Is it too soon to ask for HRT?

[InYerFace]

I'm 44 and just started getting perimenopause symptoms two months ago (although my periods are still regular). The insomnia, night sweats and hot flushes came on suddenly and I'm already finding the lack of sleep hard to cope with - it's affecting my work and my mood.

But two months doesn't sound long when you hear about people having symptoms for years before seeking help. Just wondered if I should try to tough it out for a bit longer before asking for HRT? Feel like a bit of a wimp as it's been such a short amount of time! But am currently on my 14th day in a row of very little sleep and feeling horrific so feel like I have to do something.

Have a docs appointment on Friday. Can't work out if I should ask the GP for sleeping tablets or talk about HRT options? Would they even give HRT to me? I have tried all the usual sleep hygiene things too, by the way!

It's definitely not too soon - there are no prizes for toughing it out! However your GP may not take this view, so go armed with a list of your symptoms and your own opinion that this is perimenopause, and see how you get on. These were my symptoms when I first went to my GP (I was 44), although my cycle had become a bit irregular too, and I was given a low dose HRT without any further question or tests.

Thanks for the advice, Super. I will go in and ask to discuss HRT options then, rather than sleeping tablets - even if they think I'm a wimp!

Could I ask, did the low dose HRT help ease your symptoms - and did it work quickly? Am pretty desperate to sleep , would be great to hear that the end might be in sight.

I was 45 when I started with the symptoms. I had no problem being offered hrt. It worked within 48 hours.
Sadly the patch hrt is bloody expensive and I could not carry on paying for it so had to stop taking it.
Now I could afford it but lived with it for 5 years now. Should be over soon eh.

I had a very early full blown menopause after fertility treatment ( used up all my eggs I guess ) I went straight onto HRT and was warned there was a slight chance of breast cancer but no real worries. Fast forward to age 63, still on HRT, diagnosed with bi-lateral bc . Was it the HRT? I'm not sure but I wouldn't take it again if I had the choice.

anniegranny

sorry to hear about your cancer.

the risks of breast cancer do not apply to women having an early menopause. The small risk only comes after the age of normal menopause ( approx 51) and then only after at least 5 years on it.

OP you can have around 10 years of HRT before the risks even begin to add up. The medical advice is to use HRT as replacement for what you ought to have up to 51 at the very least to protect your heart and bones.

@InYerFace I found it made a huge difference within a week (Elleste Duet 1mg). However I went back for a stronger dose within about 6 months as the flushes came back, and then changed to Femoston 2/10 as I don't cope well with norehisterone. A good gp will help you to find the HRT that works best for you.

@QueenoftheNights
Thank you for your reply. I was on HRT for over 20 years so that's probably why! I then had the menopause during my cancer treatment, as I had to stop taking the hormones, which was great fun! However, I'm absolutely fine now God bless the NHS

@anniegranny
Again, I'm sorry you had cancer. And glad you are well.

BUT no one knows what caused it. The latest research / thinking is that HRT does not cause cancer (there is no proof of cause-effect) but that it may promote growth of an existing cancer cell which may well have developed in time anyway. (There is a long medical article on Menopause Matters Home page by Dr Currie on this.)

I've also linked to a great video by Dr Louise Newson (it's now about 7 threads down here) which has a top US oncologist talking about HRT/ cancer.

@anniegranny
So so sorry to hear that, but pleased to hear you're out the other side. Hope you're feeling better. That's definitely given me food for thought, so thank you for sharing your experience.

Thanks all for the replies. Had a much better night last night, after I took an anti-histamine in desperation. I know that's not the answer, but was so relieved to get a good night's sleep finally. Hopefully the doctor will have some suggestions - and is clued up on HRT.

@InYerface
Do be aware that any risks with HRT do not start until you have taken it up to the age of the average menopause- 51.

The risks of not taking it when you are younger outweigh any risks of long term usage. (This is medical advice, right across the board, before anyone jumps in and says I'm advising HRT- not me - every menopause dr would tell you the same.)

@QueenoftheNights

Thank you, Queen, that's so helpful. Was also pleased to see the risks explained on the BBC1 documentary. Although I'm not a heavy drinker at the moment (couple of glasses of wine only at the weekend) it's made me determined that if I do try HRT, I'll cut down even more.

I haven't watched the bbc program but must
I started hrt at 53 it was great felt like my old self completely but also got Breast cancer two years later and Breast surgeon said you don't know what caused it but the hrt was certainly feeding it so I only can say make sure you have mammagrams to keep an eye
Mine came one year after a clear mammagram

I don’t think that it is too soon. I started hrt a year ago at 41 after a few months of suffering badly with meno symptoms. If I knew more about meno I would prepare myself better!