Is it possible to start hrt too early? Does it even matter?

[MrsWateringcan]

Slightly academic given the shortages (not to mention the hoops we now have to jump through at my surgery to see a gp) but anyway...I'm 45 and over the past 4 years or so have developed the following symptoms: 3-week cycle, menstrual migraines, dizziness, tiredness, disappearing libido, vaginal dryness. I know they're probably all peri-menopause related but I've read stories of women going through hell with depression, anxiety, fatigue etc and I feel a bit of a fraud. I'm functioning fine day to day and all.that is more of an inconvenience than anything.

That said, the more I read about hrt, the more I wonder whether it's just beneficial anyway to start taking hrt in your 40s. Is it worth enquiring, given my age and symptoms? Or will they laugh me out of town?!

At 45 HRT can be prescribed based on symptoms alone (rather than requiring blood tests) and it sounds like you have them so go for it. I started HRT at 44 and it's made me feel so much better. Why suffer?

I think I read something that a specialist said (maybe even on here!) that all women over 45 should be offered HRT as standard whether they have symptoms or not. You ARE having symptoms, so go for it. I started it at 46 (46 now). As well as reduction in symptoms there are other benefits such as protecting bone and heart health.

Started at 45 that should say.

If you have symptoms at 45 you should go on hrt to help protect bones / it's more beneficial for younger menopause

And the classic " but there are shortage and others have it worse " women putting themselves in second place - why???

Ha, why indeed 😃

You're right, thanks all

Feel like I'm in a similar position, OP - increasingly sure I'm in perimenopause but not sure if it's time to see a GP yet or not. My cycle's becoming quite irregular, but then some months it's bang on time. I get headaches regularly - but is it hormones or stress/screentime? Libido comes and goes (mainly goes, but occasional revival around ovulation time). Tbh it's probably my mood/state of mind which concerns me most - a lot of the time I feel quite demotivated, lack of interest in things, a flatness, a 'what's the point' which is uncharacteristic.

All a bit vague and not very consistent, but when I'm low I do feel like I need some help. But I'm also not sure I'm mentally ready to acknowledge I could be dependent on medication to feel 'normal' for the forseeable...

And then again, Davina's programme last night seemed to suggest the earlier the better for HRT, so there's that too!

It's such a confusing time - I wish there was some kind of menopause checker, like one of those temperature strips you can put on your forehead that would just flash up what stage you're at and what kind of hormones you need! It would be much simpler than trying to judge your own feelings and symptoms which can be so tied up with other physical and mental conditions in your mid-40s... 😣

Tbh it's probably my mood/state of mind which concerns me most - a lot of the time I feel quite demotivated, lack of interest in things, a flatness, a 'what's the point' which is uncharacteristic

Gosh yes, me too. I hadn't sort of acknowledged that, even quietly to myself, until I read your post.

Do you have a period tracker app? I found that really useful for tracking my migraines. The link to my cycle was undeniable once I'd seen it there in black and white. I use Flo.

You're so right about other possible causes. I was wondering how much of my tiredness is due to covid. I did feel tired before then, but was it the same? So hard to remember and compare!

Anyway, the numerous threads around plus the programme last night have prompted me to request an appointment with my GP. Presumably I'll need to join the ever-growing queue but at least I'm actually it now!

Looking back I started having symptoms around 42, by 44 I was on my knees. Hrt has been fab, within the first day I felt a lot better.

I don't think I'm at the right dose yet though. You need to give it a good 3 months to work and then creep up slowly.

My periods were v regular though had begun to get very light (always was but down to one day with some spotting afterwards.) but it was the exhaustion afterwards that was the killer, and pain. General whole month tiredness too. Brain fog, memory issues especially with clever words and names. Over heating at Night, tingling in hands and feet.

Never had a daytime flush but would wake up boiling at night. Insomnia too. That had been going on for a few years.

Please don't suffer any more!

Oh and bad gut - stuff flew through me.

@MrsWateringcan I use Apple's cycle tracker on my phone and started using the Balance app a few weeks ago to record any peri symptoms more regularly. Not sure I'm seeing much of a pattern yet but it's good to be able to record it somewhere when I'm feeling anything out of the ordinary and have some evidence to potential show to a doctor.

Sounds like the right call for you to make that appointment - I'm inching closer to picking up the phone, we'll see how this month goes!

The evidence seems to suggest that you get most of the protective benefits of HRT if you start it within 10 years, though I'm not sure if that is 10 years of symptoms or 10 years of the actual menopause (periods stopping).

I'm almost 41 and becoming more and more convinced that I've been Peri for a few years. Don't "push on through", put yourself and your health first and talk to your GP. If they are unhelpful ask if your surgery has a menopause lead and ask to see them.

The thing is, they'll happily give you types of combined contraception at this age and yet not hrt which is more natural and appears to have less risks attached to it. And is actively protective for bones and heart, possibly brain. Certainly jobs! Just doesn't give contraception, unless it's the mirena.

I feel there will be a big mindset change about this in a few years time.

I'm 43 and have on it for 4 months. My gp was very good. HRT hasnt made a huge difference yet . I'm hoping for testosterone but that's another fight altogether. Sadly my gp has now retired

In your case I would definitely go on hrt. My periods were still regular but so much longer and heavy to the point I'd bleed through a tampon pad and period knickers within 3 hours. Migraine every month with periods without fail. Last migraine lasted 8 days and I took myself to hospital convinced I was seriously ill. I'm on patches and tablets now. Migraines have gone ( still get odd headache if tired) but other symptoms remain. I've been on it for 4 months but the way I saw it, I was desperate

I have been wondering the same. I am 44 and went to the GP with symptoms of night sweats, fatigue (I am a champion napper), feeling meh, anxiety, achy joints especially my neck and shoulders, jaw clenching, sore patch on one breast, heavier periods, epic ovulation pain, trouble falling asleep, I could go on. However I developed bad anxiety after being significantly bullied at work (think I’d been high functioning anxiety for a while and this triggered an awful time). I got given Sertraline which was AWESOME for my state of mind and physiological anxiety symptoms. However the night sweats started after that but some time after the Sertraline was started. So I’ve had 2 blood tests (another tomorrow), a ultrasound scan of my lymph nodes and a chest X-ray to rule out other sinister stuff.

The third blood test is because I have had recently, alarming blood rashes.

Anyway! The GP suggested either stopping Sertraline to see how that affects me (I couldn’t bear the idea of that right now!) or trialling HRT for 3 months. So last week I got Evorol 50 patches and Utrogestan. I will start the patch on day 5 of my next cycle.

Despite all the symptoms I have listed above I too feel like a total fraud as I am quite chipper (god knows how reading those symptoms) and mu
libido is pretty good (better than when I was in my 20s and on the pill) so I am worried about starting HRT and cocking all that up! I think I am worried because my mum had a hysterectomy at 41 and then had HRT to boost her ovaries but I don’t know how long she was on it but by the time she was 44 she was seriously horrible and I worry I will turn into her!

But what if I suddenly get energy I have been missing out on for years?! And no insomnia and no night sweats (which are horrid and I have started to have to wear a nightie which I hate).

So there you go! Poured my worries out there 😁

Despite all the symptoms I have listed above I too feel like a total fraud as I am quite chipper (god knows how reading those symptoms)

This made me laugh (sorry! In a good way!) There's a bit in yesterday's Davina programme where she says something like why do we carry on, thinking oh things aren't that bad, I'll wait until they are before I ask for help. And I thought yes, that's exactly what I've been doing. Probably in part to do with the state of the NHS in fairness - I always feel like a need a leg hanging off as a minimum before I ring the doctor, in case they have more serious patients to deal with.

Same! I'm worried I'll feel like a fraud, as I don't feel like any of my symptoms are 'serious' enough yet to significantly disrupt my life - albeit I am becoming more concerned about my low moods. But even then, I will talk myself out of it because perhaps I'm just stressed/burned out/having a midlife crisis?!

This is why I'm surprised at what you've said @superplumb - it sounds like you've got it much worse than I do, but I guess you're saying don't leave it until you're desperate?

I suppose I want to be sure I need HRT when I see a doctor in case I need to fight for it, if you know what I mean?

OP let us know how you get on with seeing your GP?