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 didn't know that. I don't think I've noticed any change in that regard - certainly not significant anyway

Vaginal Ring | ESTRING® (estradiol vaginal ring) | Safety Info

@HolluschickieI bloody wish it did! I’m still a 32A despite nearly 10 years on HRT!

Oooh I’m curious about this cream. I’m not too bad with my symptoms ( yet) however the sleeping and peeing is a killer, more so the constant getting up to go toilet, if I could eliminate this I would in turn get a better nights sleep 😩

Oooh cortisol belly is killing me right now. I never used to gain weight on my tummy but now! I just have to look at a hot chocolate and I gain weight.

You need estriol cream. Much better than the pessaries.

You stick a load inside then rub some on the perineum and labia. And you will regain a pink lovely vulva (mine had gone sort of grey 😱)

I use a lot on the insistence of gynae and GP prescribes more than normal for me.

Once again, it was not MY opinion. I quoted the study linked by a pp. If you think that opinion is ill informed and you know better, take it up with the authors.

Nobody cares whether you take HRT. We are allowed to discuss the pros AND cons as we weigh up our own choices, and that may involve challenging each other.

Just have a look at the way the discussion has unfolded. The pile on one pp who posted a recent and reputable study, and the absolute insistence that it did NOT mention transdermal HRT (it did, but you came back and tried to explain that away too). But alcohol is dangerous too! The contraceptive pill is dangerous too! Apparently even the word 'natural' is offensive now, for fuck's sake. Too many people getting personally offended and trying to stop the OP fully informing herself because of their own insecurities.

Source please?

Have you even read it?

It may be natural but perimenopause was hell on earth for me. The world turned grey. Constant panic attacks. Low oestrogen affects serotonin and dopamine and affects the amygdala. Put it this way 2 days into the estrogen patch I felt like my brain that had become a wild fire of chaos had been dipped into a cool placid lake.

I posted the link.

That is obviously fine and your choice. But you are increasing your risk of osteoporosis and heart disease by not taking it.

Wow, it really sucks being female.

If you didn't get on well with contraception, it was highly likely the dosages and synthetic hormones were not right for you. However, HRT is formulated differently and body identical, made from yams. If it does not agree with you and by this I mean it causes weight gain, acne and the symptoms you mention do not abate, it is because the dosages/cocktail you have been prescribed is incorrect. HRT is an art, not many GPs have a clue about prescribing it.

As for your poor vagina, all you need is some topical oestrogen such as Vagifem. it's a small pessary you use nightly for a fortnight, then bi-weekly after that. It's such a low level dose, one administered directly into your vagina that even those whom have had hormone positive breast cancer can use it. Indeed, I have, and I do use it, my oncologist even had to write to my GP to tell me I could have. It is miraculous stuff.

HRT is basically replacing the hormones that you no longer have!!! Hormones are ESSENTIAL for keeping your entire body going and healthy and there is zero reasons why you shouldn’t have oestrogen etc replacement and a million other ones why you should! I was very very stupid and didn’t have HRT or anything and I’ve ended up with a knackered thyroid and wiped out adrenal system that I’ve got to have surgery for and be on medication for life!!! I didn’t do any research and listened to the idiots who say oh no just have camomile tea or whatever instead you can manage without HRT!

I've just leapt into the end of this thread and (as I thought) it's become pretty aggressive and extreme.

Being on HRT doesn't always make you gain weight.
Not being on HRT doesn't mean your thyroid and adrenal system will break.

HRT replaces the hormones that have reduced/stopped during at menopause. They are no longer essential to keep your whole body going.

No, the risk of osteoporosis if you don't take HRT is the natural/normal state.
HRT can reduce this risk.
I don't it's just semantics, but I feel it's important to get it right.
It feels like a judgement otherwise.

Bio-identical HRT turned my increasingly grey life technicolor. For context, I was also skeptical as I didn’t get on with the contraceptive pill in my earlier years.

Ok the risk of oesteoporosis is higher in women you don't take/ haven't taken HRT. Osteoporosis causes huge pain and suffering and costs the health service a fortune.

And why oh why are we still putting each other down about choices. Cancer is natural, and you could argue radiotherapy isn’t. Sepsis is definitely natural! Such a weird argument. We need to stop shutting women down and stick up for each other. I’m not saying it’s for everyone of course. Good luck all. There’s plenty of good books out there now, I would tell my sisters to read them in mid to late 30s at least to file the info away for later.

I think it's worthwhile for every woman to consult a doctor about the possibility of HRT if she can. What you do after that is your own business, but good to at least consider.

Often the risk of cancer is tiny. As with my oestrogel only prescription.

I think that correct - just make sure you’re making a fully informed decision regarding HRT. I spent a long time researching it. My GP wasn’t much help. They don’t do much training on it.

I also think it’s correct to call out misinformation on HRT on here - it can do so much damage.

My GP was useless too. I had to go private which was v expensive. I wish more information was made available to women. GPs need to be better trained.

Yep! And to compound that, so many women are conditioned to accept this because it's 'natural'.