HRT in early forties

[MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly]

Just wondering what's the earliest anyone had had HRT - am I too young at 43?

During the last few years I've been suffering with itchy skin around my period, very heavy periods, anxiety and panic attacks, brain fog, general aches and fatigue. I've been to the GP and was offered the Mirena for periods and I'm now on citalopram for anxiety.

There's been no mention of HRT and I really don't fancy the coil, but I do wonder if it would sort out my symptoms.

I started taking HRT at 40 but I had been diagnosed with premature ovarian failure with a FSH of over 25. Has your GP tested your FSH?

I was 40 when I started HRT. I had been having peri symptoms for at least 2 years before that.

I’m nearly 41 and think I’ve been peri for the last 2-3 years, though only put 2+2 together fairly recently.

After a chat with the menopause lead at my GP surgery I’m on a waiting list for a Mirena coil to be fitted (lord knows how long I’ll have to wait) and have been told to monitor my symptoms.

I’m just reading Dr Louise Newson’s book (literally was reading it 5 mins ago!) “Preparing for the Perimenopause and Menopause” and there’s a lot of useful stuff in there, and she’s certainly not against women starting HRT at the lower age range.

Go back to your GP with a list of your symptoms and say you want to discuss HRT.

I am 41 and been on HRT for 6 weeks. I had a menopause GP at my surgery who has been fantastic. Every symptom i have including crippling anxiety and on occasion suicidal thoughts - never before. I have had scans, blood tests and no on oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets.

I've actually finally joined Mumsnet rather than lurking to answer this. I'm 41 and started HRT 6 weeks ago - Sandrena gel & Utrogestan 12 days per cycle. Honestly feel like a new woman (other than current covid symptoms!). Think I've probably had increasing symptoms for at least 2 years. Anxiety, sleep issues, night sweats, occasional hot flushes all massively reduced and in the case of anxiety and mood completely changed. Will forever be grateful to the young trainee GP who initially listened and agreed to prescribe based on symptoms and not blood results - which seemingly appeared completely normal. The second GP who reviewed the results was far less eager to prescribe and ai think would have gone down the ADs route but fortunately I was well armed with info and in a good place in that day and able to argue for what I wanted and what the original trainee GP had been happy to prescribe. Bearing in mind my family history isn't straightforward but the risk analysis for me was so worth it and the original GP I think could tell I'd done my research and analysis. I have never suffered with anxiety, depression or sleep issues in my life but was at the point where I was struggling to function both in work and family. So far, for me, HRT is a complete game changer. Don't let your age put you off if it's what your body needs... plus if it is early peri-menopause then HRT brings protection for bones as well - which was another of my concerns.

I was 35 when I was put on HRT due to a very early menopause. I took it until I was around 52 with the last few years on half dose to wean me off. I was awful with various symptoms prior to being given it and it made a huge difference.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories - after reading these I'm determined to push harder with the GP.

I was 38 and I basically had a breakdown related to insomnia and anxiety. It has been a lifesaver. And the evidence is it is less risky if you start replacing oestrogen early rather than let it all run out before starting HRT

And by the way I was also loaded up with antidepressants that now thanks to the HRT including testosterone that I’m on I am successfully coming off. I know I needed the help at the time because I really had fallen a long way down and every doctor was scratching their head about how to help me but I feel sad that women are still given this as a first line of treatment despite the guidelines.

Yes, I was having nighttime panic attacks, waking up convinced that I was going to die. Citalopram has helped, but I'd rather deal with the underlying issue if it is hormonal.

39 here (now almost 41)! Was definitely peri for a few years before too. Has made a huge difference to my quality of life. I know I’m early (family history of early meno), but have been very vocal with all my friends of a similar age about the symptoms of peri and benefits of hrt - hopefully when the time comes for them they will be able to make a more informed decision sooner.

I went into abrupt menopause at age 41 - had regular periods then suddenly stopped and have never had another. GP was useless, just said "it's just nature, nothing I can do to help you ". After a lengthy battle finally got a prescription for HRT from reluctant GP who told me I would get breast cancer and how would I explain it to my kids! However they quickly took me off it only weeks later as I started getting bad nausea and they were very quick to blame it on the HRT. It wasn't the HRT, it was a brain tumour, but they refused to let me restart the HRT.

Ten years later I ended up with osteopenia due to the premature menopause and many other problems including vaginal atrophy. Saw a gynae consultant about suspect bleeding and she was horrified at the state I was in. Prescribed me HRT with instruction to the GP to put it on repeat prescription. However now I am 55 they are trying to take me off it again!

The latest advice for those going through menopause early is that HRT should be prescribed to protect bone and heart health at least until the patient is mid 50s, the average age of menopause onset. It can be continued beyond that age for the rest of the patient's life if needed with negligible risk.

I started HRT a couple of months before my 41st birthday. Please go to a peri/menopause clinic. It is SO worth it, and not nearly as expensive as you may think. I suffered from absolutely horrible anxiety, which I had never had before. HRT saved me, and I'm not exaggerating.

This is a very helpful thread.

Does peri menopause show up on a blood test?

Is it as simple as peeing on one of those little test things you can buy at the pharmacy?

I had a hysterectomy at 40 and was given hrt but then i stopped as i was worried about it and never went back on but couple years ago had really bad anxiety etc and went on anto depressenfs which i also stopped after a few months, only now im wondering of due to menopaause , maybe I need to go back and ask for HRT as anxiety still there
I just had such conflicting advice i didn't know what to do

Sadly not. In Peri your hormones are fluctuating all the time so blood tests are pretty useless as one day they’ll show you as normal but the next you might be very low.

Best thing to do is get the Balance app and log your symptoms. There’s a “quiz” you can take that asks about your symptoms too which you can print off and take to your GP.

That’s awful.

The I don’t know how the HRT and combined pill breast cancer stats compare, but funny how you don’t hear of GPs telling women the risks outweigh the benefits when it’s for something that benefits men.