Products that work?

[midlifer45]

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

The form of HRT I tried, as I said earlier, had far worse physical symptoms than anything peri had so far thrown at me.
Agnus castus works really well for me, but you are quite right, it took a good while for it to work. It has put my periods back to 28 days on the dot. Well I assume it's that, who knows. I'm just grateful.

I am certainly not averse to giving it another go if my symptoms change and become intolerable. What worries me is that I am very very sensitive to medication. The drs never believe me and I am always prescribed the lowest dose which is always too strong and so I stop taking it.

I'm really puzzled at all of this? The accusation (or suspicion) that women who are knowledgeable and are sharing their evidence-based knowledge and experience about menopause and HRT are in the pay of the pharmaceutical companies. Surely no-one here is? I don't post very often but have read threads and can't understand the antipathy to women who passionately want to share what they know to help other women. It seems that some members find it hard to believe that there is anyone out there who is truly altruistic (OK we all like being appreciated) but no-one has to post on a forum! I have read the negative comments with dismay.

I am intrigued as to what might be going on on this and other forums like Menopause Matters and suspicious posters as I also read that one. On there I see also that there is a statement to the effect that no-one is paid to post nor in thrall to big pharma.

Incidentally as Melamin says - no amount of anecdotal reports of this or that supplement or cream working for menopausal symptoms is any indication whatsoever of their efficacy. As she says it could be coincidence (due to the hormonal fluctuations of peri-menopause), or placebo (which is fine as long as it lasts - which it generally doesn't) or maybe in some cases there could be a mild effect. There are summary papers from respected societies and medical organisations which tell you the supplements and treatments that evidence shows have a chance of working - and these are invaluable to those who cannot take HRT for medical reasons.

I'm all for combining HRT with lifestyle choices and changes that are an important part of a healthy life into older age - which is not juist about short term symptoms like flushes and sweats. In any case these can go on for many years in some women - and who wants to do the experiment on themselves and get to 70 not having taken HRT still flushing and struggling - as well as potentially having ostreoporosis and other health conditions?

Funnily enough Paris USM my post of this morning has now been deleted so I too have been restricted from making my voice heard. This is an open debate......apparently

Censorship again. Always turns out the same

Why does a choice of whether you use HRT or not cause so much controversy on forum sites? Choice is the point of forums. Always the same. Gets very boring for OPs.

Gosh I never expected this. It’s quite amusing really, It’s rather like school.

It's mad, it's like the other place all over again.

None of my family took hrt, and no one struggled until they were 70 so I think it's important not to over egg the pudding. This thread is on products which work for women, what a shame it's been taken over by hrt talk.

I swore blind that I'd never use HRT but after trying everything under the sun, I caved in and accepted a prescription for it. Whether or not there are unknown risks, it's been necessary for me to take it in order to have any sort of quality of life. I've no desire to encourage/discourage anyone else from taking it but feel that even if it puts me at greater risk of dying earlier of something associated with its use, at least I'll have had some happy, healthy years to enjoy life to the full. HRT versus non-HRT seems to be as contentious a subject as Breast versus Bottle. Each to their own. Do what's right for you and don't sweat about it! (No pun intended 😂)

Agree & a good example of putting an experience across & accepting others experiences & yes do what’s right for you.

Definitely funmumm48, I'm not anti HRT at all and if I felt I'd benefit it I'd take it like a shot. Just don't think it's for me given my circumstances.

Women can be extremely critical of each other sadly. It's the same when someone says they don't want cervical or breast screening, some people get so angry about other people's decisions.

The thread is about OP who is quite young still, so HRT is a good idea until 50 which is the average age of menopause. This is mostly because of the higher risk of osteoporosis for women who arrive at menopause earlier. When you get to 75 and find you have it, there is not much you can do to reverse it, so it makes sense to give yourself a good start.

Alternatives may help a lot of women get through the flushes etc, but they will not help with things like osteoporosis. Red Clover and Black Cohash are useful (read the instructions and be aware that they are not tested in the same way as medicines). There are also antidepressants and CBT available for women who have had hormone dependent cancers and MLT for vaginal problems (also not yet fully

The prune study (for bone density) is six prunes a day - I was advised this by a nutritional therapist a few years ago. I have them every morning with sliced banana covered with coconut milk - delicious!

pollyperky changed my life for the better, much better. Just saying.
I'm 47.

I'm not sure if I could eat 6 prunes a day Maursh, but that's worth remembering, thanks.

Let’s move away from making this about pollyperky. It distracts from exchanges

& not sure I could but if it works....yay

I might be buying some

For what its worth, I was always really sensitive to hormonal contraceptives (pill and mirena) but have not had the same issues or intolerable side effects with oestrogen HRT .

That’s good to hear BrownTurkey The main. Issue for for me at the moment is tiredness, I am queen of the nap, my kids find it bemusing!

Ive just bought some prunes! Never tried one on my life. I'm about to......stand by for the verdict......ok, so they smell nice......I keep telling myself that they're just plums and like big raisins.....I'm going in for a bite.....ok, they're fine - slimey and chewy but fine. Not gorgeous but definitely edible. I believe you can put them in chocolate cake too 😀

I don’t think that there are natural products that works for meno and can protect the body from the estrogen loss. The only I think that can help (except hrt) is gaining fat, that helps the body to find estrogen from fat cells and it makes the symptoms milder.

Polly has really helped me . Her advice is factual and to the point .
I feel sad that she has left the forum .

Back to pollyperky again. Why oh why must we fan this posters ego

Because she provided me with more comprehensive advice and information than my GP did .