What are the disadvantages of HRT?

[jewel1968]

I read a lot here from women who say HRT is a game changer. I do sometimes see women say with their family history it isn't suitable for them and they are looking to for alternatives. I am pretty sure the links with breast cancer were overstated in the past but doubt does linger on in some of our heads. But what I am asking is are there any general disadvantages in taking HRT?

I have read some people say it causes weight gain which surprised me as I thought menopause caused weight gain and I would have thought HRT addressrs some of the issues with menopause. I have also read some women argue that in some ways menopause was/is liberating in that they are no longer the woman that is always nice and caring.

So, are there any other disadvantages to taking HRT?

Full disclosure I am thinking of asking GP for it as I have a couple of issues that are likely linked to menopause although not definetly linked. I don't have the classic symptoms of menopause and in some ways I feel better than when I had periods as I used to get terrible PMT. I have also steadily lost weight since being menopausal and have only tweaked my diet slightly. This leads me to think something about my hormones was causing weight gain hence I have a bit of a worry when I hear HRT causes weight gain.

Anyway appreciate any thoughts on disadvantages of taking HRT.

I have a high risk of breast cancer due to family history and am under a fantastic breast cancer prevention clinic who advise if you can avoid hrt then do so. After two years of meno symptoms I asked my GP if there was an alternative and was prescribed anti depressants, it took a bit of time to find one that did the trick but eventually the hot flushes went away. Then after another two years they came back, even after increasing the AD’s, so I came off them and the meno symptoms were even worse.

I went back to the breast cancer clinic and was seen by one of the UKs leading BC prevention professors to discuss HRT and am now on a progesterone tablet and oestrogen patch. We went through all the studies, the pluses and minuses and came to the conclusion that as someone mentioned previously that there’s greater risk from being over weight and or drinking then taking the hrt. My symptoms were making my life a misery so I chose to proceed and felt back to myself for the first time I years, even better than when I took the ADs and there’s no way I’m going back. Eventually I will come off, but not until the symptoms have gone so it’ll be a it of trial and error. I’m confident that I’m doing th right thing and of course also ensuring that I have my annual mammogram.

@MacNTosh . that clinic sounds great and I'm glad the HRT seems to be relieving your symptoms.
My DM had breast cancer at 60 and she passed away 5 years ago. I'm not sure if there is a genetic risk tbh.
I think what you say is right that being overweight or drinking too much is more of a risk than hrt.
I have high blood pressure and am on meds for that but want to try restarting Oestrogel and Utrogesten that I was on previously as my symptoms are worsening. I only stopped due to the high bp and headaches. As you say it's all trial and error! Good luck x

@ADreadedSunnyDay
I spend a fortune on eye drops.

Sorry meant to add. I have been through the whole warm compresses but makes no difference. Rheumatology thought possibly autoimmune problem as blood test seemed to suggest that but subsequent blood tests did not. They thought maybe Sorgen Syndrome but not likely. I asked both rheumatology and opticians about hrt and link to meno and they kinda scratch their heads and say maybe

My GP told me that literally nobody's going to go to their GP and be routinely prescribed Premarin.

She said she'd be surprised if anyone in the NHS has prescribed Premarin for a decade at least.

My friend takes Premarin, it was prescribed in the last couple of years. She has had a complex few years with gynae symptoms and after trialling lots of things, this was the only one that worked and was prescribed by her gynaecologist. She seems blissfully unaware of the origins of Premarin and I'm not about to tell her.

Older ladies l know that we're on it in their 50's told me all it did was pause the menopausal symptoms and they all came back nasty soon as they came off it. So l stopped taking it for a while during lockdown and thankfully none of them came back.
I make sure l do weight breaking exercises and take a vitamin D supplement.
Did used to annoy me having to pay for it too when they only gave me a month's supply at a time but the doc changed it to every 3 months so that helped

Forgot to say l have regular dexa scans which keeps an eye on my bone density

My phone apparently changed a load of the words l put in my previous posts,
Nasty = as
Breaking = bearing
You get the jist!

I've been taking it a while now and I can't say I've noticed any difference. However I'm about 2 stone overweight (size 14) and have noticed that although I've not lost weight, my middle aged spread has gone.

Don't have that horrible thick waist and saddlebags I ended up with after menopause!

@ADreadedSunnyDay

Well just to add to the debate, you cannot get utrogestan prescribed in scotland (unless as an exception and under care of a consultant in certain board areas) so the options are limited for NHS prescription. The Scottish Medicine Consortium is still listing Premarin for women with a uterus who only need a low dosage of HRT so I'm not convinced it isn't being prescribed.

I was also directed to antidepressants as a viable alternative. I declined and have done nothing apart from buy Menopace tablets.

I was prescribed Utrogestan by my GP in Fife two days ago. First time on HRT and we discussed it and went for that in combination with Oestrogel.

Go back and talk to a different GP who's up-to-date.

@GoWalkabout

Tbf I never got on with hormonal contraception but I have been fine with hrt.

This is really good to hear.

@BurningTheToast
Sadly I've spoken to two GPs (Lothian) both are adamant they cannot prescribe utrogestan and will not refer me to the menopause clinic ...although friend told me either the menopause clinic insists you try something else first

They were pushing antidepressants

[quote jewel1968]@goWalkabout yes I thought of prescription payment and also the hassle or remembering to take it or apply it if you are scatty like me. I had a vit D deficiency a few years ago and I really struggled to remember to take my supplement. I did find a routine that worked and am now fairly good and taking my supplement.

I think it is a good sign that people are not coming forward with disadvantages. A friend took it for about a year and found no benefit so she quit. Made no difference to her either way.[/quote]
But if the benefits are at the PREVENTIVE cellular level then your friend would not “see” or feel any benefits.

The medical guidance on HRT is that for women under 60, the benefits outweigh risks.

Benefits include
Reduces heart disease and stroke
Prevents osteoporosis
Reduces risk of bowel cancer
Reduces risk of diabetes and 'bad' cholesterol
May reduce risks of dementia