Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Products that work?

96 replies

midlifer45 · 23/04/2017 18:50

Hello, I find myself quite confused by the range of products available to help with menopause symptoms. i've gone into it a bit early at about 43, don't want to do HRT but of course the symptoms are raging. I would love to hear about supplements anyone here might have tried that have helped especially with vaginal dryness and the feeling of bloatedness. Also, hot flushes and mood swings. Many thanks

OP posts:
Copenhagen · 22/03/2018 12:53

I think when someone says they don’t want HRT then it is better if posters respect their decision. If people want to be informed on choices they can read the pinned items on the board. It’s the disagreeing with a poster who chooses not to use HRT are respected as much as those that do. The most arguments are on posts where the OP asks for alternatives.

ParisUSM · 22/03/2018 13:05

Totally agree Copenhagen, I don't really like the assumption that I'm not on HRT because of ignorance and a supposed inability to weigh up the risks vs benefits.

CrabappleBiscuit · 22/03/2018 14:51

Yep. You two have made an informed choice. These boards can help other women make an informed choice in a safe space....

Melamin · 22/03/2018 15:08

43 is still early for menopause and the best course of action is to take HRT, at least until you are 50. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

Then you are on par with everyone else and can weigh up the risk/benefits on continuing.

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 19:44

I absolutely agree with you CrabappleBiscuit! I personally use the forum cause there are not many informed and caring gyns at all, so we have to take after our health and to make our decisions!

ProperLavs · 22/03/2018 19:57

I am 50. last year I went to the dr and said i wanted to try HRT because i felt so tired and foggy headed all the time. My periods are still 28 days. She was reluctant but let me try the femostan (sp?).
The oestrogen weeks were quite good i must say but the progesterone ones were absolutely hideous. I gave up after 3 months.
I take agnus castus , calcium and magnesium supplements and sometimes borage oil.
I guess I should wait until my periods start to become less regular. For the moment what I take seems to help. I certainly notice if I have run out of agnus castus

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 19:57

Hi Paris! I didn’t mean that you are not informed, I just expressed myself. For me it’s impossible to believe that women with highly demanding careers can go on without hrt! It’s my personal belief based on my experience.
My mum had her meno at 47, she was on Tibolone for 15 years and she is 67 years old, healthy, no cancer, no osteopenia or osteoporosis, no medications, great skin and hair and looks 10 years younger. She is still working, takes care of me 😂 and has no problems, just a little sagging and a few more pounds, absolutely normal for her age.
Taking or not taking hrt is a complicated issue, it depends on how each of us view the life, what health means to us, how we feel about the idea of taking risks, how we feel about aging in general etc.

Mary34 · 22/03/2018 21:01

I don’t think anyone was trying to offend anyone on this thread merely expressing their views and it is useful to hear about other people’s experience while at the same time respecting that they are each entitled to their opinion/view. One thing to also bear in mind is that people who have obviously had some bad experiences with hormones in the past, eg Modena etc will naturally do their beat to find an alternative .I found it very interesting )Paris USM) what you said about the Pharmaceutical companies pushing HRT, etc and it’s not the first time I’ve heard it.

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 21:10

Hi Mary! Pharmaceutical companies push medications and drugs in general, not only hrt. They push drugs for osteoporosis, for diabetes, for cancer, for anti hrt products etc. I agree with you that it’s very helpful to hear other people’s experiences and to respect it. There are many cases of women especially with POF who didn’t take hrt and putted their lives in danger, too.

JaneEyre70 · 22/03/2018 21:13

I'm 47 and starting to feel some symptoms, although I'm still having regular periods controlled by a Mirena coil. They advised keeping this in for 7 years for the hormone (opposed to 5 for contraception) but my very lovely female GP was very encouraging about HRT and knowing when the time is right to start taking it. My mum didn't have a natural menopause due to a radical hysterectomy at 40 and didn't take HRT but she's got awful problems now with bone density that terrifies me. It's really tough to know where to start with it all, so I take alot from reading everyone's opinions on these threads.

Fosterdog123 · 22/03/2018 21:19

I am currently having great results with sage supplements (although funnily enough, I'm just having a hot flush but it's my first one of the day, which is a huge improvement on one every half hour). It's taken 3 weeks for it to take effect but I'm pleased with the improvements so far.

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 21:19

My mum didn’t know exactly what was in Tibolone and when I asked her if he knew why she had taken the medication for so long, she said “ my gyn said that I need it for my bones, I think it’s something like calcium” ! 😂 I don’t know if her life and her health would be the same without it! Maybe yes, maybe not!

ScreamingValenta · 22/03/2018 21:20

@PollyPerky I'm sorry that you're withdrawing from the forum and hope you reconsider. The information you offer is very useful.

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 21:22

I agreeeeeee!!! :)

Melamin · 22/03/2018 21:26

I am currently having great results with sage supplements

You need to keep a diary and keep it up for at least 3 months to ensure it is not just your natural fluctuations - you might be going through a phase of not much flushing anyway.

Melamin · 22/03/2018 21:28

I hope Polly comes back after a break. This board goes dead without someone around. It is hard work to keep posting and keep it going, and keep talking sense.

Emerald13 · 22/03/2018 21:36

I agreeeee again!!!! 😊

Fosterdog123 · 22/03/2018 22:15

I too agree about Polly. I don't agree with her on hrt but that's besides the point. Her comments and knowledge are invaluable for healthy debate and education.

Polly - the other thread got very personal and lairy on both sides. So what - shit happens, passions flare and insults are flung. Brush it off and carry on!

Melamin- take your point but it just can't be a coincidence. I've been having hot flushes for a good long while now and 2.5 weeks into taking the supplements, the flushes reduce by 90%.

AuntyElle · 22/03/2018 22:21

PollyPerky, I don’t always agree with you, but you have been a star in this website sharing information about menopause and HRT.

AuntyElle · 22/03/2018 22:27

Ooops, posted too soon...
Polly, thank you for sharing info, backed up by sources, and spending a lot of time on it. I’ve realised how ignorant many of us, including too many GPs, are about menopause. You’ve helped lots of us.
Flowers

Copenhagen · 23/03/2018 00:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Copenhagen · 23/03/2018 00:30

The sources are now pinned so posters can get the information from there. Everyone has an experience and will post about their point of view. Time to end the drama and get back to what people are asking for support for.

Mary34 · 23/03/2018 06:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ParisUSM · 23/03/2018 08:29

Exactly Copenhagan, and with only 5% of women between 45 and 69 on HRT, that leaves an awful lot of us looking for alternatives for whatever reason (milder symptoms, aversion to HRT etc). I hate the way threads on here and MM make you believe HRT is the only single method!

Have my suspicions on what's really going on with individual posters, but was banned from elsewhere for voicing them.

Mary34 · 23/03/2018 09:57

Well it’s not a proper open forum if that’s the case and they ban you which is a pity. Interesting re sage, Fosterdig123 there seems to be differing reactions to that and someone mentioned Agnus cactus which I haven’t tried either. All of it requires time and patience and it seems to be similar with the trial and error or getting your HRT to suit you. Menopause is such a pain in the *!