Early menopause after cancer

[peachyyy]

Hello everyone. I was just after some advice/opinions/personal experiences of HRT. I find myself post menopausal at the grand old age of 26 due to a pesky little spot of leukaemia 18 months ago. After a meeting with my Dr yesterday I am currently deciding whether or not to proceed with HRT and if I do, which "route of delivery" to go with. (Can't help but think that if men also experienced post menopausal symptoms we wouldn't be left 18 months without the option of HRT, but maybe I am being cynical). I am definitely leaning more towards going ahead with it as I don't have children and my husband and I haven't decided whether to go egg donor or adoption route; my Dr said that HRT will keep my uterus "healthy" in the short term and will be beneficial if I did decide to carry (if that is indeed a possibility, haven't really looked into it yet). So as I have a uterus I would need oestrogen and progesterone, I believe the former usually comes in pill and patch form, and the latter I can choose between continual patch, a tablet four times a year or a mirena coil. There are just so many decisions I don't really know where to start! Any help is much appreciated...

If it is recommended I would take it, otherwise osteoporosis and heart disease will be a risk. Also conditions like VA will take hold and you really don't want that especially at your young age, bad enough when you are 50!
I use Estradot patch for my oestrogen and a Mirena for the progesterone component.
www.menopausematters.co.uk is a great site for info.
There is another forum for premature menopause, can't think what it is called though.

www.daisynetwork.org.uk

Happy to try to help you, but with such a big issue like this you really need expert help.

I don't know where you are, but the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital London has a meno clinic run by consultant Nick Panay and his team. They also deal with premature menopause. They have connections with the Daisy Network, as linked to above.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'tablets four times a year'? Is this long-cycle HRT where you'd take progestogens once every 3 months?

My understanding is that for women like yourself, the preferred regime is a 'normal' monthly cycle but you really do need expert advice because you may need a large dose of oestrogen if your ovaries have shut down due to your chemo or surgery. You don't really have the option of 'no HRT' because being without oestrogen at 26 is going to put you at a very high risk of major health issues later on- heart disease, osteoporosis and Parkinsons disease. Do ask your GP to refer you to a specialist meno consultant.