Do I need HRT?

[Champagnecharleyismyname]

I am 47. Periods have been light and irregular for about 2 years and I have not had a period since November. I have the occasional hot flash and low energy/mood but nothing awful. I feel well and ten times better if I eat well and take some exercise.

I don't think I need HRT but worry that this all started when I was 45 and will it cause me issues and potentially something like osteoporosis. My mother suffered from this.

I have been to the Drs a couple of times and HRT has never been mentioned.

For me personally, if symptoms stay as they are for now, very mild, I'm not going to take it. If you're worried about osteoporosis are there alternatives.

You don't have to medicalise it unless you want or need to.

I had my last AF 3 years ago, ate healthily, cut down on booze, exercised, did yoga and came through it ok - I had some hot flushes and insomnia which I used yoga breathing to help with.

As there is a family history of osteoporosis you need to talk to your GP and ask for a bone density scan- DEXA scan- now. Then you have a baseline for your bones. You need to keep on top of it and have scans every 3 years. Don't allow your GP to dismiss this. If necessary, pay for the scan. I did and found I almost had osteoporosis at 48 despite no risk factors at all. The idea is prevention.

The drugs for established osteoporosis can have very serious side effects (there are new trials taking place which confirm what some research showed years ago- that bisphosphonates are not the wonderful thing they are thought to be- they can cause bones to be more brittle.)

Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can get a scan through GP and if not will try my private medical cover. I also need to get back to Pilates and other exercise as feel so much better when doing that but any excuse not to get to the gym.

I will monitor my symptoms and see how it all goes. I have a feeling it is early days as just 4 months with no period.