I want to give in and start HRT

[Michrose]

I am 47 years old. For about 4 years I have had intense itching down below. I have had lots of tests and nothing they can find. Possible chance I have pruritus of the vagina. I have been on and off antidepressants. Changed my diet and what I wash my body in etc. inknow there are dangers with hrt and I worry as I am a mum . Any positive stories from anyone that are on HRT. Not had my period for 6 months so I am guessing I am hitting the menopause’s. Hot flushes aren’t as frequent etc.thank you 😩😊

This. How is it "giving in"? If you had anaemia, would you consider taking iron supplements a sign of weakness?

Oh God - yes. My friend's GP (a woman) put the fear of God into her for suggesting HRT., and said it was a one-way ticket to breast cancer. The first GP I consulted was astonished that I might even think HRT could have any effect on anxiety and insomnia, and wouldn't even consider prescribing it. The next one I saw was a million times better informed than either of those two. It's a lottery.

Vaginal estorgen has virtually zero risks
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/vaginal-oestrogen/about-vaginal-oestrogen/

Iv been on hrt since mid 30s as couldn't cope with hot flushes

People are picking up on the idea of ‘giving in’ as its just such a fundamental misunderstanding of your own body. If you had diabetes would you see insulin as ‘giving in’ or if you’re depressed do you see taking anti-depressants as giving in?

These medications are specifically designed to replace chemicals that are missing in our bodies as they change for whatever reason, age being one reason.

FWIW my mum had breast cancer caused by taking HRT. I watched the Davina MacCall documentary and made my own mind up on the risks/benefits. Its literally a life saver for some women and it totally transforms the quality of life for others. I hadn’t noticed how much my vagina and clitoris had started to atrophy until it was so far removed from what I remembered that I thought I’d never enjoy sex again. On a combination of oestrogen gel, pessaries, cream, progesterone tablets and testosterone gel I’m enjoying my life as much as before.

Please don’t worry about the effects of the cream or pessaries - they contain miniscule amounts of oestrogen. And if you opt for patches or gel you’re essentially just taking a medication similar to birth control, which most of us take for out entire adult life without factoring in the side effects.

HRT these days is bio identical and plant based, and applied on the skin rather than orally, which apparently makes it much safer than in our mothers’ day. I’m so sad that it had such a devastating effect on my mum, but I won’t let that ruin the rest of my life. I decided I’d rather take my chances with an increased risk of BC than be literally shrivelled up and dried out, depressed and hopeless.

Its not a magic cure - I still struggle with pain and tiredness every day due to other factors but my sex life is fabulous and I know I’m protecting my bones and heart.

Please don’t worry OP. The risks of HRT are very small and for the majority of women taking it for 5 years the benefits outweigh the risks. If you just want to treat your itchy vulva then try oestrogen cream- it’s not really ‘HRT’, doesn’t go into the bloodstream and we even now use it for women who have had breast cancer. Just ignore the leaflet in the pack which tells you all sorts of risks that relate to oestrogen tablets and not the cream. Read any of the information on this website https://www.womens-health-concern.org/. It’s all evidence based scientific information that is up to date.

People shouldn't be aggressive bu I think a lot of us are so tired of this "HRT massively increases risks for women" narrative that is completely untrue. There WERE more risks in the past, but many of those have been largely mitigated by the quality of the hormones they give these days. And as frustratingly, there are a lot of doctors who don't seem to have bothered to do the research and education to learn how things have changed. So it's frustrating that doctors and society and all the rest are still peddling old, out of date, inaccurate information and the result is that women are suffering. When you have been talking to the doctor abot th eitching, has she not suggested HRT and talked you through the risks and benefits?

It's like when we hear people talk about autism from vaccines. It's debunked. It's not true. But it's still bloody out there years and years later.

It was years ago the dr said it to my mum . My mum did go on to take it and did later get cancer and died but not breast cancer .

I said giving in as I have tried my hardest to avoid it it for many reasons. I am just wanting to know the positive outcomes for people on here. Some people are speaking to me like a moron. Of course I would take iron tablets because I do as I have low iron and anemia . I just wanted to know about others experience .

Sorry Op - I think they mean well, but there have been so many years of women being treated like demanding infants by doctors and the media, just because they don't want to have to feel ill for 7-10 years of their midlife, that people get riled up by the idea that HRT is giving in - widespread availability of it has been hard fought for.

It's really not something you need to try and avoid - if you need it, you need it, so give it a try. You may have to give some different preparations (topical vaginal creams vs patches vs combination tablets and individual hormone gels and tablets) till you find what works for you, though, so give it a chance to work.

Yes I don’t think anything wrong with me saying giving in as I have tried to not use it for my own reasons . Not anyone else’s. I just wanted to know some positive outcomes

My own drs have been fine about it. Offered me HRT. I did take the tablet form pessary for few weeks but got worried . My drs haven’t been against HRT .

It’s mad, especially as anxiety and insomnia are the two big symptoms that HRT has helped me with the most!!!

Christ, I fought to be on HRT with the doc. No need to put up with awful meno side effects if you don't need to.

Yes my drs haven’t all suggested HRT. I was given them tablet form and the cell you put on your wrist . I threw them away as didn’t want to take the risk at the time. Lots of reasons why I chose not to at the time . Things are different for me now and I feel it coudl be a option.

It’s not ‘giving in’ it’s taking power and control over your mental and physical health. The risks are so small and the positives are huge. Why should women suffer when they just don’t need to. Why not feel our best?

HRT made a huge difference to me and also my children. I am a better person and mum with it as I’m not struggling with the weird symptoms I was getting. It’s also improved my mood so I’m far more patient again.

what a patronising reply.
There is a small increased risk of breast cancer with HRT and this increases the longer you take it.
if you have a family history of bc the risk will increase but again, it's only by a small amount.
personally, I've not taken it as I don't like the increased risk

There are a lot of GPs out there with outdated information. I wonder what the requirements for them to keep up to date are?

Yes same , I am worried about the risks . My mum had just died from cancer too when I was offered HRT and I just couldn’t take it at the time .

By it what is the percentage increased risk? If it’s increased from 0.1 to 0.5%, it’s still only 0.5%.

No prizes in the afterlife for soldiering on without taking HRT. It can change everything for the better.

difficult to put an exact figure on it as it varies depending on type of HRT, dose, length of time on it, age, family history of bc.
as I said, an increase in risk but a small one.
I'm sure the actual figures are out there if you want to know for your particular circumstances

The increased risk is variable. It is very much lessened for those without obesity, without diabetes, who don’t drink and who excercise. I listened to a podcast about the risk and this was the take away.

im hoping GP practices get more savvy about HRT. The level of ignorance is amongst GP ‘s is astounding, and collusive with generalised dismissive ness toward women’s health issues.

The official guidelines are that for most women the benefits outweigh any risks.

I spent a lot of time researching this. The WHI study that caused millions of women to come off HRT 20 years ago has been shown to be inaccurate. And even so this study was done on old HRT which was tablet form. The new forms are every low risk.

You need to understand risk. Alcohol is more of a risk for breast cancer, as is lack of exercise.

1 in 7 women will get breast cancer - nobody will be able to tell you what caused it if you do get it so anybody saying ‘HRT caused my Mum’s breast cancer’ is wrong. Many breast cancers are just bad luck.

Women are at greater risk of dying from osteoporosis and heart disease than breast cancer. Yet what do we fear most? HRT is very bone protective and can help prevent osteoporosis.

It’s shocking that so many doctors are
still misinformed.

For me it’s been life changing. I can sleep again, my moods are stable, I feel like my old self. Quality of life is important