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?

@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?

Please don't be afraid to go to your GP about this. It really does need treating with oestrogen replacements, either Ovestin cream or Vagifem pessaries. You won't need to be examined. Tell the GP your symptoms and ask for the treatment. You'll feel better for it, I promise.

I've gone through menopause without feeling the need for HRT, apart from the treatment for VA, which is only a tiny dose. I've been fine just taking supplements, but I think I've had a fairly easy time of it.

@DramaAlpaca
Thank you, I also sadly have vaginismus so am really not wanting to be examined

awishesI was prescribed oestrogen pessaries for recurrent UTIs after the menopause. I hadn't thought I had VA but have been so much more comfortable since using them and haven't had a UTI since. I went through the menopause about 6 years ago, have been using the pessaries for the last 2, but have otherwise managed without HRT. I still get fairly frequent hot flushes though, but like a pp I'm just delighted not to have heavy, painful periods any more and feel better than I have done in more than 20 years!

ps I also wasn't examined before being prescribed the pessaries and now just get them on repeat prescription. Good luck.

I was on HRT for about 6 months and stopped it again because the upsides were far outweighed by periods coming back.

I don't know many women who are or have been on. It. There seems to be a huge demonisation of the menopause at the mo. Y women in the media flogging stuff. No it was especially fun but millions of women go through it without drugs and go on to live long healthy lives.

millions of women go through it without drugs and go on to live long healthy lives

Yes, many do, but no, many don't as well.
Over 100,000 women die each year from complications of fractures through osteoporosis. Many others are disabled through a hip or spinal fracture. I know many women with osteoporosis in their 70s and early 80s whose good quality of life has suffered.

There's more evidence that loss of estrogen may be linked to dementia may cause women to have dementia (because women have it more than men.) And post-menopause, women's heart disease rates match men's.

Statistically, women using HRT have less co-morbidity and live longer than women not on HRT (this is not opinion, it's factual.)

Until not that long ago, most women died far younger than they do now. They didn't live a third of their lives with no estrogen. And if they did, many did have health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

You need to look at your own medical history and your family if you have risk factors for any of these diseases, that should be part of the decision on hrt.

Oestrogen isn’t just a fertility hormone. It also protects your bones - (staving off osteoporosis for longer), your cardiovascular system and your brain. It helps stop your arteries from hardening (helping to avoiding clots that cause heart attacks, dvt and strokes) and can help stave off vascular dementia, there is also evidence that it may help avoid forms of Alzheimer’s.

Also - helps stop collagen loss. Keeps your skin plump and your hair on your head. Helps keep your metabolism kicking over a bit faster than not having it, so you absorb more nutrients. They’re going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands!

I'm a month off HRT and feel really well. Ask me in 3 months!

@Justilou1

Also - helps stop collagen loss. Keeps your skin plump and your hair on your head. Helps keep your metabolism kicking over a bit faster than not having it, so you absorb more nutrients. They’re going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands!

My mum is convinced her saggy skin is due to not taking HRT. I think she's right.

Only had hot flushes which lasted a year or so. No problems since body-wise. The 10 year peri was much much worse. It's been 6 years since my last period.

I have really bad VA which I have pessaries for, my skin and tissues went saggy almost overnight (I now snore badly due to tissue drop in my throat - never snored before) etc.

but - no heavy periods, no mood swings, no headaches, no irritability, no anxiety - I now feel like a normal person for the first time ever. I am so relaxed every day. I would like to try some form of low HRT with testosterone for low libido but I don't need it just now.

I’ve been on HRT for nearly two years. I sleep like a baby now, my anxiety has significantly improved and I don’t have night sweats or aching joints any more. I feel good and wish I’d started HRT in perimenopause.

@JinglingHellsBells

millions of women go through it without drugs and go on to live long healthy lives

Yes, many do, but no, many don't as well.
Over 100,000 women die each year from complications of fractures through osteoporosis. Many others are disabled through a hip or spinal fracture. I know many women with osteoporosis in their 70s and early 80s whose good quality of life has suffered.

There's more evidence that loss of estrogen may be linked to dementia may cause women to have dementia (because women have it more than men.) And post-menopause, women's heart disease rates match men's.

Statistically, women using HRT have less co-morbidity and live longer than women not on HRT (this is not opinion, it's factual.)

Until not that long ago, most women died far younger than they do now. They didn't live a third of their lives with no estrogen. And if they did, many did have health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

You need to look at your own medical history and your family if you have risk factors for any of these diseases, that should be part of the decision on hrt.

I know my family history. None of that. My grandmothers died at 90 and 102 and my mother is still driving and swimming twice a week at 87.

There are a lot of downsides to menstruation too.

Personally my periods were awful for 40 years so not having them anymore is just a huge relief.

There seems to be a huge demonisation of the menopause at the mo. Y women in the media flogging stuff. No it was especially fun but millions of women go through it without drugs and go on to live long healthy lives

I think it’s the opposite happening, it’s people talking about it and their experiences where before it wasn’t apart from the odd hot flush joke on loose women.

The davina program really opened my eyes to just how much is affected by oestrogen.

My orgasms were disappearing before HRT.
Nice to get them back😊

5 years on HRT kept mums skin and life normal. After stopping the collagen in her skin declined and she looks much older. So without female hormones you age 😱

No HRT here, I am about 7/8 years since my last period. I do worry whether I made the right decision (I think it would be too late to start it now?), but I feel OK apart from a few minor quibbles.

I couldn't bear to have periods again, not having them is so liberating.

I went to see a menopause specialist and she told me my perimenopausal symptoms were pretty severe. I was put on estrogen gel and oral progesterone and following this, I felt even worse. I swapped my progesterone for a Mirena. My periods immediately stopped. Prior to this, I was flooding, having 3 week periods with 2-week breaks. I was depressed, anxious, bloated, and had zero energy. I dropped the estrogen to see how I felt with just the Mirena and I felt better with just this so stopped the HRT. Since then I have had so much more energy, have lost weight, and do 1 hour of exercise 6 times a week. I have not felt this great since my 20's.

Each person is different and you need to find what suits you whether that be natural, a bit of both, or full-on HRT. One thing I don't appreciate though is constantly being told that if I don't take HRT I will end up with all kinds of things wrong with me such as dementia, osteoporosis, etc., etc. As with a lot of things, your genes and how much you take care of yourself will determine how you age. I don't think someone who is the same age as me (50's) who is on HRT is better off than me who is fit and healthy, has a great diet and a healthy BMI.

Also, I thought the risk of osteoporosis could be lessened through diet and exercise?

@MissyB1

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

Talk to a specialist rather than your GP as there are still things you can do that to help with the brain fog that don't involve oestrogen. I'm on HRT and found it was testosterone that bought my brain back into focus after it being shrouded in fog for some time.

It is also worth nothing that you can still use topical estradiol for atrophy. The dose is so minuscule and applied directly to the vagina that it shouldn't cause any ill-affects. I also recommend using a vaginal moisturiser like YES. Their website is an excellent resource

Ashwagandha cured my brain fog.

Statistically, women using HRT have less co-morbidity and live longer than women not on HRT (this is not opinion, it's factual.)

@JinglingHellsBells do you have some links on this, please?

Also, I thought the risk of osteoporosis could be lessened through diet and exercise?

Yes, calcium, vitamin D, and weight training.

It is also factual that women taking HRT are more likely to get breast cancer is it not?

@SummerLovingHadMeABlast

Also, I thought the risk of osteoporosis could be lessened through diet and exercise?

Yes, calcium, vitamin D, and weight training.

If only.

I know many women who do all of that and still have it.

It's like filling the bath with the plug out.