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

@Am2015 You might want to start a new thread for more replies as this is kind of 'lost' in the HRT pros and cons thread.

But...when you say prematurely menopausal, how old are you now?

In women under 40 / 45 with POF, it's not unheard of for periods to start again and it's quite likely that's what you have now- your own period.

Stopping HRT is a bit of an OTT reaction to be honest as the risks of it being anything serious are really low. The risks of serious stuff like uterine cancer tend to happen to much older women who are not on HRT and suddenly have a bleed in their 50s or older.

Try not to worry- it's more likely a normal period but see your GP or call them.

How were you diagnosed as prematurely menopausal? Did you have lots of blood tests or scan of your ovaries?

Finding his thread helpful.
I am really struggling. I have menopausal rage. I'm tearful.
I have been to see 4 GP's, in the last 2 years, and feel fobbed off. I'm 47.
I was convinced I was peri-menopausal 2 years ago, I get did blood tests done but she said it showed up nothing. Since then I've had night sweats and not sleeping, waking up at 3am or 4am like clockwork.
I now haven't had a period for a year.
I told the latest GP this and she said to 'make an appointment'.

My tearfulness and permanent rage has now made my Dh beg me to go to the GP. I will make an appointment on Monday.

I've been offered nothing during all of this. No patches, nothing.

But which shall I ask for? Aren't patches in short supply covid wise? I don't want to start bleeding again.

And I bet you they'll insist on AD's which I'll refuse because I'm not depressed.

@Oblomov20

Finding his thread helpful. I am really struggling. I have menopausal rage. I'm tearful. I have been to see 4 GP's, in the last 2 years, and feel fobbed off. I'm 47. I was convinced I was peri-menopausal 2 years ago, I get did blood tests done but she said it showed up nothing. Since then I've had night sweats and not sleeping, waking up at 3am or 4am like clockwork. I now haven't had a period for a year. I told the latest GP this and she said to 'make an appointment'.

My tearfulness and permanent rage has now made my Dh beg me to go to the GP. I will make an appointment on Monday.

I've been offered nothing during all of this. No patches, nothing.

But which shall I ask for? Aren't patches in short supply covid wise? I don't want to start bleeding again.

And I bet you they'll insist on AD's which I'll refuse because I'm not depressed.

Oblomov - I am answering to give you a bump in the hopes that one of the very informed ladies will come and help. However, I was in your position for TWO years. Horrible. Not one person in the medical profession stepped up leaving me feeling like an hysterical, crazy Victorian lady. By chance, I found this site and threads, went doctor shopping, and when one said to me "why have you waitied so long?" I burst into tears! Am on the patch and it saved my mind, my marriage and gave me a future. Keep at it.

Thank you Harriet. I will try my hardest not to get fobbed off again.

@Oblomov20 good luck. The rage is horrible and mood swings. I've been having night sweats and flushes and sickness. Had a GP appointment on the phone, had already had weight and blood pressure done and he prescribed Femoston HRT. Ive just started. Good luck

I have phoned for an appointment.

Thanks to all posters. Especially for the support.

And Even more so to the very knowledgeable posters right at the beginning of this thread. Who gave a list of all the points to note, and the NICE guidelines etc (which I didn't honestly read but I gave a quick peruse).

Success. I persuaded GP to give me a prescription for both patches and pills.

But it was a fight! She told me I didn't qualify because I needed to not have a period for 2 years.

I questioned this. I basically told GP she wasn't Up-to-date with the latest NICE guidelines re-HRT and eventually she agreed. I've just got to go and collect the prescription.

Ladies please have a listen to this podcast with the MenopauseDoctor - Dr Louise Newson - it's so interesting and informative
I am so angry we have to fight for any of this, I swear if men had the menopause it would be different!

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-menopause-doctor-dr-louise-newson-newson-health/id1459614845?i=1000480316160

For me.

Pros: made me feel well, with less anxiety, moodiness and brain fog. Got rid of debilitating hot flushes and body aches.

Cons: cancer risk!

I take Novofem, lowish dose with two types of hormones. I have a bleed but its short and I don't mind it.