If you don’t/didn’t take HRT

[Fuwari]

Did you feel better once your periods actually stopped? I’ve been in peri I would say for about 3-4 years (I’m 53). My periods were regular up until maybe earlier this year, and now I’ve only had one in the past nearly 5 months. So I’m hoping it won’t be too much longer! But will things like the hot flushes etc go away? Does sleep improve? That kind of thing. I know everyone’s different but in general?

I think you'd find it's a lot less than that.

HRT on a private prescription isn't £200 per month. I pay for mine and it works out about £15-20 a month (1 pack of gel and some Utrogestan.) I have had no blood tests since I started on HRT many years ago. There is no need if you are well on it. Now with the change in the law over how much HRT can be given, you don't need more than an annual review (although mine prefers 6-monthly.)

If you did see someone privately, they can often write to your GP with their advice, and then you get your HRT on the NHS, although once you do that you are back under the care of your GP.

Just for your info.

I can heartily recommend HRT.
I didn't have many symptoms, apart from some a couple of crazy depression episodes during PMT and hot flushes at night, but I was totally blown away by how much more energy I had and how much better my overall mood was after going on HRT.

I'm on the fence. I started HRT (Femoston) tablets when I was in peri last year, grey and white ones. I'm 52. Then I had major surgery and my ovaries were taken out along with an ovarian growth the size of four year old. 🙃 I was put on femoston conti (tablets again - or as my surgeon called it "the proper stuff").

What followed, months later, was two visits two A&E with severe cramping- of the kind that had got me hospitalised the first time - I mean, on the floor, can't breath.

I stopped taking it - cramping stopped - and moved to patches. I'm on Evoril now. I've been on it approx 4 mths - started bleeding again every two weeks about two months in. I'm currently experiencing a 'period' that started two weeks ago and hasn't stopped.

I think I need to come off the patches too.

JinglingHellsBells, thanks, mind you, since the pandemic, often you can't even get through to the surgery by phone,much less get an appointment. Yes,those figures were quoted to me,in 2011.

@Whitney168 can i please ask what form/dose of HRT you're talking? My symptoms sound exactly like yours.

Mixed bag here.

i started to get hot flushes and erratic periods at 44, which worsened a lot the following year. After 18 months of disturbed sleep (and a stressful job) I went to my female GP who told me “HRT is every woman’s right!” And put me on Femoston (I think? Few years ago now). It fixed me for a while, dealt with the flushes, sleeping, energy etc.

Then at the back end of 2019 I read about a meta study which suggested cancer risk starts to go up after 2 years on HRT. Now before anyone rushes to reassure, I KNOW the risk is very very low and I shouldn’t really be worried. I’ve watched the Davina doc and read a lot of articles but all I can say is everyone has to make their own decision, and I made mine to come off. As soon as I did, the flushes came back, my energy dropped, and I had other symptoms as well such as loss of libido, brain fog, some joint pain etc. But, I had had periods on the HRT and when I stopped, they stopped too, which was one positive thing and they never returned. I was 47 when I came off so 48 at menopause a year later.
I’m now 50 and haven’t gone back.

However - I did get vaginal atrophy without HRT, and went to a (different but equally good female Gp) who gave me oestriadol internal cream, and it improved quickly and is stable with cream 2x week.

Other symptoms have gradually lessened; although I still get flushes etc I’m used to them and they’re not so bad. I genuinely feel as though I’m coming through the other side and it’s improving. Over the years I also rejigged work responsibilities to be less stressed.

I am generally a fit person, a runner, I do yoga and have added in weights twice a week. I try to walk a lot and be outside every day. For several years I did triathlons. I did notice post stopping HRT I became more injury prone (loss of collagen, doesn’t help tendons), but it made me focus more on core strength and preventative exercises. I became a vegetarian around menopause and find i can drink much less as my body kicks my ass when I have too many glasses of wine, so that has fallen away a lot too. I find now I am sleeping really well and generally feel pretty healthy. Libido hasn’t returned, which I miss, but otherwise I feel I’ve properly made a transition to a different stage of life.

Good luck OP!

Evorel 50 patches and Utrogestan pills here.

I did think that if I couldn't get prescribed (absolutely no issue) or I didn't get on with it, I would go to a private clinic and try and get something a bit more tailored, but this seems to have entirely hit the spot - I feel like a new woman!

I’m through the other side of menopause now. I wish I had gone on HRT quite honestly because I’ve changed my opinion about it. I don’t have insomnia anymore or hot flushes but I think I’m much more anxious and have far less energy than. I used to do. I also worry about my bones.

For me, the peri stage was much much worse than the actual Meno one. Hot flushes were mild and far from my worse symptom.

Anxiety and panic attacks to the point of fainting were by far worse. Got better with Meno and almost stopped completely with antidepressants. HRT made all my symptoms worse.

Not traditional journey but we are all different, so best to try what works best for you, not others.

thanks @Whitney168 - i could do with feeling like that... at the moment i feel like a very old woman