Anyone choosing NOT to use HRT?

[WandaWomblesaurus73]

Does anyone feel that HRT isn't for them or feel happier without it?

'have been on HRT for 30+ years and have been assumed to be the daughter of several of my peers when accompanying them to medical appointments. Listening to their worries about broken bones, stress incontinence, prolapse and husbands leaving them for younger sexually more active models is so sad especially '

What an awful post. How lovely that you look younger than your poor aged friends with their shit husbands running off with 'more active models' 🙄

Great that it has worked for you but many don't want to take medication that comes with a whole list of side effects, not just the serious side effects. You only have to read here to see how many struggle with utrogestan for example.

If it suits you great, but it isn't a magic youth elixir. Many women want more definitive information not the often conflicting stuff currently available.

I have been on HRT for 30+ years and have been assumed to be the daughter of several of my peers when accompanying them to medical appointments. Listening to their worries about broken bones, stress incontinence, prolapse and husbands leaving them for younger sexually more active models is so sad especially as medical advances allow the well informed to avoid it. Open your minds. Research the LONG TERM EFFECTS OF OESTROGEN DEFICIENCY. HRT is as much a lifesaver as insulin is for diabetics.

Are you for real? Take a medication so your husband doesn't run off with a younger sexually more active model? and "model" women aren't actually manequins produced on an assembly line you know.

And I hate to break it to you -and I'm sure you look very nice - but EVERYONE who sees you knows what age you are.

I can't comment on the inevitability. But just wanted to say I've struggled with contraception all my adult life and I've never found a pill that didn't cause more problems that it was worth.
But, whilst I am still tinkering with my HRT to get the best fit, I've had no huge issues like I had on the pill (bleeding, weight gain, depression, blood pressure).

"it makes no sense to me that we need to take something for a natural process."

Sure. Weight gain, mental decline, and osteoporosis are all parts of the same natural process of aging.

There's no doubt in my mind that it makes sense to take something that slows down this process. You do you, though.

@JaniieJones and @Pallisers.
It is your decision. Nobody is forcing you to benefit from medical advances which improve the rest of your life but I do wonder why you feel it necessary to mount a personal attack on me just because I have embraced the benefits of the most up to date research by medical professionals.
Fortunately one of the effects of youthful oestrogen levels is that I am full of love for my fellow humans and want them to be able to feel as wonderful and healthy as I do.

[quote Esspee]@JaniieJones and @Pallisers.
It is your decision. Nobody is forcing you to benefit from medical advances which improve the rest of your life but I do wonder why you feel it necessary to mount a personal attack on me just because I have embraced the benefits of the most up to date research by medical professionals.
Fortunately one of the effects of youthful oestrogen levels is that I am full of love for my fellow humans and want them to be able to feel as wonderful and healthy as I do.[/quote]
I absolutely support choice and agree hrt is a good thing for those who struggle, for those where benefits do outweigh risks.

Your comments about your old looking friends compared to youthful you and errant husbands chasing younger models were in poor taste though. Pointing that out isn't a personal attack.

No HRT here. I am peri menopause and tbh the only symptoms I have are occasional sleep problems, so I don't really feel I need it and I very much doubt my GP would either. If I was having horrendous hot flushes and all host of other horrible symptoms I may well want it! But so far no need.

have been on HRT for 30+ years and have been assumed to be the daughter of several of my peers when accompanying them to medical appointments. Listening to their worries about broken bones, stress incontinence, prolapse and husbands leaving them for younger sexually more active models is so sad especially

What an odd post.

Clearly @JaniieJones you are struggling, possibly with progesterone and if so I am so sorry.
HRT is not for women who are struggling, it is available for peri and post menopausal women for whom it is not contra indicated and that means most of us.

I’ve a few friends who say ‘I sailed through the menopause’ and in all honesty they haven’t. One has a terrible memory. Another has lot her temper with friends who didn’t really do anything. Both think they sailed through it. I think for some taking hrt is like saying ‘I’m getting old’ so they don’t want to.

Also mirena coil and oestrogen gel for vaginal atrophy are types of hrt? Tiny doses of course but not really sure the distinction?

esspee

HRT is as much a lifesaver as insulin is for diabetics.

I have no words. Other than to say that this has to be one of the most ridiculous things I've read on here. And I've been here since 2007.

I'm 54 and still having a period every 28 days, although they are considerably heavier now.
I have had no hot flushes, but am more hot tempered these days.
Reluctant to try anything yet as I have migraines, but never say never?

@Esspee It's interesting that you are a long term user. What's worked for you and (shhh...!) can I ask your age? You don't have to say!

@Esspee

Clearly *@JaniieJones* you are struggling, possibly with progesterone and if so I am so sorry. HRT is not for women who are struggling, it is available for peri and post menopausal women for whom it is not contra indicated and that means most of us.

I'm not struggling with anything thanks, I'm merely point out your poor aging friends/gorgeous you and errant husband posts were odd and inappropriate.

Just throwing this out there and anyone can make up their own minds of course but the consensus al medical professionals is that the right sort of hrt, in the right dose, for women (with no added risk factors) has a beneficial benefits v risk for women under 60 at least.
(And some of the risks thereafter only apply to certain types of estrogen ie oral.)

Move your cursor over the orange writing to see the way the scales tip at age 50/60/ 70/

www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php

@Mossstitch

I have never liked the idea of putting artificial hormones/non essential drugs into my body, tendency to use natural remedies on occasions, so I have never used the contraceptive pill or coil and when I hit the menopause just went with the flow. Yes I had hot flushes and erratic periods but it was quite livable with and quite honestly best thing to happen to me. No periods is great!!! It is a natural process after all which women have been going through for ever without having to medicate.

I too feel like this, but you absolutely need to understand the protective health benefits of HRT. The risks of cognitive decline, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes are reduced by taking HRT. Louise Newson has extremely good information about this. It's very important that women understand the reasons why oestrogen is so important. HRT is not about preventing a natural process.

OP
I’m post menopausal and am on no medication. Feel fine .
No , I don’t want to take HRT thanks very much .
It often feels like that we aren’t allowed to refuse hormone medication on these threads!
And as for the poster who compared HRT to insulin - words fail me .

how long after the end of menstruation can a woman start hrt?

Late 60's here - loving life without periods. Menopause mid to late 50's.

I had night sweats but no hot flushes. I'm told I look younger than I am - but this is what late 60's looks like if you are lucky enough to stay healthy and have a reasonable diet and exercise. No HRT.

My mother had a terrible menopause, flooding, mood swings, hysterectomy, HRT - the works - so I was all prepared to have some issues but nope 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I'm in a group of 4 friends, all of our kids were at school together so we stayed in touch - only one of us has had a bad time during menopause, the rest of us didn't need HRT. It really isn't inevitable.

I have tried several types of HRT after suffering various symptoms, anxiety being by far the worst. However, nothing suited me. In particular I had really debilitating headaches. I think it's interesting that those who say they didn't like the pill have reservations as I also never found a pill where the benefits outweighed the side effects and my friends who have found HRT to work for them also had no issues with the pill.
What I dislike is the evangelical attitude of some people towards HRT. Its not the answer to everything or for everyone and I found it quite devastating initually tbh when I realised that it wouldn't be for me.
All the Davina stuff, some posters on here - @JinglingHellsBells in particular- suggest you MUST take HRT or you'll really suffer,etc.
Not true! I have found my own way through menopause and my symptoms have in the end lasted no longer than some of my friends who did and still do use HRT.

@Foxybadger I agree with you .

I have also tried HRT and found it brought its own side effects!
No thanks

When you are experiencing the worst of your perimenopause it’s hard to imagine that it ends but it does .

I never used HRT, ever. I had a hysterectomy many years ago and they were busily trying to prescribe it to me, they couldn't understand why I said no.

I promised the doctors if I every had symptoms that indicated I needed it, I would reconsider, but I wasn't going to take it until then. The doctors were doubtful but I stuck to my guns.

I had a sort of post-hysterectomy menopause, but never took anything. By the time I was in my late 50s I used to get tired, and sometimes hot (not so much a flush but just generally too hot) and I did get headaches very easily. I'm now in my early 60s and those symptoms have stopped entirely so I presume any menopausal leftovers had well and truly gone.

I never took HRT for any of it as I felt it wasn't necessary. Some people really need HRT and swear by it, but if you're one of those who really don't need it, just don't take it and see how you go. It shouldn't be inevitable at all.

HRT can be a literal lifesaver; it’s well documented that suicide is prevalent in women aged 45-54, believed to be linked to hormonal fluctuations of peri & menopause

And as for it bring a natural process, menopause happened on average at 50-55 and the average age of death used to be around 56; we’re not designed to live another 30+ years with no oestrogen, and still take care of young children, elderly parents and work and be productive. To me, the ‘it’s not natural’ argument is like the anti-vaxxers on CNN arguing they wouldn’t put the vaccine in their body whilst holding a can of lurid blue energy drink!

Not everyone needs HRT, and fab for you if you don’t, but I agree with people up thread who have noted that when you unpick it a little, those who ‘sail through’ often still have symptoms which they put down to stress/depression/ageing (and blame others for their rage!)

Judging by the mardiness of lots of women I’ve worked with, it should be pumped into the water! I bloody love the stuff, and so do my kids!

[quote bulletjournalfail]@Foxybadger I agree with you .

I have also tried HRT and found it brought its own side effects!
No thanks

When you are experiencing the worst of your perimenopause it’s hard to imagine that it ends but it does .[/quote]
Every night for the last year I am awake with night sweats. It can take me ages to fall back to sleep. I worry that this lack of sleep is leading to cognitive issues, crap memory big time. I just want some sleeeeep.

But will this go eventually? If not what are the side effects of hrt?

Just not sure what to.

I had my last period at the age of 48, eleven years ago.

I never got hot flushes, no real mood swings and never had any of the 'major' symptoms of menopause.

Then, about five or six years ago I developed vaginal atrophy. My GP prescribed different ointments - worked on the outside but inside I was still very sore. No issues showing up on tests, just pure vaginal atrophy. I tried over the counter ointments too. Nothing worked.

I had a smear test early last year which was agony (never had any problems before even though it's not the most comfortable thing, but this was sore). So I went back to the GP who prescribed VagiFem pessaries.

Oh my God the difference! I only use them twice a week on the GP's orders but I had to have a scan a few months ago as I have a cyst on the ovary and they were keeping an eye on it. I was really tense as, last time, they had to do the scan internally and was worried about the pain. No pain. No discomfort. Absolutely amazing.

And, oddly enough, even though I 'thought' I hadn't had any menopausal symptoms, I now find I sleep like a log most nights whereas my sleep was always fitful after my periods stopped. So I suppose I was having sleep problems without really recognising them as such.