rather than ethylestradiol eg Zoely, Qlaira, can be beneficial for younger perimenopausal women as the estradiol is more similar to HRT oestrogen. They also have contraception.

I started HRT at 46 - fobbed off by GP so got prescription through Boots online service.

Get your bloods done first for vitamin / iron deficiency and thyroid check. I have very belatedly started HRT and after just one week, the difference has surprised me.

I was nearly 50, but I exaggerated the symptoms! Got prescribed HRT no problem. It has a number of benefits, apart from making us feel better. Some experts believe that the risks are over stated and that women can remain on it indefinitely!

Thanks yes I would definitely want to rule out other things first rather than just assume and take a hormone I didn't need.

HRT is for perimenopause not just menopause.

I experienced symptoms from 40 and spent three years thinking I had chronic fatigue syndrome. Hot flushes were not one of my symptoms. As still under 45, I went private to get HRT but now I’m 48 I’m back under NHS care.

Thankyou. Chronic fatigue has also crossed my mind! Did you have to go private because the NHS would not prescribe before 45?

Get a second opinion!!

For my gp the gate way to hrt is “sexual dysfunction”
when i said I’d probably want more of it if my husband did more washing up etc he agreed to give me HRT, before I said that (despite loads of peri symptoms) he was telling me I wasn’t ready for it.

This thread makes me really sad. Women are carrying absolutely everything in life and there's no slack at all in our culture if we need to take it slower for a couple of years.
I hate how our lives our now a form of economy slavery. The extent of it is very new. Things have really changed in the last 15 years.

Apologies, didn't mean to sound preachy, I was trying to be encouraging! When my bloods were done the nurse mentioned thyroid which hadn't even crossed my mind. I went in for help with sleeping. I hope you find a solution.

@FuzzyYellowChicken In retrospect I should have asked to be referred to a menopause clinic. As it was I ended up in endocrinology so gave up on the NHS.

No don't worry I didnt think that 🙂. If it did end up being thyroid or something else though that would be worth knowing... Just as long as it's something that can be sorted out really

Very true. The pressure to have a career (or the mortgage isn't paid) makes it difficult/impossible to live with these symptoms. I have a job where I simply cannot make mistakes. I have to be friendly, personable, and have good attention to detail.. plus keep to time. Changing job isn't an option. Career break isn't an option. Dropping hours isn't an option... Not when you have a mortgage, bills, cost of living going up... Plus still expected to be a good mum, remember things to do with school, kid related admin, medical appointments etc. Maybe the last generation could just about put up with it (as awful as it is) but when juggling all this it's just not feasible.
If reincarnation is a thing I'm coming back as a man. Or a cat.

You have classic symptoms of hypothyroidism there OP.

And that can be brought on by peri menopause.

Good idea to get full bloods done.

I'm 43 and been on HRT for about 5 months. I had so many symptoms, similar to yours since 40. I wrote them all done and went to my GP. Got prescribed oestrogel and progesterone pills, no problem. She said just try it and see how you get on. Absolutely life changing. Now in hindsight my symptoms slowly started around age 40 when I stopped feeling like myself and motivation for my personal interests gradually declined. If I could go back in time, yes I would have started HRT around 40 or 41 in a heartbeat. Although I did have a telephone appointment first and they suggested anti depressants. But then in the face to face appointment it was clearer I needed HRT and there was no resistance from my GP.

My dads partner is still on HRT and she's 76

I hear you.

I handed in my notice after 2 years, I finish up in 3 weeks and still have no job to go to.

I've worked in the sector for 17 years but I ended up with crippling imposter syndrome around the time I started in my current job. And it was as though my brain wouldn't work after 3/4pm. No focus, no drive. Having to leave some work until the next day....chasing my tail...constantly trying to finish "work from yesterday". So threw in the towel without lining up another job.

I have an interview next week but it's £8k a year less. Not many jobs come up in my little corner of the sector.

I'm on my own with all the usual responsibilities...mortgage, bills, cost of living, a million jobs needing done because the house is falling down around my ears.

This is definitely more than just hot flushes and I wish I'd known. We're in a better position to educate our daughters. It was never talked about or mentioned when I was young. Like something to be ashamed of. It's very sad

I went back to gp time and again as I had all
The systems but was told too young. Eventually I got sent to hospital menopause clinic for blood tests "to prove me wrong" came out with prescription for hrt including testosterone (life changing )

Persevere

I JUST had bloods taken today because i went to the docs with quite a few of your symptoms.
Tired all the time, feel weak physically, no energy or motivation, for the first time in my life a few weeks back i couldn't recall my sisters birthday or last week the date my mum died, and it was incredibly distressing. I've become super moody and irritable, snapped a few times at both my dad and my fiance over things that even 3-4 months ago wouldn't have even really bothered me. I've become quite impatient in general. I've been getting swollen hands throughout the day with even light pressure such as arm against sofa armrest using my laptop on the armrest, and also whilst i'm asleep to the point i go up 2-3 ring sizes, worse on the side i've slept on if i've slept on my side, but still in both, even when slept on my back with no weight on either hand.
I randomly feel my face is absolutely burning hot and bright red too.

Not able to track periods as i have the nexplanon and have done back to back for 11 years so no cycles. I am due it replaced in a few weeks and am getting cyclical cramping the past few months so i'm desperately hoping its related to that, but unlike any previous implant i've noticed my head hair thinning and heavier shedding when brushing and washing, and the hirsutism from my PCOS that causes me to grow a beard and moustache is growing in faster, i now have to shave every other day in order to not have prickly feeling stubble that you can also see 5 oclock shadow style if you're close.
I tried a year ago about the increased facial hair growth and was not allowed the combo pill alongside the implant for the oestrogen because my BMI is way too high.
I'm shit scared i'm atleast peri if not in full blown premature menopause, i'm only 35 and me and fiance are just getting close to the point where we were in a position to make our final decision on if we were going to try for a baby together (I'm childless, he has an 8 year old) before we felt we were too old. Whilst we probably wouldn't have ttc, its devastating if that decision is no longer our free will but because i'm past it fertility wise.

My biggest fear in the world thanks to having OCD is wetting myself, so the fact menopause and reduction/loss of female hormone production is a big factor in development of stress incontinence, i'm in an absolute state.

I'm 53 and feeling better than I did in my 40s. I take black cohosh which was amazing for dealing with menopausal anxiety that started to kick in . I also take fish oil in the day and magnesium at night and never ever have broken sleep. I don't drink anymore and limit my caffeine intake. I also gave up red meat and do Pilates 5 times a week. I would have gone down the HRT route had this not worked for me but the more I put into practice worked for me I realised I was ok. I'm posting at this time because we are on holiday and I'm overseas .

When I was having heavy periods I found transexamic acid to be amazing

@FuzzyYellowChicken Testosterone helped quite alot. I have the NHS compliant one (designed for men so have to make a packet last a week as strong) so in theory GP should prescribe but they won't so I pay.
It gave me more energy and confidence I think- well aware could be psychosomatic but happy either way.
Less beneficial now I am on mirena rather than utrogestan as progesterone is testosterone agonist apparently so constant dose of progesterone (even tho' low) undermines some of its benefits

It’s £175 for a consultation. It’s not free but it is not a ridiculous amount considering what you get to improve your day to day life.
You said you’re about to quit your job as the symptoms are unbearable. Surely paying £175 is more affordable than quitting work? You can self refer to a gyn and don’t need a referral letter.