What happens without HRT?

[ByersGreen]

Are there any concerns about doing nothing.

I don't sleep well and have flushes. Weight is fine. Bit down tbh.
This will all pass I assume.

Is there a long term negative to seeing this through without any medication?

Think it depends on your preference. I’ve been peri for years I’m now 48 and coped but the last 2 months have been hell, I don’t sleep much , I’m so moody, hot flushes,suffer anxiety which I never did. I take vitamins (Menopace). Which used to combat the hot flushes and moods but not anymore and I ended up going to the Drs 3 weeks ago and she couldn’t definitely say if it was hormonal or depression I’m now on anti-depression pills. I personally needed help. I tried to manage but I can’t. I wish you luck with however you chose to get through it all

For my late Mum, her spine started to crumble and she broke a bone in her foot turning over in bed. Then there are things like vaginal atrophy, which untreated is very problematic (topical oestrogen cream or pessary works for this). Heart disease increases in women who are menopausal. Joint aches and pains. The gift the keeps on giving, that's what the menopause is!

I've been hrt free for 5 years after survival menopause with ovaries removed. I feel great and no concerns to date, in fact hormones made me feel dreadful. Horses for courses imo.

Survival = surgical 🙄

According to my doctor our bodies are full of oestrogen receptors. Without HRT we are essentially living in a permanent state of hormone deficiency after menopause. You may or may not find the symptoms acceptable, and they may fluctuate over time.

I’m sure that davina documentary said there’s some evidence HRT helps protect against dementia. That alone is enough for me.

@EvilPea

I’m sure that davina documentary said there’s some evidence HRT helps protect against dementia. That alone is enough for me.

But there are other studies that say it doesn't, some studies say it increases dementia risk.

Your body adjusts op, bit of self care and attention to stuff like not drinking loads of caffeine and alcohol like we probably all did in our 20s.

I have friends who have tried hrt and the treadmill of prescriptions, reviews and ever-changing 'symptoms' sounds just as exhausting as learning to live with body changes.

I've taken nothing, sailed through menopause and felt liberated BUT 10 years on I'm worried about the health implications of being so deficient.

Dementia scares me so much. I have brain fog/ forgetting words etc.
I hope will improve after menopause but wonder if hrt would help me...

Well I can’t have HRT because I had oestrogen positive breast cancer when I was 47. So I’ve suffered with all the menopause symptoms for the last 5 years. To be honest you get used to it and find ways to deal with it.
I am quite worried about osteoporosis though, so I’ve increased my calcium intake, I do long countryside walks and Pilates. My mum had osteoporosis and it caused a lot of pain . Oh and my dad had dementia.
Sigh…..

If I could have HRT I definitely would. Brain fog and vaginal atrophy have both been horrible symptoms.

Can any give me their experience of vaginal atrophy, I think I have it but afraid to go to GP?!! Will pessaries help, would I need to be examined?

Early natural menopause here, all finished by 46. Used soya isoflavones for controlling flushes for about a year and take vaginal oestrogen but other than that I have sailed through. I take a D/Calcium supplement anyway for another health issue.

I have a wide circle of friends in our 50s. We talk about menopause a lot.

I'd say of about 20 menopausal women only one has ever been on HRT. Is it really so unusual to carry on without it?

I don't know if it's relevant, but we're all athletes and don't seem to have suffered particularly, except that one woman.

This is it isn’t it. Each person is different. Which is also why trying to get hrt tailored to you so difficult as well.
Some are fine without it, others struggle. Some struggle with it. Others are fine with it.

Just flipping brilliant not to have periods etc. Every 14 days , flooding, clotting, only time I felt brilliant was pregnant. Hot/cold .. fat/thin.. Life is just so much better now all done. You cannot speak for every woman. I would in history have been the mother of 15 and bloody delighted to not have any period hormonal upset.
You are true to your experience. Mine is my truth.

I had a total hysterectomy 3 years ago , no hrt offered . To be fair I haven’t had any symptoms, just finding lockdown pud harder to shift 🤷‍♀️ Up until that point I was having regular periods (57) my sister had a hysterectomy at 63 , she was having regular periods too !

The GP told me that it offered bone protection, mine was surgical menopause, starting HRT was life changing & I wish I’d gone to the GP a couple of years earlier and requested it for my peri symptoms.

thebms.org.uk/2011/08/hrt-is-good-for-bones/

I don’t take anything and am fine 5 years on. Do weight bearing exercise and don’t drink too much caffeine or alcohol.

@awishes

Can any give me their experience of vaginal atrophy, I think I have it but afraid to go to GP?!! Will pessaries help, would I need to be examined?

You won't need to be examining unless you have unexplained bleeding. If you describe your symptoms you'll be prescribed either pessaries or cream which just act locally, the hormones aren't absorbed systemically so there isn't any risk. Works fine for many women.

I’m 53 and peri, still have periods but way more erratic, I take vagifem, sage tablets, magnesium, vitamin d and occasional a multi vitamin, I don’t drink much, fairly active, boot camps, Pilates and yoga each week. At the moment I can cope and intend to stay on what I’m on. I know where I am, HRT sounds way too complicated and that I’m going to be giving myself way more stress than what I have at the moment. I appreciate that at the moment my symptons are reasonably mildly.

@awishes

Can any give me their experience of vaginal atrophy, I think I have it but afraid to go to GP?!! Will pessaries help, would I need to be examined?

As I said further up I can’t have HRT, I do unfortunately have vaginal atrophy. I buy my own pesseries and lubricants. I use a brand recommended by my Gynae surgeon, it’s called “Yes”. Really does help.

www.yesyesyes.org/products/yes-vm-natural-vaginal-moisturiser/?gclid=CjwKCAjwgISIBhBfEiwALE19Saf7hUWzVpQfHnPUc9jkxSGs4DTFaSGav0mDpxIbE--BibSP2uKE_xoCo3MQAvD_BwE

I think you can get this on NHS though.

@MissyB1 I don't for a minute want to contradict your drs, but opinion does seem divided on this.

There are also women who have had BC now using full HRT. Kirsty Lang is one of these and there is an interview with her on Liz Earle Wellbeing site.

lizearlewellbeing.com/healthy-living/breast-cancer-hrt-kirsty-lang/

Please don't think I'm trying to 'persuade you' I just wanted to leave the info in case it's helpful at any time for you or anyone else reading.

@awishes

Can any give me their experience of vaginal atrophy, I think I have it but afraid to go to GP?!! Will pessaries help, would I need to be examined?

Just been diagnosed. Horrible phrase isn't it? Gynae found a small patch which she felt Ovestin cream would help. My problem was that I bled after sex. Sex wasn't uncomfortable. But the blood was disconcerting and worryi g until she took a look. So the cream seems to be helping

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@MissyB1 I don't for a minute want to contradict your drs, but opinion does seem divided on this.

There are also women who have had BC now using full HRT. Kirsty Lang is one of these and there is an interview with her on Liz Earle Wellbeing site.

lizearlewellbeing.com/healthy-living/breast-cancer-hrt-kirsty-lang/

Please don't think I'm trying to 'persuade you' I just wanted to leave the info in case it's helpful at any time for you or anyone else reading.[/quote]
Yes I’m thinking about at least having the vaginal oestrogen, I don’t think I would have any issues getting that.