HRT pros and cons please?

[yogafailure]

I'm 49, definitely menopausal as confirmed by blood tests. Long story short, managed to get an emergency doctors appointment this morning and he has prescribed Femoston 1/10mg which from reading on this forum is the continuous variety.

He's left it with me to take or not take. I've another appointment in a months time to check my high bloody pressure again and he wants to check how the HRT is going then if I choose to start now. He spoke a lot about increased breast cancer risks but apparently that's not an issue with this initial 3 month trial?

I'm pretty clueless about HRT and despite working in a building full of women of a similar age I don't know anyone who is on it 🤷🏼‍♀️ so any information, pros and cons or articles you could direct me to wpilsk be great.

Thanks in advance

Hi. My mother won't use HRT due to the animal welfare aspect.

But she is suffering horrendously.
Has anyone managed to find a good alternative?

@ilovebrie8 Well, that is incorrect. here is one of the letters from the BMS about that MHRA letter.

BMS letter about MHRA

You do not have to stop. That is NOT what the MHRA letter says.

If your GP won't flow guidelines which is it is the women'a choice having understood the very small risks, then you either have to argue your case- take along the BMS letter for example- or find another Gp or go to a specialist privately who is willing to prescribe.

@Nomorelaundry Does your mum eat yams or plants? Because the HRT used now is made from plants. The horse urine type went out years ago although it's still (just) about available but hardly anyone takes it.

@JemimaPuddleCat thank you so so much!
I convinced her to go to GP and get the patches. Then they were run out and then she started googling! I will tell her that.

Another one jumping in here, but just to say this thread is so helpful!!

I'm 52 and definitely peri menopausal so starting to think about all things menopause.

Thanks jingling I was bluntly told stop HRT due to the recent study into HRT and increased breast cancer risk. I am so glad I’ve reached out on this forum as I’ve been worrying myself sick about what to do...

@Lupiaza they won’t give a combined pill to older women. You could have the tablet form of HRT if that’s what you mean.
When I first went to the go about HRT she was very reluctant since my periods were monthly.
GPs seem so I’ll educated about it all.

I’m so glad this thread is helping so many people x

@ilovebrie8 This is a useful resource . This dr knows far more than the GP!

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/breast-cancer-risks-from-hrt-by-leading-breast-cancer-specialist-professor-michael-baum

www.newsonhealth.co.uk/news/terrifying-press-releases-are-unforgivable-says-leading-breast-cancer-specialist-ucl-professor-michael-baum-of-recent-media-coverage-of-hrt

@BigButtons They do give the combined pill to women and in any case the OCP is now given to women who do not smoke and are not overweight up to age of 50. The type of pill used for younger women in peri who are not menopausal is Qlaira.

@JinglingHellsBells
Thanks for correcting me. My GP again useless with info.

Thank you BigButtons and JinglingHellsBells - lots to think about there.

Havent read the whole thread but am on HRT patches ( altho supply becoming erratic). Feel so much better, no hot flushes or mood swings. No cons as far as i am concerned

I have gone to a new GP who specialises in Menopause and it has been a revelation - it is a crime that women have to go and search this out for themselves. My other GP wanted to treat my symptoms with anti-depressants (she said that is how she treats all menopausal anxiety . I am on Femostan - my old GP had me on 1mg and my new specialist said that was totally ineffective (going on my medical history) and she put me on a higher dose. Perhaps OP you need a higher dose - but obviously you need a DR to prescribe, not a random poster on the internet!!!

Also, my new specialist GP said none of us should be ashamed or afraid of going on HRT and really we should be on it if we need it for our symptoms. I intend to stay on it as long as possible (I read on one thread here about someone's mum who is still on it at 85!!!!).

Finally, it seems most women with anxiety and insomnia in their late 30's and early 40's and mid-40's do not realise that this is peri-menopause and so either suffer in silence or get treated for the symptom, not the cause. And most GP's are the same!!!

Thanks for the links jingling....so glad I found this thread, what a revelation after being palmed off by my doctor who knew zilch. Panicked me by telling me to just stop my HRT which had been a live saver quite literally...

It’s MN and sometimes menopause matters that have given me the info and reassurance I need. Thanks heavens for such knowledgeable and kind posters.

Can I jump in please? I'm 48, going about 3 months between bleeds, hot at night, ragey, zero libido.

Went to the well woman nurse at our surgery yesterday to ask for advice and was basically told I could have a blood test to confirm peri-menopause but they're not conclusive. If I am then I might want to consider HRT; end of conversation

@user68435567 oh dear that’s not exactly as per NICE guidelines, is it as you’re over 45 so they should be going on symptoms alone www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23 (just noticed, this page said they checked the guidelines last month and are updating them )

Depends what you want to do? If you would like to try HRT go back in, state symptoms and quote the guidelines and say you’d like to discuss options please.

Try to go without hrt, lasted 18 months then realised I had options. Have parches for 4/5 months and I'm glad I did. No more hot flushes, mood better, sleeping better, brain working better and hopefully bones at less risk.

@over50andfab thank you so much. Have had my head in the sand for a while (DM didn't go through menopause until mid 50s) but I need to face up to the changes. Also didn't realise it would affect short term memory - this may well
Be the reason I misplaced my keys about a dozen times today ). Thankfully My symptoms aren't debilitating but added up it's pretty miserable at times.

So much to read up on it's quite overwhelming. As I am otherwise fit and healthy should I be asking for patches? I gather there are differing strengths of hormones, is the lowest level always prescribed in the first instance? I want to go forearmed as our GPs aren't the best but not sure what to ask for.

@user68435567 can I suggest you read up on it all - the videos done by the BMS have loads of info (link posted upthread) , as does Louise Newton’s website mentioned by Jingling. www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/ .

Im not medical,y qualified to suggest what would suite you best as there are various factors to take into account in discussion with your GP. I personally started and stayed on Evorel 50 patches combined with Mirena coil. However patches are in short supply in some areas atm. Read my post on Mon 20 Jan at 13.54 for “gold standard”.

I’m going through the menopause & not on HRT , however I am worried about my heart & bones with the lack of estrogen which protects them
My female Dr has never discussed HRT & really is unsympathetic , GP’s know little about the menopause

Just reading through this thread-lots of great advice. @Applejack87 do you want to start HRT? Have you asked your GP for this?

I’m 48 and peri, I’ve been taking Femiston 1/10mg for 2 months.
Was initially offered SSRIs but stood my ground.
Within days my night sweats stopped and my overall mood has improved significantly.
Brain fog is slowly clearing as well.
Only downside is I have put on weight although that could also be from Xmas excesses

Here’s a recent very comprehensive update on the HRT situation, it also has the link to equivalent combinations

thebms.org.uk/2020/01/british-menopause-society-further-update-on-hrt-supply-shortages-27th-january-2020/