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

If women are feeling fine without HRT, what is this push to convince them they should take it?

@JinglingHellsBells

This thread has move on so far from the OP's post :) I joined in after a few pages only to alert women who'd had an early menopause to have their bones checked.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society has a lot of info on their website.

HRT is prescribed as prevention and treatment for women under 60 with osteoporosis or the risk of having it.

It is not given as routine, or put in the water, because of course like ALL drugs for anything, there are some risks, albeit small.

Not ALL women need it but the tragedy is that we do not screen women at 50-55 for bone density. Therefore many have or develop osteoporosis. 1:2 or 1:3 (depends which stats you read) have it, over the age of 50.

You could use the same argument over statins; some drs think everyone over 50 should be on them, others say not as they can have bad side effects in some people.

You've made over 20 posts on this thread (currently around 27) and not addressed the OP's query once. Managed to mention your own doctor though. Again. It's not that the thread has moved on, you've just ignored the OP's question in favour of your own opinion.

Why is it impossible to have a thread about HRT-free menopause on MN?

To the OP, you haven't said why you won't be able to take HRT post operation. It is important that you are given all the correct information and options regarding your situation, so that you can make an informed choice on your health going forward.

it MAY well be that you feel fine post op, but you may find that you struggle and therefore require all the facts around is available to you, to ensure good quality of life :-)

It never occurred to me to go on HRT. Strokes run in my family anyway, so I'm not really a fan of talking anything with any slight extra risk. I had no real issues. A bit of emotionally in peri times, maybe. But warm flushes only at night and not a big problem.

@ChicChaos hang on there ! Before you start having a go at someone, maybe look at the content of the posts. (you have actually gone through a thread to count someone's posts?)

My first post was about noting the risk to bones of no hrt after early menopause. This started the usual flood of posts on hrt some of which were wrong. You may have noted that poster Janiie Jones has engaged me in an ongoing discussion about hrt in a very negative way and which had zero to do with the OP as I pointed out!

Why mentioning my dr is an issue for you I fail to understand. I mention them as they are the source of very good information which I share.

Why join in the thread if you aren't answering the OP's question?

It's replacing a hormone..so by definition it's HRT surely? So it has to have risks to be HRT?!

I did answer her question and wish her well with her surgery.

I used the search facility for your posts.

I live in hope that we'll be able to have a discussion that is completely HRT free on MN. Because there are a lot of women who are fine, not everyone but the majority of women don't take HRT although you'd never think it from MN.

People didn't just pile in to say you have to take HRT
The only reason Jingling got involved as far as I can see, is that there were some factually incorrect Information being posted which doesn't help anyone.

No HRT here and no symptoms either apart from getting a bit hot at night sometimes . I just don't feel any different to how I felt 10 years ago

@saraclara

It never occurred to me to go on HRT. Strokes run in my family anyway, so I'm not really a fan of talking anything with any slight extra risk. I had no real issues. A bit of emotionally in peri times, maybe. But warm flushes only at night and not a big problem.

Strokes was one reason I wanted it. I was getting heart palpitations which were investigated. Apparently it’s a classic peri sign. They stopped with hrt. It helps protect the heart ❤️

@BirdsandBeesmakinghay

If women are feeling fine without HRT, what is this push to convince them they should take it?

The majority of women don’t take it so yes no push.

I think we talk about it a lot on here as there has been so little info about it and a lot of rubbish in the recent past.

We need so much more research into it. I was talking to a friend the other day who is late 50s. Always high sex drive. It’s just gone. And she is in great shape, not stressed, healthy. It is aging/natural but who wants that? Maybe some but not her. She is now thinking about hrt but doesn’t want it but can’t find alternatives. What are the alternatives for that?

@beguilingeyes

It's replacing a hormone..so by definition it's HRT surely? So it has to have risks to be HRT?!

I'm surprised no one else has commented here because it is important to get these things right. It may in theory be a hormone topical cream but it is not classed a HRT by HCPs. HRT refers to systemic treatment.

@Teawaster but that's the point, no symptoms no treatment needed. We're talking about getting through it with symptoms and no treatment.

@iminthegarden , the op asked if anyone had been through the menopause without HRT, not had anyone been through the menopause with symptoms and no HRT. She was obviously concerned about being thrown straight in after her op and I , like some other posters ,pointed out that I had only minor symptoms and I didn't need HRT. Other posters pointed out that they managed their more extreme symptoms with or without HRT.

OP you don't say, and obviously don't have to say, why you can't take HRT. It may be worth asking for a referral to a menopause clinic so that you know all your options. GPs are not necessarily knowledgeable about HRT and seem to say 'no' incorrectly. The Newson Clinic has a number of podcasts, including one with Dr Tony Branson, a breast cancer expert, which is interesting.

To others who have no real bothersome symptoms during peri menopause, great. It might be a good idea to research into the long-term effects of living in menopause (you are never through it, you pass into it and stay there until you die).

Jingling was correcting misinformation on this thread, thank goodness for her!

[quote iminthegarden]@Jakc Having a radical hysterectomy negates the need for progesterone supplements, which are sometimes considered the more problematic part to hrt. Oestrogen itself is naturally occurring and replacing it with a natural hormone should be safe for all.[/quote]
It’s the oestrogen that I’m not allowed to take and that’s why they are removing ovaries and everything else to stop me producing it naturally but I am worried as if I had a choice I would take hrt, as especially worried about bone health as I’m only 42 so young to be thrown into menopause

@BatshitCrazyWoman

OP you don't say, and obviously don't have to say, why you can't take HRT. It may be worth asking for a referral to a menopause clinic so that you know all your options. GPs are not necessarily knowledgeable about HRT and seem to say 'no' incorrectly. The Newson Clinic has a number of podcasts, including one with Dr Tony Branson, a breast cancer expert, which is interesting.

To others who have no real bothersome symptoms during peri menopause, great. It might be a good idea to research into the long-term effects of living in menopause (you are never through it, you pass into it and stay there until you die).

Jingling was correcting misinformation on this thread, thank goodness for her!

it’s my specialist/surgeon that’s said I can’t take hrt as the reason for hysterectomy is to get rid of my own oestrogen, as have oestrogen driven disease, endometriosis. I’ve had second and third opinions and they all said I need to do full pelvic clearance, ovaries, tube, womb, cervix and appendix, and then will be thrown into menopause at 42 and not able to take hrt. That scares me more than the op. Especially as mentioned by others about bone health.

@BlitzenandMikey

To the OP, you haven't said why you won't be able to take HRT post operation. It is important that you are given all the correct information and options regarding your situation, so that you can make an informed choice on your health going forward.

it MAY well be that you feel fine post op, but you may find that you struggle and therefore require all the facts around is available to you, to ensure good quality of life :-)

I’ve got severe endometriosis which is still destroying me after several surgery’s so now they want to get rid of my own oestrogen as that what feeds the disease and why they said I can’t take hrt to replace it. Only 42 though so worried about not taking it, but don’t have a choice x

OP I recently listened to a podcast with an eminent specialist in endometriosis and adenomyosis, it might be worth a listen and another opinion? I'll see if I can find it.

Hopefully this link will work www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/088-endometriosis-and-the-menopause-chris-mann-dr-louise-newson

That sounds really tough OP - hopefully it will all help you feel much better

I was advised by a doctor in another country not to take HRT because there is breast cancer in my family. But I am now considering getting a second opinion. I thought I would try to get through the menopause without it, but I am feeling very tired and putting on a lot of weight around my stomach. Also feel a bit depressed, but not sure if that is just the pandemic.

Jakc that sounds very tough for you.
Endometriosis is a god awful condition and I can understand the need to remove the ovaries to prevent any further fueling with oestrogen. At the same time, your quality of life at 42 in particular, is paramount. I would perhaps seek the advice of a menopause specialist ( see if you can’t get referred on the nhs first) or if you can afford to do so, pay privately? They will be able to advise you of your options, should your symptoms compromise your quality of life.

Very best of luck x

@BlitzenandMikey

Jakc that sounds very tough for you. Endometriosis is a god awful condition and I can understand the need to remove the ovaries to prevent any further fueling with oestrogen. At the same time, your quality of life at 42 in particular, is paramount. I would perhaps seek the advice of a menopause specialist ( see if you can’t get referred on the nhs first) or if you can afford to do so, pay privately? They will be able to advise you of your options, should your symptoms compromise your quality of life.

Very best of luck x

I agree OP. Good luck x

I can’t take HRT due to breast cancer treatment- which also sent me into early peri-menopause at 41.

I had a consultation with a private menopause specialist yesterday as my GP’s response was limited to “evening primrose oil might help with the hot flushes”.

She said CBT is really helpful for my extreme mood swings. She also recommended a book about managing hot flushes with CBT by Professor something. I can tell you that once I have the doctor’s notes if you’re interested.

I find a light wool duvet helps with the hot flushes.

SSRI-type anti-depressants can help with the low moods. But obviously exactly what is suitable depends on your medical history.

Weight bearing exercise such as running, fast walking or weight training is important for bone density.

The herbal route is not recommended (I had already concluded that myself) and lots of them react negatively with my tamoxifen, so you might find the same with your treatment.