To not want HRT

[Howszaboutthat]

Need some advice from ladies-in-the-know

I never got on well with contraceptives. They gave me perma-pmt and acne. So, for the last 15 years I’ve had a copper coil which is coming out soon. I was hoping to just ride it out sans synthetic hormones.

I’m 46.

However, Over the last year, the brain fog and poor sleep has set in. I’ve partically solved this by giving up alcohol, taking vitamins and magnesium. The brain fog is getting worse. I feel like such a dunderlinger and my role requires a lot of brainpower.

Other thing - dryness down there. My first UTI in 25 years.

What can I do that is not going to turn me into a fat, lifeless blimp? I was hoping to ride this out. But I think I need to re-think. Also I don’t have time to be endlessly up the doctors (we’re not allowed time off work for appointments in working hours)

Any advice? Am I doomed?

I think for many women lifestyle changes can only get you so far. There were no lifestyle changes that could help me sleep. I didn’t sleep because low progesterone meant I wasn’t producing enough melatonin. Now, with the progesterone I actually sleep.

I was also waking dripping in sweat every half an hour…HRT sorted that in about a week.

I lift heavy weights. But I’m still grateful for the extra help I’m getting from HRT for my bones.

I personally am not willing to voluntarily age into inutility because it's 'natural' when I can top up my missing hormones and maintain a decent quality of life well into my 'naturally useless' infertile years.

Hear hear.

It really is. Nobody has any idea what is going on ‘under the hood’.

Even if I felt fine I would still take HRT.

To be fair I didn't mention different types. I simply posted a link to a huge study/press release to help make an informed choice. If it was the tabloids I'd agree but medical journals are hopefully factual as opposed to sensationalist.

Taking everything into account I'd rather not take it but I don't judge those that do.

Am 58 and got through menopause with few issues except vaginal atrophy which was awful! I now take Ovestin vaginal estrogen and it's a game changer. Also wash down there with QV cream wash the GP prescribed as it's a sensitive area with thinning. Don't do what I did and leave it so long. I'd have taken HRT if I needed it probably.

I think the point is that the study you linked to was about one specific tablet form of hrt which is very rarely prescribed, so is pretty much irrelevant. So does not have any bearing on informing your choice.

I don't appreciate being misquoted.

I merely said there was some new research published that showed an increase in heart disease, clots etc.. this is a factual statement and not trumpeting.

You appear to ill informed as it wasnt one just study but data gathered from 138 trials.

I have no idea what your problem is. Its not your thread and I happen to agree with the OP. I'm not denigrating any choices you make so I dont see why you want to pick holes in mine. People might be interested in the research, or not. No need to get defensive.

You do you.

why do you keep ignoring that the study is about a type of HRT that is almost never prescribed anymore and that the transdermal gels etc are NOT a problem, and in fact that is even stated in this press release?

I'm not ignoring anything. I merely posted a link and went on to say I hadn't discussed different types.

If its published in the BMJ then that's good enough for me.

Yes this was the other thing I was wondering: whether it really is nature that is so brutal, or whether the environment we live in makes peri and meno so brutal.

Menopause is literally the process of your body starting to deteriorate because it's exceeded its natural use. Of course it's brutal. Nature doesn't care about your mental health, self esteem or identity. It doesn't care if you suffer through the drop in hormones because your usefulness is finished. Menopause isn't just a transition to another phase of life - it's a breakdown in physical and mental capacity and health.

It’s largely irrelevant though. As that type of HRT isn’t often prescribed. So you need to make it explicitly clear that it is the old style pills if you are you going to post studies like that.

I remember newspapers picking up on this and not making it clear the study was done on the old style HRT. Thousands of women are already put off HRT as they don’t understand how the new style patches and gels are different to the old style pills and synthetic HRT.

It’s not doing women any favours. There’s already so much misinformation and lack of knowledge (even amongst doctors) around HRT.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed. I was under the impression hrt was the same as contraceptice.

I’m really pleased so many of you felt so much better on hrt. I’m going to make an appointment and going to give it a go. I’m quite keen to avoid the mental asylum…..

HRT saved my life. I now weigh the same as I did in my early 20s and feel great. No one is ever taking me off HRT; once the hormones go, they go, and obviously, my body craves those hormones.

I don't need to do anything tbf. I posted a link, people are free to read or dive deeper should they choose.

I very much disagree its irrelevant though as it wouldn't have been published in the first place if that was the case.

I have realised that you get to a certain age and you have to start looking after yourself properly.

I listen to health podcasts and just keep adding to my good habits but by bit. Every small thing you can do makes a huge difference.

Lots of water,
Good sleep,
Oily fish,
Olive oil,
Veggies
High fibre,
Not much booze,
Daily walk,
Yoga,
Weight training.

And low dose HRT for me, but whatever helps, do it until you feel better OP.

The problem is you need to read the article to understand that the study is talking about the old HRT. Which many women won’t do or realise. Then the newspapers run with sensationalist headlines which are also misleading and harmful.

I’s not a helpful study to post really is it?

Sure, its legitimate research..... but not about the type of hrt most women are taking. If your doctor wanted you to take this version, absolutely take a good long look at this research. But actually, its very unlikely your doctor would prescribe these so its not useful as research when making decisions.

It's hard to understand why, one research report saying one particular type of hrt is problematic has you therefore believing ALL hrt is dangerous?

It's a very odd way of looking at the world. Drug a, which is used to treat condition X has side effects, therefore all drugs to treat condition X should br avoided?.

I disagree.

I haven't posted any newspaper articles. I posted a link to the British Medical Journal. I think you underestimate women in saying that.

Personally I think it's unhelpful to disregard such research given its such a huge number of women. Each to their own I guess.

considering 100 years ago 50 year old women were treated as OLD , i think it's safe to.assume it was.never fun or easy.

I am 100% OK with meds that aim to make something better and easier, even if millions of women before me had to suck it up (see also modern medicine for giving birth, formula feeding etc)

And if meno symptoms ate worse because of the world.we.live in, even more so. Because yes, perhaps life was slower and expectations lower 100 years ago, but thank yiu very much but I like being able to.live a rich and varied life, I like modern conveniences and I am thrilled that I could have my children in my 30s.

I didn’t say you had. You’re adding to the misinformation about HRT that’s out there. Most women won’t be prescribed the old style HRT.

You posted a link and made a claim about HRT. That could put off a lot of women who wouldn’t actually read the article and understand it means the old style tablets. I don’t know why you would do that. It’s not relevant to the OP as she will be prescribed the new style.

I didn’t say you had. You’re adding to the misinformation about HRT that’s out there. Most women won’t be prescribed the old style HRT.

You posted a link and made a claim about HRT. That could put off a lot of women who wouldn’t actually read the article and understand it means the old style tablets. I don’t know why you would do that. It’s not relevant to the OP as she will be prescribed the new style.

Sorry for the double post - dodgy WiFi!

Please dont misquote me.

At no point have I ever said I believe I believe all HRT is dangerous.

Its also rather minimising to refer to one report when it drew data from 138 across 900, 000 women. The scale involved was enormous.

Its all getting a bit defensive really when I simply posted a link showing research undertaken by people far more qualified than posters on here.

I did not post any misinformation. I quoted from the BMJ.

If you have such an issue with it take it up with the authors. They are the experts after all.

I'm going to leave it there thanks.