Has anyone gone through menopause without hrt

[Jakc]

I’m due to get radical hysterectomy but for medical reasons won’t be able to take HRT afterwards and due to the op will obviously be thrown straight in to menopause. Really scared to be honest about how I’ll cope with that

Yes, most of it. I went on HRT when I first displayed perimenopausal symptoms, my doctor just suggested I try as she knew I had a very demanding job at that time but quite honestly, my symptoms were not bad and I didn't really need it. I came off it after a short while because of migraine. The migraines stopped and I was no worse for being without HRT.

I know many women who don't take hrt. Imo we need to stop talking about 'symptoms' and talk about life changes. Like puberty it isn't always easy but it isn't an actual illness.

Early menopause of course needs supplements until what would be a normal menopausal age.

Hrt only gives protection against osteoporosis for as long as it is taken and there is a raft of evidence that states risks increase the longer it is taken. For every study that claims protection against dementia there is more saying the opposite.

One thing I would say is much more evidence and research is needed. Davina doing a programme featuring private doctors who have a financial interest would seem questionable imo.

Women need more info and need to be prepared for a perhaps unpleasant at times but natural ageing process. Imo.

I agree with you, Janie, and peri-menopausal manifestations aren't always dreadful. I do of course feel sorry for those women who suffer but not everyone does and it's lovely once you 'get there'. You can then breathe a sight of relief: no more periods, no pregnancy risks. It's quite nice keeping yourself fit and well throughout too. It really is a change of life and a new beginning for many.

I didn't. Am now 58 and I think it's been and gone - I haven't really noticed barr a brief series of nightsweats. I Can only assume my bones are OK - I regularly fall off horses and so far, so good. Turmeric and getting rid of my fibroid ridden uterus were tur ING points for me.

Symptoms in peri: increasingly irregular periods, hair loss (thankfully it recovered but was very upsetting at the time), the occasional quite spectacular rage, profound sadness and a total re-evaluation of everything about my life....oh, and the odd hot flush which wasn’t too much bother. I use sage for the odd flush, acupuncture for general balance and have been mainly veggie for the past 30 years. I use vaginal estradiol to keep everything ‘down there’ comfortable (cue Les Dawson impression). The anger and sadness were painful but necessary emotions. I have experienced this as a transition in every sense. At present I don’t feel a need for anything more than I’m doing for myself. I sometimes miss having periods and that’s a strange feeling! My mum went through surgical hysterectomy at 40 and in later life suffered from osteoporosis. That said, she had other contributing factors for that. I went through meno’ at an incredibly average 51.

I think ignorance of menopause and what it entailed meant I was already post menopausal when I realised it could have been an option.
I still don't really understand it. Whether it just delays symptoms, and how it all works.
I didn't even know peri menopause was a thing.
How I didn't know, I have absolutely no idea!

Sorry, *JanieJones

*Women need more info and need to be prepared for a perhaps unpleasant at times but natural ageing process. Imo.

That sounds a wee bit dismissive. Post breast cancer, I wasn’t a candidate for HRT. I was lucky in that my only “symptom” was sweats but they were debilitating. Unpleasant goes nowhere near it. I’m no wimp. Strong, independent marathon veteran, they floored me. I wasn’t working at the time: if I had been, I’m not sure how I would have got through. Thankfully, a knowledgeable GP sorted the problem with a paroxetine prescription. No amount of “information” would have alleviated what was a seriously debilitating symptom. Natural it may well be but we don’t have to just put up with it anymore.

@Jakc

I’m due to get radical hysterectomy but for medical reasons won’t be able to take HRT afterwards and due to the op will obviously be thrown straight in to menopause. Really scared to be honest about how I’ll cope with that

My sister is as she had estrogen driven breast cancer and is taking drugs which put her straight into menopause (she was 48 at the time). She’s coped pretty well - and doesn’t take any herbal stuff either as some mimics estrogen production. Her tips are cotton clothing, no duvet at night (just sheets), keeping her ankles out (!?) which she says helps her stay cool and having an undercut hairstyle to keep her neck cool (all for hot flushes obviously)

I started getting some menopause symptoms so am taking some herbal stuff which seems to be helping, plus multi vitamins as vitamin b is supposed to be key. I also use progesterone cream (over the counter) when I remember but not sure that’s doing much.

Just to add I also gave up caffeine after 11am, and alcohol (all the time mainly not just after 11am :) ). I do yoga and I run. All helps. I won’t take hrt as both mum and sister had hormone driven breast cancer so I’m hoping my symptoms stay managed. I’m 50 this year.

I am about 10 years post menopause and have gone through it with no HRT as any symptoms I had were vague and passed fairly quickly. There have been 2 of the previous generation of my family took HRT, both died of breast cancer, whereas my mother and the other aunts who didn't have it all lived on for many years beyond them but, despite that, I think I would have taken it if I'd really needed to, luckily I didn't.

I got given HRT after my hysterectomy but I only used it for a couple of months, I was 45 when I had mine done, I have only had a few hot flushes, that is all, I take menopace vitamins instead, It's 10 years since I had mine done, I was glad to be without the hormones as I suffered from horrific PMT which had left me suicidal in the past.

I did. Due to age, no one picked up on the fact that I was peri menopausal - not even me. I was in my late 30s when I had my last period, I mentioned in passing to my GP after about 3 months, then COVID hit and I kept forgetting to talk to the GP… however, now that it has been picked up, the GP has advised HRT as I’m missing out on 10+ years of natural hormones. I’ve been referred to gynae consultant so we’ll see how that goes.

The only side effects I had were a very occasional hot flush at night if I had drunk wine and developing bloating if eating white bread or pasta.
I stopped drinking wine and switched to wholemeal or granary and was back to normal almost immediately.
Increased exercise helped a lot too. Keeping to a lower weight stopped me feeling a bit sluggish.
Healthy diet and being a bit fitter was all I needed.

I was 54 when everything changed, having had my ds at 45

HRT helps prevent osteoporosis
Thats only if you have an early menopause. Or at risk ie those with eating disorders etc
The osteoporosis society says
*It is important to consider taking HRT if you reach the menopause early, before the age of 45 and especially before the age of 40. An early menopause means you lose the protection that oestrogen gives your bones at an earlier age than normal. This increases your risk of osteoporosis and broken bones. If you have had an early menopause, talk to your healthcare professional about taking HRT until you are about 50. This is the average age for menopause.

If you need treatment to strengthen your bones in the early years after the menopause, HRT is also an option after the age of 50 until around 60. It is particularly helpful for women needing osteoporosis treatment who are also experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Like any osteoporosis medication, HRT doesn't reduce the pain caused by broken bones. But don't worry - if you're experiencing pain after breaking a bone, there are medications and treatments for pain that can help you.*

Out of all my friends only 1 has taken HRT. All of us got through it, i barely had a hot flush, although a couple of friends did suffer with hot flushes.
We all exercised regularly and none of us are drinkers

@bruffin

HRT helps prevent osteoporosis Thats only if you have an early menopause. Or at risk ie those with eating disorders etc The osteoporosis society says *It is important to consider taking HRT if you reach the menopause early, before the age of 45 and especially before the age of 40. An early menopause means you lose the protection that oestrogen gives your bones at an earlier age than normal. This increases your risk of osteoporosis and broken bones. If you have had an early menopause, talk to your healthcare professional about taking HRT until you are about 50. This is the average age for menopause.

If you need treatment to strengthen your bones in the early years after the menopause, HRT is also an option after the age of 50 until around 60. It is particularly helpful for women needing osteoporosis treatment who are also experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Like any osteoporosis medication, HRT doesn't reduce the pain caused by broken bones. But don't worry - if you're experiencing pain after breaking a bone, there are medications and treatments for pain that can help you.*

Out of all my friends only 1 has taken HRT. All of us got through it, i barely had a hot flush, although a couple of friends did suffer with hot flushes.
We all exercised regularly and none of us are drinkers

My mother didn't have an early menopause, she still developed osteoporosis. Women live a long time, 30 or 40 years after menopause, without the protection of oestrogen for their bone health.

All this...I got through it with lettuce and running is all very we but you're missing a vital hormone, maybe more than one (testosterone too).

If you were type one diabetic or hypothyroidal would you be so sure it could be controlled without medication? I have an under-active thyroid and a friend of mine did suggest I could control it by eating better...

Plus vaginal dryness/atrophy is a huge problem too...a very physical problem which needs treatment.

I had/am having a horrendous menopause. Never had a single hot flush but crippling anxiety (eventually giving up my job, seriously affecting my confidence driving) and my libido has disappeared. And yes... my GP gave me anti-depressants. I'm going to a menopause clinic to see what options there are.

@ToffeeNotCoffee why would weight be a factor for hrt? You are just replacing a natural hormone you have lost with a natural hormone. It's not chemical medicine unlike Sertraline is. Weird choice.

@DENNYCRANE... Would you refuse to take insulin for the same reason that you don't dye your hair?

Louise Newson runs a private clinic because she couldn't do the job within the NHS...the provision for menopause in this country is that bad. Implying that she's some sort of snake-oil salesman is ridiculous. My American friends seem to get much better menopause support than us.

Like they said...if they said to men 'we're going to castrate you at 50 and your sex drive and assertiveness will disappear' you can bet it would be a massive deal.

It's no coincidence women 60s plus are needing hip replacements etc. No oestrogen, no collagen, brittle bones. Osteoporosis is a significant silent killer in this country.

@bruffin it's probably very difficult to gauge how long oestrogen deficiency will affect an individual as our bodies are all so different. More women in their 40s and 50s should be offered Dexa scans to see what their bone density is like in order to make that choice. We live much longer now. The average age for Meno is 51 so one lady might die at 70 without bone issues but many will live another 20 years nowadays and if they've gone through Meno at 50 then they could be in for a whole host of complications further down the line.

@supadupapupascupa Yes, your average GP will say that. But I can assure you that many meno specialists will allow someone like you to have hrt if your symptoms were affecting your quality of life to the extent you weren't coping with work or family.

My consultant says the guidance is two first degree relatives with early BC is a risk- that's a mother and sister. In your shoes I'd be cautious, of course, and try to avoid HRT. But from a purely medical point of view, there are specialists who would prescribe and there are many women now using hrt who have had BC themselves.

No one knows why your mum and gran got BC. There are several risk factors, like weight, alcohol, lifestyle, which all have higher risks than HRT.

'Really? Have you any idea how debilitating the menopause can be for some women (not all)? Women unable to work, function, sleep, make rational decisions'

I do wonder if managing expectations may help tbh. I just don't see how anyone is unable to function and make rational decisions. Women need to be prepared, things change but it can be managed without medication that then ties you to reviews and 'treatment' with risks that we know are associated with taking hormones.

Exercise will always help with sleep, a good diet and hydration helps with day to day function, topical oestrogen that does not have any risk helps vaginal atrophy, a fan helps nocturnal over heating. I mean look at Carol Vordeman who is a big advocate of hrt and she also seems full of fillers and botox which makes me wonder if with some it is an ageing issue rather a need for 'treatment'.

I did it without.
LOTS of hot flashes day and, particularly, night - so very broken sleep for several years.
Like Prince Andrew, I really didn't sweat before, but do now.
My hair also completely changed texture from borderline greasy to very dry. I now use conditioner which I never did before.
Other than tiredness, and having to rip off most of my clothes on a regular basis, I coped. I learnt to wear a thin bottom layer on my top half, in a colour or fabric that didn't show sweat so that I could look presentable at work, and sit / stand near open windowsor fans. Drank lots of cold water - I never used to bother but since then always have a bottle to hand.

It wasn't pleasant, and I was always aware of it, but I have never taken tablets or anything (lucky never to need to so far) so doing something medical when it wasn't unbearable just seemed alien.

So many of my friends went through it at the same time so we talked a lot about it, which helped. We could spot the signs in one another - one used to get dizzy with hot flashes if she was standing up - and would open windows etc.

It's somewhat ironic that some posters accuse drs working privately of being it it for the money (most won't even need the income) @JaniieJones

Some of the biggest profit is made from businesses selling women herbs and supplements which on the basis of science, hardly work better than a placebo. Look at the profits of companies like Seven Seas and Vitabiotics. They aren't doing it for charity. If we're talking about 'morality' Seven Seas used to be owned by Imperial Tobacco- so they sold fags on the one hand and 'health' products on the other. A perfect storm in terms of a business.