How do you know when you're through it?

[SaintVal]

If you are taking combined HRT which gives you a period each month, how do you know that you've reached menopause and can therefore stop the HRT or, do you carry on taking it after menopause?

I'm 51 and have been on Evorel Sequi for about 18 months. I don't want to take it needlessly but equally, don't want to stop it and get all the horrid symptoms back. I would ask my doctor these questions but trying to get a 'non urgent' appointment at the moment is just not happening.

You can always have those symptoms as you won't ever get the hormones back that the menopause causes. Taking it longer term is also better for bone and heart health.

The menopause isn't just a set period of time, it is the time after your periods stop due to decreasing hormones. You are never getting those hormones back, so keep on the HRT.

It's quite easy to see if the short term symptoms have stopped- just stop HRT!
Give it 6 months or so and see how you feel.

However at 51 you could still be in peri - 51 is the average age of menopause (final period) and some women's periods go on till 55.

Even if you have no hot flushes, sweats, moods, etc when you stop, you won't know if you are someone who is going to lose a lot of bone after the menopause, or how your pelvic floor holds up with less estrogen. Things like this take years to become apparant.

I’m 51, not on HRT, and still having periods despite a mirena coil.