To request HRT from the doctors?

[Menopauseyesorno]

I am 52 and had a smear test last week, the nurse asked me about my periods and I said they were getting erratic. She asked if I thought I was in menopause, I said I presumed I was. She said I should maybe book an appointment with the GP to discuss HRT.
Now my question is if I do and I say I'm not getting any symptoms like hot flushes etc will they refuse to prescribe it so will it be a waste of everyone's time?
Basically just looking for other peoples experiences with going on it, such as age you did, did you have any menopausal systems, did you get refused, did it help etc etc.

I went at 52 with regular periods. But insomnia, aching joints, dry UTI feeling, constantly bone tired. I had to have one gatekeeping appointment with a GP, read the links I was sent then onto the special lady problems GP who went through everything and then was happy to send me away to think about it, but also happy to prescribe. I've got estrogen pessaries and combi skin patches.

Look up the HRT NHS prepayment certificate as well and get one before you collect any medication.

Hi there, thanks for replying. I've already got a prepayment certificate do I need a special one for HRT?

@Menopauseyesorno , do you wake up in the middle of the night and find it hard to get back to sleep? Do you have a Mirena coil as that is already helping if you do?

I'm 56 and my periods havent stopped but they are getting there and I have had some mild symptoms over the last few years. If you have no symptoms why would you bother? HRT can have side effects- for some people its a life saver and some people don't get on with it at all.
I started taking vaginal oestrogen a year ago because i was getting what seemed like mild UTIs a lot and thats been brilliant but chatting to my GP it seems that unless there are significant symptoms she didn't think I should bother but it was up to me. So far I'm glad I havent as some of the weird stuff like skin issues have settled down.

Yes HRT has its own pre-payment certificate, £19.80 for 12 months of hrt prescriptions.

You don’t need another hrt certificate . You can use pre payment .

look up symptoms of the menopause . There are a lot then consider if you are having some of the other symptoms .

i am on hrt but that is because of the symptoms

If you aren't having symptoms, why would you need to discuss HRT with a GP? I'm surprised the nurse even suggested it bearing in mind how overworked the NHS is supposed to be.

For the why would you bother comment. For the cancer, osteoporosis and dementia protection in later life.
I put a lot of my symptoms down to the extra weight I'm carrying, all of which have eased considerably since starting hrt, but I'm taking it primarily for the prevention in later life.

I was a late Mum, burst of fertility in early 40s after we'd more or less given up. GP very insistent I go on mini pill after DS born. I was miserable on the mini pill, especially hating that there was no menstruation. I was also moody. Took myself off it after about 2 years. Periods were erratic, I've never felt the cold but during this time I was constantly hot. Finally, went to GP about 6months after periods stopped. Was not offered HRT. Hot flushes continued for years.

I went through menopause without it. Didn't think I needed it. I got some muscle ache and hot flushes and became more anxious but not anything that needed medication
If you are not having any symptoms why do you feel you need it?

Why did you bother to reply?
The question was about HRT not about political questions on how the NHS is overworked. For your information, I have private healthcare.

No, HRT is covered on a normal prepayment certificate. The HRT only one is for people who only get HRT so it's not worth buying the full one.

Definitely look into HRT. It has amazing protective benefits fo your heart, brain and bones, not just symptom relief.

I think it’s worth a conversation about the benefits of HRT - especially for osteoporosis.

If you've private healthcare, no need to worry about prepayment certificates then as a private script isn't covered by the NHS.

Ah so you are saying I need to get referred on the NHS to get free prescriptions? If so then I'll definitely be going down that route rather than paying for them myself! Thanks so much for your help, greatly appreciated X

Thank you, I will look into that further.

Because HRT can work in a proactive way to prevent dementia, heart disease, osteoarthritis etc. Stuff that costs money to treat 🙄