Why does the older generation judge you for taking HRT?

[BonnesVacances]

I'm peri and started HRT as soon as I found out. My life is shit enough without struggling through the menopause as well and there are no prizes for being a martyr. I also read about the health benefits of doing so, so it's win win as far as I'm concerned.

But I'm so irritated by DM and MIL's vocal opinions on this.

DM happily keeps telling me the menopause was easy for her and she didn't need HRT. MIL tells me that they all had to just get on with it and we have to stop whingeing.

I wasn't whingeing. I was talking about how interesting Davina's programme was and that I realised I had more symptoms than I thought so probably needed to increase my dose.

But apparently we're supposed to put up with symptoms and feeling shit, and make life difficult for ourselves for some reason. Obviously it's my irritability that makes their attitude so annoying, but so much for support and experience from supposedly wiser older women.

"unlucky with your lot" hmmmm... you do know that menopause isn't a thing that happens in a short time and then is over? It is a gradual degeneration of your body in so many ways. Google some pics of vaginal atrophy for example.

This puts me in mind of The Rolling Stones’ song ‘Mothers little helper’. The lyrics sneer at women for taking tranquilising medication in mid-life when they were probably menopausal

OTOH I more or less sailed through the menopause and felt no need of it, but I fully understand those who do.
Presumably you’re just unlucky with your lot.

I don't know anyone who 'sailed through it.'
The friends I have who said they did, (no symptoms) have now all got osteoporosis, roughly 10 years after their last period. Some have already had fractures.

I think it's easy to dismiss or ignore the longer term effects of menopause if you have never had symptoms.

OTOH I more or less sailed through the menopause and felt no need of it

This is exactly the kind of comment I'm talking about tbh.

Urgh yes
I know two men who left their wives because they were 'nuts'. Guess what? They were menopausal!
It's ok tho bc they found younger models ho hum

The idea that meno is say two years of hot flushes (or sailing through it…) needs to change.

It’s a silly name as it isn’t a ‘pause’ or a set time. It’s gradual change/fall in hormones which leads to various health changes so some won’t be evident for years to come