What prompted you to go on HRT?

[CremeDeSudo]

Hi all I had a hysterectomy but kept my ovaries 3 yrs ago, aged 37. I'm expecting to start menopause early and have started to have mild perimenopause symptoms and am wondering about starting HRT.

My main complaints are fuzzy headedness/brain fog/feeling stressed (am already on sertraline for stress) but I also experience varying levels of night sweats and have started to get mild hot flushes I think. I also regularly wake up with tingling/numb fingers when this has never been an issue before. I've also now got dry skin, get breast pain occasionally, and sometimes get sore knuckles.

I know these are all perimenopause symptoms but many can also be explained away by 'life' generally.

I don't know whether to wait until things get more unmanageable? But then I also wonder why I should wait!

As I don't have a womb I believe I only need oestrogen and as I understand it there aren't any risks so should I just try it and see if it helps? Hoping someone might be able to share some thoughts/experiences..

@AlienatedChildGrown you can actually buy HPV tests from Superdrug and the like so you can test from home. Smear tests only look for HPV in the first instance these days. I had a nightmare of a smear test about 8 years ago - took two practice nurses to find my cervix and get the smear, I was on the table for over 30 minutes and I bled for 2 days afterwards. Hence I looked into the diy option.

I hate the fact that GPs can withhold stuff like HRT to force you to have these types of tests which are after all supposed to voluntary and subject to consent. In effect your GP is putting pressure on you to have a test.

The reason I had a hysterectomy was due to cervical cancer picked up during a smear test so I'm an absolute advocate for them!

Just to update - I have a call with the Dr this afternoon so I'll report back!

Absolutely no problem at all, I'm going to pick up some estrogen gel tomorrow! Got to give it three months and see how I get on. Fingers crossed. I'll report back!

Morning all, so I've been on estrogen gel for a month now. I've been using 1 pump, but tried increasing to 2 occasionally as Dr said that was the normal amount. Each time I've tried 2 I've had the most horrific cramps so will just stick with 1 for now at least. But I did have a question about night sweats specifically worsening since I've been using it? Does anyone know if this is normal? I'm feeling a bit less like I'm losing the plot and I think the brain fog has lessened but I'm not sure I've noticed any other noticeable improvements and the nightsweats have got worse! ☹️

TBH @CremeDeSudo it's impossible for you to know if the night sweats would be getting worse anyway. You are on a very low dose of gel so it's not impossible the sweats are because of low estrogen. Not sure what the pain is because you don't have a womb so it's not that being stimulated.

Thanks for the reply. Yes I thought that too! I did used to get ovary ache so I assumed it must be that. I have access to free menopause support in work so I might reach out to them tomorrow. I clearly can't cope with the higher dose though, I was up last night in agony with them and they still haven't eased off completely.

Do it sooner rather than later.
And if you have disappearing orgasm, get testosterone as well - again sooner rather than later.

Sorry - didn't read update