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'm 61 and did not need HRT - menopause symptoms were minimal (and have now stopped completely) and the bliss of no longer having periods more than made up for them. I may have felt differently if I had been affected more. My advice would be wait and see how it affects you before making any hard and fast decisions on what you will or will not do

My story is in the menopause matters magazine page 12 and on Dr Louise Newson's page , I have decided to go public on this regards what it has / is doing to my life and many ladies ......I never wanted to go on HRT but , episiotomies that were almost splitting open ☹️ ....burning / sorness / UTIs the lost goes on .

grannycake, I'm in a similar position, a few years earlier. I'm 56 and delighted to have done with menstruation. For me it was always very grim (heavy periods, often painful, very irregular) except for a few halcyon years when I was on the mini pill in my 20s. I was diagnosed later with endometriosis, which probably explains some of that. Perimenopause lasted for years and years and years, but it's now over a year since the last period, so that's that. Hurrah!

I've been very fortunate not to have had much trouble with menopausal/perimenopausal symptoms. Mood is fine, energy levels fine, memory a bit erratic but not much more than it ever was, sleeping well mostly. I have hot flushes and find them tiresome but no more than that.

Reading this thread it strikes me that personal circumstances play a large part in this, and probably also personality. I have a few advantages in dealing with menopause over and above the lack of symptoms, and can see that it could all have been a lot harder if some or all this had been different:

1. My children were more or less grown up by the time it started, and my parents are still going strong (albeit a long way away), so family stresses aren't too bad at the moment.
2. I work part-time in a very flexible job, and don't have much work stress, nor is it a very senior, demanding role.
3. Going bright red and sweaty from time to time is not something that bothers me, nor do I feel embarrassed talking about it. I've never been glamorous so have not had to get used to not being so. I do genuinely feel that a woman who was always gorgeous and headturning must find this aspect of ageing very tricky.
4. I have been longing to be period-free ever since my children were born, and I am absolutely delighted to finally be there. I think my iron levels must have gone up a lot now that I'm not having heavy bleeding every 3 weeks or so.

I'm not on HRT and not planning to take it. Prompted by this thread, I've just checked my breast cancer risk. It's higher than average, mainly because my mum's mother and sister both died of it (although she has been fine). I am concerned about osteoporosis, but I do a lot of walking and a bit of jogging, and my mum is so far OK at 84, so I'm hopeful that I will be the same. So, on balance, for now I think this is the right decision for me. Fingers crossed ...

1966gettingold thank you for sharing your story, I have just finished reading the article. Best wishes.

I have had dreadful UTIs almost constantly since my early 40s. I had never before connected it to the menopause, I always assumed it was my particular physical/chemical makeup. I saw quite a few specialists over the years about my UTIs and not one ever mooted the possibility that it might be age related.

wordy17 they don't , but reducing oestoos the main reason .

iheartpink - you can't leave us hanging like that! You have to let us know what you did to get banned from Menopause Matters. (Well, no, of course you don't actually have to - but my imagination is now running riot. Did you forget that you weren't on mumsnet and call everyone a cunt? In a fit of oestrogen-induced libidinous glow, did you post the latest chapter of your draft of your erotic novel? I'm going to spend my whole lunch hour wondering now.)

Afternoon all, can I have some advice please?

I had a hysterectomy about 6 years ago and chose not to go on HRT, it's been fine and I've had no symtoms other than the occasional hot flush, I used a soya supplement and I've felt terrific mostly.

Anyway, just lately I've felt my bones are achey and I feel .. 'a bit old' is the best way of putting it. I eat well, exercise and have a physical, fairly demanding job. I've put weight on [a stone or so] since my surgery on but I'm 49 now and expected it.

Do you think HRT would help me feel better [younger?] and is it worth booking a GP appointment?

Did they remove your ovaries too? Even if they didn't they can pack up soon after a hyster. I think the stats say within 2-3 years.

Yes, HRT would prob help.

Hi Polly Yes I had everything taken.

Thanks for that, I'll make an appointment tomorrow and see what the GP says. At the time of my surgery the surgeon recommended Livial if I chose to take it.

Do ask for a bone density scan. You really must have this assessment of your bones. Not having estrogen from age 43 is very risky for osteoporosis and also heart disease risks. (estrogen protects from both.) The NICE guidelines are that HRT is mandatory (unless medical reasons not to) for women with surgical menopause, up to the age of 51 at least. You only need estrogen and there are no cancer risks with that.

Thanks for reminding me about that.

I did break my foot 21 months ago and was worried about my bones but I recovered well and put it to the back of my mind, thanks for the reminder.

Oh you must get checked out! A minor break like that is an red alert, so do pursue this. There are some 1-stop fracture clinics where they do scans etc when something like this happens.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.jsp
You could do this test online but it's not that accurate (I had osteopenia but according to this assessment I had low risk.) I did the test after I'd had a bone scan just to see if it was accurate! But give it a go.

wordy I have a UTI at the moment. I've also suffered with Overactive Bladder since the age of 42. I'm convinced it's age related, but no Doc will take me seriously

I am sorry to hear that, buggerthebotox, have you asked to be referred to a specialist? Although, as I said, I didn't find them any help either but that was a few years ago and maybe things have moved on since then.
What has REALLY helped me is taking one cranberry extract tablet per day, not the drink, the tablet. I get mine in superdrug. I found this out one time at the specialists. He didn't tell me, his nurse did when he went out of the room

Fyi UTI peeps, my mum (76) gets bladder installations/instillations for her interstitial cystitis (which absolutely can be age-related):
www.uhb.nhs.uk/Downloads/pdf/PiBladderInstillation.pdf

It has changed her life, esp getting rid of urgency, which was the most distressing symptom.

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of cranberry extract. I'm currently taking Vesicare which I found out about on here. I order it over the net. It helps!

Sorry for hijacking thread, op.

After my appt yesterday - referral to clinic, and upping of my AD dose, I woke this morning and decided not to take the extra AD. I've had depression often enough over the decades to know when I'm tired/wanting to hide in my bed because of depression, and when I'm tired/wanting to retire to my bed because I'm absolutely mnackered.
In this case its definitely the latter and upping the ADs won't be great for my concentration or memory, I don't think.
And I'm also thinking its interesting that there is a reluctance to prescribe HRT because of clinical studies; but as far as I know there has been no long-term study of SSRIs, not least because they're a relatively new drug, and yet they are handed out very freely.

I'm on HRT. My periods stopped just after 50. I felt fine. Then the night sweats started, the sadness, the aches in my hands and the dryness and UTIs. Never had a UTI until the menopause. I'm now on HRT and for me 20 good years is better than 30/40 crap years. I will be working until I'm 67 and I have two teenagers. I need my energy and health.

Thanks Polly, you are a star! .

wordy I have a UTI at the moment. I've also suffered with Overactive Bladder since the age of 42. I'm convinced it's age related, but no Doc will take me seriously

Really? You need to educate them. This is a link from Menopause Matters

www.bladdermatters.co.uk/content.php?id=155g=0/Influence-of-menopause

Sounds as if you need a different dr and vaginal estrogen. You've gotta push for it!

wordy there was something about cranberry in the news a few months ago and it's been show it doesn't help at all. It's also very acidic and anyone with an irritable or overactive bladder may find it doesn't help.

www.sciencealert.com/you-need-to-stop-trying-to-treat-your-uti-with-cranberry-juice

I've had bladder issues for years but HRT has def helped (vaginal HRT too.)

Polly that's brilliant. I've always suspected that there are links between the meno and bladder problems. I'll show the quack doc that link when I get back from hols.

She won't even prescribe my Regurin any more-because I'm "managing". Unfortunately I'm "managing" by dehydration, which is probably exacerbating the symptoms. .