Should I go on HRT if my only symptom is hot flushes?

[ThespianTendencies]

That's it really. I am 54 and had 4 periods last year and not had one since Sept 2019 so I am definitely perimenopausal. My main symptom is the hot flushes and they are bloody awful! I am waking so much in the night through them and obviously getting them during the day too. Would it be worth me going on HRT if that is the only thing bothering me? I mean I don't get moody, have not suffered with any menopausal MH probs etc. Just trying to weigh up the pros and cons. Thank you

It's your choice.

Bear in mind that HRT has many other benefits to your health including bone density and cardiovascular health, less bowel cancer and may protect against dementia.

I appreciate HRT has many benefits and there has been lots of research carried out to prove its success. Its great that you have had a good experience, however it doesn't suit everyone and there are valid reasons for that. I believe its important that we as women have as much knowledge and understanding on the subject as possible, as well as an understanding of how our hormones work. We then can make a fully informed decision that is right. Having researched this subject myself recently not sure if it's possible to get a complete picture.

what are you unsure about @NatKnwsBest? I see you are new to MN or to this part of it and started by commenting on a 8 yr old post. What medical sites have you read to try to learn more? what are your symptoms and how old are you now?

Yes - see your GP

All I had were hot flushes and waking up at night with them, unable to sleep. I was given a prescription for patches that were out of stock so the dr prescribed Kliofem instead. I'm now on the third pack of them , so 8 weeks since I started them. The flushes have reduced, I still get them now and again but definitely not as often as before. The other thing I have noticed is that I am not stiff when I get up out of bed in the morning or when I get up from my chair in work. I hadn't actually noticed this before but now that it isn't happening I remember, iyswim.

Go see your doctor.

Yes, I went on hrt because of not being able to sleep. Not the hot flushes waking me up - I just couldn't seem to ever fall asleep. Horrible. But it sorted that out, and the other things I noticed that I hadn't realised had happened was that at 6 p.m. every night I had got so bone-tired that I would sit down and not be able to get up again. That stopped. And also my mood lifted a few degrees. I'd not realised how low I'd got, but once on the hrt, when it lifted, I realised.