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Menopause

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Original poster

HRT Cancer Risks

32 replies

BatsInSpring · 28/02/2023 07:00

This is pretty much just a rant.

I'm on HRT for a variety of perimenopause symptoms. I'm better on it but 6 months in I'm not sure if the dosage is right and it does still take up a lot of brain space. I still have symptoms, but they are lessened.
When I am trawling MN to read RL and shared experiences I come across a lot of threads where someone pops on to warn people about the risks (breast cancer mainly) of taking HRT.

How come I never seem to see comments from people warning of the risks of taking the COC or the POP?
Or of drinking alcohol?
I never see a comment like "it's all very well celebrities telling everyone to use contraception and have a glass of wine with dinner but the risks are very real and
lots of cancer specialists are still actually very worried about it"??
Aren't the risks of oral contraceptives higher than HRT? Especially given the length of time women would tend to use the two?
Isn't the risk of moderate (!) drinking exponentially higher than taking the newer HRTs?
Is it all because of the age we would generally take HRT compared to the age we would generally take the pill?
My GP was a bit reluctant to give me HRT but not reluctant to offer me the POP or the Mirena. Is that about money and targets rather than my health?
I was actually wondering about going on the COC and I'm 45. I haven't been on it for over 20 years. I think something that fully overrides my cycle might help the fluctuations that really make me suffer.

Hoping someone has done the hard work and has read all the data and can advise.

OP posts:
JinglingSpringbells · 01/03/2023 09:00

@BatsInSpring I'm not sure what you were asking in your first post. Were you wanting advice, or were you as you said 'Having a rant?' (You've thanked @WashAsDelicates for her advice but were you asking for advice over your choice about HRT or the Pill? Hope you've got whatever you intended here anyway!

Original poster
BatsInSpring · 01/03/2023 09:34

JinglingSpringbells · 01/03/2023 09:00

@BatsInSpring I'm not sure what you were asking in your first post. Were you wanting advice, or were you as you said 'Having a rant?' (You've thanked @WashAsDelicates for her advice but were you asking for advice over your choice about HRT or the Pill? Hope you've got whatever you intended here anyway!

Just sharing my thoughts really - but advice always appreciated :)
Yes, I am interested in hearing thoughts on the COC vs HRT.
I like the advice to just do what works - I read on Mumsnet someone once saying "just slap the patch on your bum cheek and get on with your life".
There is something to be said for that I think.
But I very much appreciate the words of experience and wisdom of those who have taken the time and effort to analyse the data!
I remember saying to my own GP "why don't I just try it - if I don't feel better on it, then I didn't need it did I"?
I presume the detractors might not realise how debilitating some people's symptoms can be - if quality of life is greatly affected then, to a great many, small risks are risks worth taking.

OP posts:
Original poster
BatsInSpring · 01/03/2023 12:40

But also....... now I'm learning more about the positive preventative benefits of HRT I think I'd be worried not to take it even if I sometimes worry about taking it! I don't worry anywhere near as much as I'm making it sound like I do 😏

OP posts:
Xrays · 01/03/2023 12:55

The combined oral pill (is that what Coc is?) isn’t comparable to HRT. I wish doctors would stop suggesting women can have this as some sort of viable alternative to HRT. The dose of oestrogen in most combined pill is around 30 micrograms. The dose of oestrogen in oestrogel - of which the daily recommended dose is 2-4 pumps - has 750 micrograms of oestrogen in it, per pump. Huge difference. If you are wanting to treat symptoms of menopause taking the combined pill for it is a bit like dropping a tear in the ocean. I had a consultant try to put me on the combined pill for low oestrogen- I don’t think she could fully accept I was menopausal at 37 due to autoimmune issues - and I still felt awful some months later and it took a lot of battling and a private appointment with a menopause specialist (and then an nhs one) to ascertain that it wasn’t really doing much for me at all! (Now on HRT).

JinglingSpringbells · 01/03/2023 14:43

BatsInSpring · 01/03/2023 12:40

But also....... now I'm learning more about the positive preventative benefits of HRT I think I'd be worried not to take it even if I sometimes worry about taking it! I don't worry anywhere near as much as I'm making it sound like I do 😏

@BatsInSpring Maybe you've not come across this info (it's on Menopause Matters site as well as many other medical sites) that using HRT up to the age of the average menopause is risk-free. All you are doing is topping up your own levels to the age of 51.

After that, you can evaluate and decide what to do.

@Xrays The comparison you gave on the Pill and HRT isn't right. The type of estrogen in the pill is totally different to HRT estrogen. HRT is estradiol (which is body-identical), whereas the Pill is a synthetic type of estrogen.

It's not possible to compare the milligram doses as they are completely different.

Original poster
BatsInSpring · 01/03/2023 14:57

@JinglingSpringbells Yes, I had read that but I don't think I understood. I thought that only applied to early Meno or POF. I didn't realise it applies full stop, which is very good news indeed.

OP posts:
Original poster
BatsInSpring · 01/03/2023 15:11

Xrays · 01/03/2023 12:55

The combined oral pill (is that what Coc is?) isn’t comparable to HRT. I wish doctors would stop suggesting women can have this as some sort of viable alternative to HRT. The dose of oestrogen in most combined pill is around 30 micrograms. The dose of oestrogen in oestrogel - of which the daily recommended dose is 2-4 pumps - has 750 micrograms of oestrogen in it, per pump. Huge difference. If you are wanting to treat symptoms of menopause taking the combined pill for it is a bit like dropping a tear in the ocean. I had a consultant try to put me on the combined pill for low oestrogen- I don’t think she could fully accept I was menopausal at 37 due to autoimmune issues - and I still felt awful some months later and it took a lot of battling and a private appointment with a menopause specialist (and then an nhs one) to ascertain that it wasn’t really doing much for me at all! (Now on HRT).

Glad you are feeling better now. One of the things I struggle with most is the fluctuations and as the combined pill overrides your own cycle and prevents ovulation, it can be helpful in perimenopause.
I also think I was very low in progesterone for many years. Once I started the Utrogestan I perked up a lot and many long term issues and symptoms disappeared. I haven't had that diagnosed, that's just my experience.
As my hormones are fluctuating (pretty wildly I think!), I sometimes worry I'm just making things worse when I'm rubbing in the gel, when estrogen could already be high that day/week/month.

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