HRT if no menopause symptoms?

[Clarissalarissa]

I've read on here that HRT provides protection against various medical conditions. So if you have gone through / are going through menopause, but have no symptoms at all, should you still take HRT? Or is there a downside that would outweigh the upside, or would the GP refuse to prescribe it anyway?

My grandma had osteoporosis in her 80s. She didn't break anything. Her vertebrae were crumbling, so she went from small to smaller. She had Alzheimer's and, in her lucid moments, she would tell be how much pain she was in, and that it was no fun being old.

I know, but not everyone who breaks a bone does so because of oesteroporosis. Best to do weight bearing exercises, not smoke or drink and eat healthily unless you have definite risk factors

Haven't read the links but HRT will help protect your bones! Yes weight-bearing exercises, healthy diet etc etc are also good but oestrogen is the business! I'm glad I had the obvious symptoms because I then ended up taking HRT for a long time which hopefully will give some protection against long term health conditions. OP - it is not all about the obvious symptoms of flushes and sweats as women go through menopause, it is also the long-term consequences of oestrogen deprivation. If you want HRT - then you should ask for it. There must be a symptom you have for which it is indicated?

I absolutely agree with you Bella! The estrogen deprivation causes a lot of severe and dangerous consequences to the body and taking hrt is more an individual decision that depends on how wants everyone to live his life! I’m with you! I’ll use hrt for life!

Elleste duet states clearly in the info leaflet " you will only be prescribed this if your symptoms seriously hinder your daily life"

The leaflets are the almost the same in all kinds of hrt. A well informed gyn can inform you in details, ex patients with POI or Turner syndrome use hrt for decades...

my thinking is, would you have taken the combined pill for the preventative effect it has on certain cancers knowing that it raises the risk of others? I mean take it just for that reason ? I wouldn't. I did however take it for decades knowing those facts as I didn't want to get pregnant and that was the method that suited me. (I know the pill can be prescribed for things other than preventing pregnancy.)
I know there is a school of thought saying all women should take estrogen for bone and brain health (the brain bit being a newish line of research in Alzheimers) but it's all early days in that. There are also lots of things people can do to help their brains and bones that don't involve taking HRT . Consult a specialist to discuss your particular risk factors would be my advice and get a second opinion if you have to or to feel better. I've seen three different GPs re HRT in my surgery, they varied quite widely in what they wanted to do and the approach to take and I had very serious symptoms .

I agree with you. I had an early meno and I’m 42, so there is doubt that I’ll need hrt at least until 50. I’m slim, my body doesn’t make estrogen at all and last year the lack of estrogen putted my health in serious risk with almost regular periods! There a lot of schools of thoughts and I make my choice based more on my instincts and the quality of life I prefer.

My first gyn left me helpless and in despair! He said to accept the reality of my early meno and to cope with it! When I said that I couldn’t work, he said to stay home!!! My second gyn offered me hrt and said that I can use it only for 5 years and when I asked him ‘ and then what’??? he said that I will no need my hormones after 46!!! And my last gyn said that I can have hrt as long as I want with scans every 3 months and mammogram yearly. I choose the last! 😂

I haven't noticed any symptoms at all, weirdly. Perimenopause was only slightly more noticeable.

I just posted about this as I have had a hysterectomy and I really do not want to leave it too long before starting HRT but I have no clue if I am menopausal or not!