Women who have been through meno without HRT

[Sarcelle]

I am on my "journey" without HRT. Symptoms fairly mild/manageable.

I was surprised to read somewhere that only 20% of women take HRT. So lots who don't. My question is about the effects of getting through it without HRT - what happens to you after meno?

I have read loads about the meno (it's confusing!) but there seems to be a suggestion that you should be on HRT, not necessarily to ease horrendous symptoms, but to maintain good health afterwards - because of hardening of the arteries, osteoporosis etc.

So are lots of women post meno who did not/are not on HRT ill and feeling crap all the time with a myriad of complaints?

I think I am looking for evidence that you can thrive, age well, feel great after meno without having taken HRT.

Some ridiculous comments re busy women don’t have time vs the self-obsessed.

I started the menopause relatively early with horrible symptoms which struck me out of the blue and I was a busy professional with small children. I remember telling the doctor that I did not have the time to feel so rotten/I needed to be on top form due to my commitments and lifestyle when she explained the risks of HRT.

I do think all women experience the menopause differently. My sister who is a couple of years older than me has hardly had any symptoms whereas I was having a hot flush every hour and a half and I could not sleep because of the night sweats.

I see soya milk has been mentioned a few times as something helpful during this time. Whilst that may be true for Some women please don't just start supplementing it without caution. In my opinion soya milk should come with a health warning. For some women it can have really adverse affects on their hormone levels and general health as a result of the hormone disruption.

I had my last period in my mid-fifties. No terrible symptoms at all. My internal thermostat seems to be permanently set on high now and I am mildly famous locally as the person who never wears a jumper or coat whilst walking her dogs (yes people really do comment on that). I was never a sun worshipper so I look on that as a plus - no central heating on in our house!

I tend to wake about 4.30 most nights but I don't really miss the extra sleep so maybe I just need less sleep now. TBH I generally just read a book and chill until it is 6.30 and time to get up.

That is pretty much it.

I'm perimenopausal and experiencing irregular periods, night sweats, itchy skin and thickening around the waist...I've found exercise, cutting back on alcohol and eating well (not junk) has helped the most and intend to stick to this lifestyle going forward. No plans for HRT.

I’m Indian and if I don’t take HRT will go the way my mum, aunt and gran did (osteo to the point of brittle bones, heart issues etc). I think the advice to take HRT varies across communities but most doctors now recommend that Indian women take it to offset the increased risk of heart disease we’re more prone to.

I didn't take HRT and had moderate symptoms, and one year of very heavy irregular periods.
Then absolutely nothing at all.
That was 12 years ago now, I'm 52 and had an early menopause.
physically I'm fine, i don't get any more ill than i did before.

No hrt, start meno at age 55/56 . At that point my anxiety came back with vengeance, which lead to depression. Had few hot sweat episodes day/night, two years of no periods I had light bleed. Hospital did small op found fibroid and polyp, nothing bleeds since.

Now 61, still have daily anxiety which is debilitating somedays. Occasional night sweat where chest feels wet.

I take, omega’s Magnesium, vit d3, B50 complex and anti depressant

It's impossible to discuss HRT free menopause on this site because someone always comes along to tell you that you should be on it and takes over the thread. Every single time.

I made it through without HRT. Mild hot flashes, some vaginal dryness solved with lube. Occasional insomnia. Nothing I felt warranted taking meds over.

@RomanyRoots
Please, please, please speak to your GP about bone density or cough up for a bone scan if you can and they won't. Whilst you may feel fine, that's no indication of your bone density. being without estrogen for 12 years sooner than the 'normal ' age, puts you in the high risk category for brittle bones. Have the scan and if all is well, relax, but if not at least you will know and be able to stop the decline before you have a fracture.

@JaneJeffer I don't see anyone telling anyone to use or not use HRT I see some correction of myths and some pointers to medical facts that women might find helpful.

Everyone can choose- but only when they know the facts.

Wonder why you are a bit confrontational over it?

I didn't confront anyone. I just gave my opinion as I see it.

Queen

Thank you very much, I have an appointment coming up for something unrelated so I will mention it, many thanks.
I did go to see my gp when it was happening and they didn't mention anything, but 12 years is a long time ito recommendations and knowledge.
I was also only 9 when I started, so didn't really think anything untoward with stopping early.
HRT wasn't even mentioned.

I made it through without HRT. Mild hot flashes, some vaginal dryness solved with lube. Occasional insomnia. Nothing I felt warranted taking meds over.

Similar except I have vagifem - which may technically be 'HRT' but it's such a low dose and localised that it's probably not what the OP was thinking about. There's a thread at the moment on VA (vaginal atrophy) which I would recommend women take a look at.

I do wear cardis rather than jumpers more now, for ease of shedding layers if needed.

That thread was a bit of an eye opener Errol. But I’m over 60, not sure I want to put that much effort in.

Thank you all for your interesting experiences. I sincerely hope that I am one of the “lucky” ones who get through without much trouble. I would not rule out HRT but as my symptoms are mild (at the moment at least) but I would prefer not to. It is encouraging that there is light among the doom and gloom.

I have a few colleagues who have had the most horrendous time and have now gone on HRT which has helped them considerably. One of them suffered for a long time and eventually went on it and is like a different person. One of them was cautioned not to take it because her sisters had breast cancer but her symptoms were so bad she had to, she was not functioning.

I do struggle with noise terribly now. Have to wear headphones at work to drown out people typing on keyboards. Gives me the rage, never bothered me before. Even my own typing gets to me. A weird sympton but a sympton nonetheless!

@QueenoftheNights

My GP did exactly that with me

Not menopausal but at risk of osteoporosis

Put on HRT

I’m 58 now and had my last period at 51. I was lucky enough to have an ‘easy’ menopause, a few night sweats and that was all. I use Vagifem now as I started a new relationship post meno/divorce and sex was uncomfortable due to dryness, this has had the bonus of reducing nocturnal toilet visits!

If I experience any further symptoms though I’ll be off to the doctor to discuss HRT.

Interesting thread which I will be following.

I am 48 and have been getting cycles of over 150 days without periods, then a couple of sub 20 day cycles before going back to 30+ - 100+ cycles. Not had any medications but have had varying hot flushes which are occasionally happening every half an hour but generally only for short periods of time. Hello to my ex husband at this point. I am not sure if I would count as having an early menopause? I guess I have been having these symptoms for about two-three years.

Some ridiculous comments re busy women don’t have time vs the self-obsessed
Indeed and I would tend to say it is the opposite. In my case, I'm pretty sure I would have coped OK with it if it wasnt for the impact that stress that comes with my lifestyle (not enough hours in the day, strict deadlines, commuting etc...) has on it.

When I'm on holiday, I feel good with the menopause but the moment I'm back in that circle of routine, I fall into the vicious circle of stress impacting on sleep, impacting on anxiety, impacting on health, impacting on stress which was manageable before the hormones made it all much worse.

HRT is great when it works but for me it just didn't ease my issues, didn't help me sleep, if anything it made it worse sadly because I didn't cope with the progesterone. Experts have said that it's possible to go on a lower dose whilst being monitored, but I would still have to take it at time, arrange to get scans with a clueless gp practice under massive pressure, no menopause clinics anywhere close, and dealing with this would be stressful anyway.

I do feel though that after years of shouting that hrt was dangerous and should be avoided at all cost, that the opposite is now almost the norm and you are made to feel stupid if you don't go on it if you have symptoms, ie. stop whinging it's your fault, you should go on hrt. It remains that hrt has some benefits but also still some risks even if these are small and personally unless I can't cope otherwise, I rather minimise all risks as much as possible.

As for osteoporosis, I'm about to go and ask for a de a scan as menopause hit early but hoping being an avid runner and swimmer I'll be OK.ut clearly would reconsider if not and of course ne er say never as symptoms might get worse still and unmanageable without it.

Taking hrt is no différé t than doing a benefit/risk ratio analysis and making an individual decision based on the result.

For me hrt is necessary.
I had severe symptoms and I just couldn’t function at all. It was impossible to go on my career.
I was the shadow of my old self. Hrt gave my life back.
My gun said that I can stay on it for life with regular check ups.
I have a very healthy life style, I am an athlete, no alcohol, no sugar.

I was fine without. Did go on HRT for a short while as soon as I had perimenopausal symptoms but actually felt better when I came off it after a oouple of months.

I think a lot depends on your lifestyle, if you have a high profile job and do a lot of commuting, it's no fun having hot flushes.

Just pamper yourself as much as you can, eat well and relax. It will pass and you'll be better than ever. It's lovely to have no more periods too.

I think I got to 51 swearing I would power through the menopause on diet and exercise. I could cope with the physical symptoms, but not the effect on my mental health. I have never felt such rage - it frightened me. I have teenagers, a full time professional job, a full on hobby, a social life and a step parent with dementia. HRT means I am myself again and able to cope with the demands of my busy life. If I was a housewife, I may not have taken it - I guess I would have tried more yoga/mindfulness/time out first. But I don't have that luxury. My life is rammed, my family depend on my wages and it is the life I chose. HRT enables me to live it.

So I guess I am saying I could get through the menopoause without HRT with major lifestyle changes, but we don't all want, nor are in a position, to make those changes.

I had hot flushes and mild anxiety and aches. Once I was 4 months with no periods they stopped. I didn't take HRT and the GP didn't offer it (probably because I never asked)

I'm only going to add one more comment here because I've posted a few and it's this...

challenging the original post 'Women who have been through the meno...'

Menopause (as such) is for life. It means no more periods. Sorry if that sounds like splitting hairs!

Peri meno is the transition stage when symptoms can be at their worst.

But estrogen -deprivation doesn't end with the last period. Reading lots of posts here, there seems to be a belief that all these symptoms will stop. For some women they do, but for many ( 1 in 5) they carry on for decades.

My mum had flushes into her 80s and has never slept properly since her periods stopped around 53. She's now in her 90s, is fit, has amazing energy for her age, BUT she has been sleep deprived for years. When she asked for HRT she wasn't allowed it due to being too old (this was decades back.)

If you are one of the lucky ones who has symptoms for just a few years and they are mild, that's great.

But many women - like the PP has said- are managing work well into their 60s, teenagers, parents with dementia and trying to keep their relationships going. Please don't underestimate the toll of all of this if you add in menopausal symptoms lasting decades.