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.

I've not been on Evorel sequi HRT long - less than two months - but so far it has stopped the bladder problems, helped me sleep, stopped night sweats, and I've been able to do some toning exercises for my arse without aching all over.

It's helped with anxiety, too.

Rolf, hope you're doing ok.

I think there are such clouds of misinformation around the persona of Margaret Mead and her work, it's hard to know if anything was/is real.

Margaret Mead made her famous post menopause zest statement on live television, so I don't think this can be disputed. (The specifics are mentioned in the link I posted upthread.)

I heart everyone's informed choices as to what to do with their own bodies. I just find it a bit weird that a thread entitled 'Menopause without HRT?' has turned into a master class in how to cajole one's GP into prescribing HRT. There seems to be a heavy pro-HRT bias and everyone who represents another viewpoint is mocked and dismissed. I don't think this was the OP's intention.

For the sake of presenting other viewpoints, I posted a few links. I would genuinely like to hear from women who decided to go without pharma and are happy with that choice, or women who use natural remedies and are happy with that.

May everyone here enjoy great plethoras of post menopausal zest.

Polly, Re: cranberry tablets, all I can say is that there was a marked improvement after i started taking them regularly. I had far fewer UTIs and also, strangely, I became markedly less 'leaky. After 3 children I had what I imagined was the usual slight stress incontinence which I believed was to do with muscle tone. Once I was on the cranberry I 'leaked' less.

I can only surmise that UTIs have a tendency to encourage 'leakiness'.

I can only speak of my own experience.

I just find it a bit weird that a thread entitled 'Menopause without HRT?' has turned into a master class in how to cajole one's GP into prescribing HRT.

It's not weird. It's when women learn the truth about the benefits of HRT they are more inclined to use it if they are suffering. NICE guidelines state unequivocally that benefits outweigh risks for women up the age of 60, and the risk / benefit profile is equal from 60-70.

There are some posts here from women who have not used HRT- didn't you see them- and many posters who do use HRT say that they have friends who don't. HRT use in the UK is 20%. Most women don't use it. But then many women go to their GP with a myriad of symptoms and are offered ADs and other drugs because the GP doesn't join the dots and think 'Ah ha- maybe this is due to loss of estrogen.'

I also take offence at the idea that posters are mocking or dismissing women who don't want HRT.

The science shows little benefit from alternatives. It's not being dismissive to point that out.

I don't take it and am happy to be on a thread where things are discussed civilly. I work on the basis that we are all intelligent people who can make decisions based on what's right for us, reading up and asking questions.

For me, at the moment, the best thing seems to be not taking HRT. That might not be the right decision for others. I can accept happily accept that.

Haven't read the whole thread but the UTI bit caught my eye. Was crippled by them 2 years ago (am 53). On permanent anti biotics, bladder wash at hospital etc. Went on to HRT because of hot flushes and vaginal atrophy, and haven't had a UTI since. Such a relief

I don't use HRT (I can't) but it's not especially pleasant - hot flushes, joint aches and pains and all kinds of symptoms. I wouldn't do it this way if I had the choice I think, though I haven't looked at any alternative remedies so who knows.

I agree with @alizondevice.

Don't know where to start. 57, last period more than a year ago, ticked many of the questions on the clinic tick list given above as severe, have run 'hot' for about 20 years, on anti depressants long term, felt my life pretty miserable for many years. Sub sternal goitre removed 18 months but levels fine, not naturally overweight but have been for many years despite limiting intake, now in severe sciatic type pain saw neurosurgeon yesterday not suitable candidate for surgery - any help/suggestions out there as gp uninterested - could hrt help would be wonderful to feel normal again. Don't know who to go to for help, gp never mentioned hrt.

Thanks for the explanation iheart. (I'm a little disappointed it wasn't gratuitous swearing or libido fuelled erotica!) I know it's only "on line", but these things can be so upsetting at the time (I de-regged from a writers' group - bit of a case of jumping before I got pushed - because they were clearly uncomfortable with my feminism.)

Like you say, the important thing is to recognise that for some (not all) women, menopausal symptoms can be seriously debilitating, and that the scaremongering round HRT isn't borne out by the science, so if an individual woman feels she needs it, she can take it safely.

Menopause Matters is a very odd forum. It's amazing how many people they ban if they don't follow the 'HRT' line. Very suspicious

Well no-ones going to get banned here, which is great.

It's good to have an open discussion.

I did try to manage without HRT. That didn't work for me. I found this board, and things improved.

I'm sorry you had that experience @iheartpink. Please don't take it personally. You are unfortunately one of manner

*many. The long term members bully other posters & get them removed

Laydeez.... it's not that many weeks ago that some Mnetters were banned or certainly warned for starting threads about 'other forums' and bringing grievances over here. Just saying...

Doesn't affect me personally, but Dignity you might recall what happened?

I was replying to a post. Nothing controversial in that. Strange people have had the same experiences as iheartpink.

Don't anybody apologise for derailing the thread.
Although I haven't read anything that makes me want to take HRT. I haven't been put off either.
I sincerely hope I am lucky enough to go through the menopause without too much bother, only time will tell.

Laydeez is a very condescending term for adult women.

*tone. I am too old to be told what I can or can't have an opinion on. Please do not bully someone for responding to a post. I have reported you

twoheaped, it's an individual experience - but I was glad to be pointed toward to the correct, recent statistical data on here. My decision, though, always.

Laydeez is an in joke in the media by writers, sometimes, used as a joke. It's not offensive in any way. Only if you choose to interpret it that way. We use it amongst ourselves all the time.

I started peri at 48 and was thrown into awful VA almost straight away. I struggled for two years trying to get even topical HRT prescribed because I was told by several doctors that VA was not possible until several years after last period...certainly not true!
My life was miserable because of it, painful to walk, sit down or even sleep with it.
I have now been on systemic HRT ( transdermal) and Vagifem for a year, I now have my life back. Apart from some palpitations I had no other meno symptoms, I am in no hurry to give the HRT up.

I am glad you have now had relief