Menopause without HRT?

[twoheaped]

Is it possible to go through the menopause without HRT?

I have never taken the contraceptive pill, or used a chemical device as I just didn't really fancy the idea of taking hormones.
Now I guess the menopause will be coming in the next few years and I have found little information on going it alone, as such.
Can it be done? I'm still not keen on the thought of taking hormones.

Of course it is possible to go through the menopause without having to take HRT. Some of my friends hardly had any symptoms when they went into the menopause, and perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones, too.

For me though it has been so hellish that I needed to take HRT and I was very glad for it, too.

Before taking HRT I had a couple of years taking a natural remedy which worked well. Unfortunately it stopped working over time, and that's when I turned to the HRT remedy.

Good luck, you may find that you sail through the menopause.

I had no symptoms & know plenty of people who haven't had hrt. Also know plenty where it's been a fantastic thing to take. I would have done if I needed it, but I was fine.

I'm going through it now... few years in I think. Hot flushes seem to be the only obvious symptom. It's doable

I think the number of women using HRT is around 20%. So yes,of course you could manage but it depends on the quality of life you would have without it. Many women in their 50s are juggling work, teenagers and elderly parents, not to mention divorce or relationship problems.

It all depends on your symptoms and how you view benefits over small risks.

Some women like my mum have hot flushes and insomnia for decades- till their 80s. Other women sail through it all with hardly anything.

You might like to have a re-think over 'hormones'. We've had hormones all our fertile lives. HRT is available which is exactly the same as our own hormones- so it's not a synthetic chemical, it's biologically exactly the same as your own estrogen and progesterone which you have produced for a long time. In that sense, all your are doing is replacing not putting a foreign substance in your body. it's completely different to the Pill which is synthetic.

HRT, even biological HRT is a drug with side effects. It's made & sold by pharmaceutical companies. It is naive to think it is 'natural' as we are not made of soya or yam! so it is a balance between benefit/side effects. Some people can manage menopause without HRT & some require it for a better quality of life.

That's missing the point somewhat.

HRT is body identical form is estradiol . This is molecularly identical to our own. It doesn't matter what it's made from if the end result is identical to our own estrogen. Everything in our body is made from chemicals - molecules and atoms.

The reason it is a prescription drug is , like everything in life, it can have side effects - just like too much coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, salt- can have if you have too much. So it's regulated.

HRT does not have side effects for everyone. I have used HRT for 10 years and do not have side effects.

Some women do, some women don't. Most women using HRT feel better on it and that is why they use it.

I think we have discussed this before and the sticking point was if 'side effects' are 'risks'. There is a difference and everyone must weigh up what is important.

As my consultant keeps saying, there are small risks using HRT, there are also risks not using HRT.

Yes it's totally possible. I've been through it and not even close to needing hrt. Which is great for me as I didn't want to use it.

I may have resorted to it if needed. I don't know.

I think if it works & you feel good then it is a better option than suffering.

If you symptoms are just annoying then I think the best option is to let it pass. My main symptoms are hot flushes/night sweats. So they are more annoying & I had joint pain on HRT & put on 1/2 stone in a month so for me it was better to just find the symptoms annoying & not take HRT. As PP says everyone has a different experience & hopefully the majority who choose/need HRT find it helpful.

I am menopausal post hysterectomy. I would never ever take HRT. I've tried natural remedies and now just get on with it 😊

😇 😉

I was told to "get on with it" by my quack GP, so that's what I did.

It's perfectly doable. My main symptoms were flushes and fatigue. I upped my exercise and slept more. I think I'm over it now (8 years later).

My mum did it and I'm absolutely determined to try.

Can I ask, at what age did every start having symptoms? I'm 44 and often feel I'm experiencing some symptoms and like op I'd really like to avoid HRT if I can.

HRT is not regulated where I live. I buy it OTC. I think most of Europe buys it OTC.
I understand it protects heart and bones before the age of 50.
Feel great

Of course it is. The overwhelming majority of women don't take it.
Some have very few, or very mild symptoms, some can't because of other medicine being taken or previous medical history., some choose not to. For some, however, it really helps.
We're all different.

Be careful of your bones! HRT helps with that.

I don't understand this desire to 'get on with it'. There are no medals for suffering or being stoic and it's a shame to imply that women who use it are 'weaker' and 'giving in'.

If you use HRT, you may have 5 or 10 really good years of quality of life which otherwise you'd not have.

It's great if you manage without but bear in mind that many women who are working into their 60s (as I am) , looking after kids and elderly parents cannot manage otherwise.

And HRT is not just for short term issues. It protects against bone loss, pelvic atrophy and heart disease.

I was told to "get on with it" by my quack GP, so that's what I did.

Are you implying that those that don't 'get on with it' are somewhat inferior? Because I had to 'get on with it' as my doctor wouldn't even test me 8 years ago and now at 49 have osteoporosis. Go me eh?

Out of my family and friends I'm The only one who has ever had HRT.

Many women have few to no problems, others like me find the constant (and I mean too many to count) hot flushes/sweats absolutely not ok. I never thought I'd take any false hormones but I was so grateful that they were an option. No one else I know has had anything they can't cope with. And most had very few symptoms. So yes, it is totally do-able.

Pollyperky is right. I'm going to try without because my mum did and my peri symptoms are close to hers. But if you're really suffering.....

Yes, it's totally possible.

I take it for bone protection (not sure if you said your age), but would take it anyway because the nausea in the evenings was annoying.

It's the fake hormones I'm scared of.

PollyPerky knows her stuff, I wasted a lot of time before I listened to her. (But am only 46, I really must take HRT)

I've done lots of research into this for my job as a medical writer. HRT is not all that widely used in the UK because of some very bad publicity a few years ago that exaggerated the risk of some side effects. But the benefits to quality of life are really quite clear in those women that have severe hot flushes and other symptoms. Nowadays you can get 'transdermal' HRT which work through the skin, and you don't need to take pills. Transdermals are much safer than the old tablets and cause no increased risk of stroke or breast cancer- the two things people are most worried about with HRT. Natural remedies I.e. herbal things generally don't work on their own, but you could try them if that's your thing. However, as others have said, you don't need to take anything if you don't want to