Friend's opinions on HRT

[LuckyThatMyBreastsAreSmallAndHumble]

My sister says that, if your periods are regular then you shouldn't be taking HRT & other symptoms may be down to something else.

She's 50 and her periods are regular, so she claims she's not peri menopausal yet.

I disagree with her.
Which of us is right?

It's nothing to do with period regularity. IJ Virgin talks about hormones a lot. Very informative. You can have regular periods and be peri menopausal and need HRT

Friend or sister?

I was regular in my early 40s but really suffering symptoms when I started hrt. One of which was awful aches and pains. The first patch helped those by a considerable amount on the first day (as much as 75% better) and sleep improved within the next few weeks. As did concentration. so I'd say if you're struggling you certainly are going to benefit.

I only stopped being as regular when I started hrt.

You're right.

If apps tried a number of other things such as better vit d, ferritin etc I'm on thyr fine so made sure that was good. Nothing really helped.

things like tumeric and seed cycling helped a little but I gradually got worse till I was barely functional, still v regular!

This is lara briden's explanation; if you're on hormonal contraception of course it will mask the ups and downs. I don't know how accurate it is but my periods became v heavy in early peri, lighter again near the end.

Testosterone certainly slowly dropped; heat became less greasy and I found exercise harder (though both the other hormones help there too.)

Half the problems with peri are the ups and downs of hormones causing mood and inflammation fluctuations.

Your 'friend' or 'sister's doesn't know what they are talking about.

Many regular periods can be anovular- no ovulation- during later peri. That's when symptoms can happen.

She's 50 and her periods are regular, so she claims she's not peri menopausal yet.

Well yes, that can be true as well!

I think you are asking about 2 different things.

1 What is peri menopause
2 Can you use HRT if your periods are regular

Peri menopause is a state of symptoms, leading up to menopause.

You can be 50 and have no symptoms and have regular periods. So in theory you are not in peri menopause. Although your fertility will be far lower.

But you can still have regular periods and experience symptoms.

A few women continue to have regular periods well into their 50s.

A few stop in their 30s.

The average is 51 (no period for a year / menopause) with normal variation between 45 and 54.

Peri can last sometimes up to 10 years.

Some women get no symptoms, some get horrific symptoms and some can cope with mild symptoms.

So some women can need hrt in their 30s.

Some never need hrt.

My periods are as regular as you can get with endo but my cycle is around 24 days, I am 49 and I am definitely in peri menopause. I haven't reached for the HRT because at the minute my symptoms are manageable and the HRT for me can cause me to have more issues with my endo so I am still researching. Dr Louise Newson has loads of information on menopause.

@JillenTavau there are some women on hrt with endo on the menopause matters forum if that's helpful - they may be able to share experiences.

I think the recommendation is not to wait until you’re symptomatic. Get in there earlier than that. So I’m going to suggest your sister is wrong.

Hi - I was soaked, drenched at night. Had to change my pjs. Had periods (though irregular). Not fun. Eliminated with hrt.

@WarriorN thank you, I did actually start at thread on the menopause board for anyone with endo on HRT a month ago and had no replies. I was under a different username. I know there are endo sufferers on MN but didn't know if any were in peri or menopause and on HRT. I listened to Dr Louise Newson interview a top gynae who specialises in endo so know I have to take progesterone all the time rather than cyclical. To be honest I am terrified to make my endo worse. Although unlikely, I constantly fall into that category medically, all my life.

@JillenTavau Im in peri with endo and was on hrt. Unfortunately the hrt aggravated my endo greatly, and it was the continuous combined type. I've stopped it now, my endo had not given me any bother for years, being hrt made it really unbearable.

@Tootsey11 I really appreciate that. Sorry it didn't work out for you. The gynae endo specialist who was interviewed by Louise said they recommend sticking with it for 6 months and it will probably be hell but then you come out the other side and it should massively improve. I still have endo symptoms today that sees me attached to a TENs machine like I am in labour every month, plus fatigue every day.

Sorry it's my sister. Brain fog whilst typing title!

Re: being 50 and not in peri - I would have thought this is highly unlikely. Even if her symptoms are not that bothersome.

I'm 3 years younger than her. Have symptoms which have been helped by hrt. But periods still regular. Although now on cyclical so not sure how I will know when they'd started to fluctuate.

She's saying I should have checked it's not anything else before taking hrt.

I had bloods done for hormones and rheumatoidal issues before going onto hrt.

Is there anything else I should have checked out first?

I think the general up to date medical view is if you are in the recognised age range, are experiencing some of the long list of symptoms and no other cause can be found then HRT is an option. If HRT fixes things great
If she feels she doesnt need or want HRT yet thats her choice, hopefully she is basing it on up to date research.

Why exactly does she say you shouldn’t take HRT?

I think there is still quite a lot of suspicion about it leaving people reluctant to touch it (sometimes becoming an endurance test) but things are a lot more nuanced than that and everyone needs to do their own research and not be judging anyone else’s choices.

Certainly there are plenty of people with regular periods on HRT. And lots of others not recognising the source of their perimenopausal symptoms.

Also if you are finding HRT is helping you, then that’s your answer as to whether it’s peri or something else. HRT isn’t going to fix a Vit D deficiency or thyroid issue.

A Gp usually checks other things such as thyroid anyway