Menopause without HRT?

[YukonGold]

Has anyone done this?
I’m 48 and currently peri menopausal, hot flushes, night sweats, very irregular periods, period pain for the first time in my life etc.
I’ve not been to a Dr for about 8 years (don’t have kids myself but OH does hence my being on Mumsnet!)
I can cope with my current symptoms but am wondering whether I can avoid HRT completely, has any one else done this?
Thanks!

I have been going through the menopause for the last 18 months and although have coped quite well with the hot flushes even though they are awful, I have now had the most awful feeling of dread running through me every day and now my eyebrows have gone haywire and my hair has started to fall out and is so thin, I have also been losing my memory which has been affecting my work I have now decided to go onto HRT which I was hoping not to do, I have been on it for 5 days now and don't feel any different so am hoping it will kick in soon as i feel awful. everybody is an individual and can choose which way they go with it, feeling a little disappointed that I have had to do it but couldn't cope

Like everything, it's good to hear both sides and I don't blame anyone for speaking up about the benefits of hrt on this thread. Not all women experience the menopause in the same way, and it's good there are choices. I'm just turned 40 and following with interest. I suffer with a particularly debilitating form of pms- pmdd- and it is awful how many women don't take it seriously because they just 'need a bit of chocolate' pre period. We all suffer things in varying degrees and experiences can be world's apart.
Thanks to each and every lady for posting.

I’m two years past my last period and have no discernible symptoms except feeling stupid and forgetful. I worry about vaginal atrophy and bone density but I don’t like the idea of extra hormones- I had a lot of infertiltiy treatment already. Wondering if someone like me should consider HRT at all.

I just don't know how long the negative stuff about HRT will go on for. It's all based on the flawed WHI research which was over 20 years ago.

It' s been shown to be incorrect and in many dr's view is going to be responsible for a whole generation of women who came off / didn't use HRT and now have osteoporosis ( 1 in 2 women has it anyway over 50.) Article on it in Menopause matters mag this month.

I can't think of any other 'prejudice' about a drug/ supplement that is so emotional as HRT (maybe ADs comes close.)

The way women speak of 'wanting to avoid it' and 'disappointed they have to resort to it'. Why? I genuinely don't know what is behind these comments other than being misinformed of the risks (based on outdated research.)

I accept that if you have relatives with breast cancer you will be wary but drs do have very strict guidelines about hereditary risk and HRT use.

I do understand that if your meno symptoms are not debilitating and don't affect your work or ability to care for your family, through lack of sleep or low mood, you won't need HRT.

The risks to health of being overweight or drinking more than 1 unit a day are far greater than using HRT but no one seems to want to talk about that!

No way! I cannot imagine my life without hrt. It gave my life back and I have no symptoms. I am 42 and a year on hrt. My biggest concern is about my future health and I think that estrogen is necessary for our bones, heart and our body function in general. Nowdays is considered safe! :)

I think the diversity of views on this thread shows it's important to go and talk to a clued up GP or specialist about this. Women going through the menopause early are in a very different position from those of us who experience it later in life.

It's a balancing act between the symptoms of the menopause and the possible side effects of HRT. We all make a different judgement call about which is worse, based on not just our own symptoms but our life circumstances, jobs, personalities, medical histories and so on and so forth.

I absolutely agree tiger, everyone is different and has a different medical history.
It is crucial for us to get informed but it is not easy to find a gyn who knows and cares.
I think that menopause is still a taboo matter and that’s why a lot of us try to get informed using the forum.

Queen I think there is also a misconception that those who opt not to go on hrt chose not to because they think hrt is a health risk.

I had no concern over the risks. The reason why I decided to come off it is because I hated how it made me feel much more than the actual symptoms of the menopause. The progesterone affected my heartrate which led me to suffer from deliberating lightheadedness. Had to that the very sudden weight gain (all lost again after stopping), the inconvenience of gp appointment, remembering days when to take progesterone, changing patches (which I found painful) and all together all I felt was a huge relief to stop it.

I found mindfulness and accepting the symptoms knowing they won't last the best way to deal with it. It wasn't the symptoms themselves that were causing most problem but the feeling I was losing control over my body and the stress it created that I found hard to cope with.

It might get to the point where the symptoms become worse than the above inconveniences in which case I'll reconsider but in the meantime I'm happy not being on hrt.

As I am under 50 I will ask my gp for a dexa scan. In the meantime I will continue to be very active physically most of it outdoor but also take vit D tablets.

That's fair enough swingofthings.

Everyone's experience is different.

I'm just going by what seems to crop up here which is women using words like 'giving in' and 'resorting to' HRT.

I never felt any need for HRT to 53 and coped fine with lifestyle. In fact I thought the menopause had passed me by with nothing but a few lighter periods. Oh no! Once they stopped I had hourly flushes and insomnia.

My dr agreed that there was nothing more I could do- I was already stuffing myself with fruit and veg and lentils (for phytoestrogens), hadn't drunk for years due to another issue. no coffee, hardly any sugar, walking miles a day...there was nothing else to try.

My mum had flushes into her 80s and her friends seemed to have 'anxiety and nerves' post-meno.

Compared to you I was fortunate to find the right HRT straight off .

You only need an review of HRT once a year or slightly more often (this is the medical recommendation) so no one should need to see a GP more often unless they have a problem with their HRT .

I didn't have a choice with HRT. I couldn't sleep, work properly, or be of any use to my family and elderly parents.

Hrt transformed life for me. K wasn't sleeping be a use of night sweats. And poor memory and anxiety was effecting work and the depression and the rage were ruining my marriage.

I do eat well. Don't drink much. Exercise and do yoga. I also need the hormone 'replacement.

Insomnia is without a doubt my worse menopausal problem but hrt didn't improve it for me. My wakings are not caused by night sweats, the issue is my constantly feeling mentally high and struggling to shut down. Adjusting lifestyle is helping but yes would love a 'miracle' cure for it. Hrt wasn't it sadly.