Post menopause but hrt recommended

[cubangal]

I'm 13 months post menopause at long last but I've been recommended use a estradiol patch and progesterone tablet combination. Can anybody tell me what it's like in your experience.

I had decided not to take hrt and it seems a bit late now really.

This seems to be the new train of thought, using HRT as a prevention for keeping heart and bones healthy. I became perimenopausal at the age of 40 which is quite young so GP told me I should take HRT to protect my heart and bones. I took HRT for 6 years and came off it last year as I started to get breast pain - I tried the patch for a while but my bleeding became so erratic it was interfering with my daily life. I have never had any symptoms at all except my periods stopping. I also wanted to see if I had reached full menopause and now I haven't bled for 11 months I know I have. I feel extremely well and full of energy with no anxiety or sleep issues but as I am only 48 I think the new concencus is to use HRT to as prevention of further problems. When I started on HRT back in 2016 there was alot of talk about the risks of cancer and how it should not be used as prevention and the only reason my GP would prescribe it was because I was so young. Now after watching the Davina program I am wondering whether to go back on it for prevention!!! Most of the medical evidence I have found said HRT shouldn't be used as a preventative and should only be prescribed if symptoms are affecting daily life however the research on the Davina program contradicted this. Such a hard one!!

I've seen a few posts here about using HRT post menopause @cubangal . The misunderstanding (for want of a better word) seems to be that all women only use it during peri!

In fact, many women only start to have symptoms when their periods stop.

I had almost no peri symptoms and started HRT roughly at the same time as my periods stopped, about 53.

I took it for the symptoms that started then. I have carried on for many years as I need it to help my bones.

Can I ask who has advised you to start- and why?
Is this your GP or do you have other health issues that have some bearing on whoever has suggested it?

You are far from 'too late' at only a year post menopause.
The window of opportunity (as it's called!) to benefit the heart is up to 10 years post meno.

Some women only start HRT in their 60s and I have heard from consultants that some women even start in their 80s if they still have symptoms.

@folly115 Many GPs will not prescribe HRT for prevention. It's only licensed as such if a woman has a risk of osteoporosis (family history or a bone scan showing loss of bone, or early menopause.)

Although the TV progs seem to show it's 'HRT on demand' my reading and listening to drs on this (online videos) shows that menopause consultant gynaes are usually happy to do this, as they are specialists, but most GPs are not.

Many women who want it for prevention also tell their GP they have other symptoms.

The doctor recommended it for general symptoms which may be hormone deficiency related or may not, I do have a family history of osteoporosis but she doesn't know that.

A lady I know has had to have a hip replacement at 58 after breaking it a few years ago. She is well past menopause. Apparently her consultant has advised her to go on HRT.

I suggest you discuss the family history with your GP- she ought to have asked this anyway as part of your symptoms and possible HRT.

You should qualify for an NHS bone density scan. That will give you information about the health of your bones now. In the 5 years post meno they can lose 3% bone each year.

I’m 63; started hrt in my early 50s. At my most recent review with my GP I decided to carry on taking it, adjusted some of the doses and added testosterone. I plan to carry on for the foreseeable future - the recent changes have improved my mood, energy and libido + I have hope of the long-term cardio and bone density benefits.