Is *everyone* on HRT now?

[Kangaroobrain]

I'm 56, last period 3 years ago. TBH I think my menopause symptoms haven't been too awful compared to some people (although with my terrible brain fog I might have forgotten them already 😂) but I'm still getting some. I still have night sweats and occasional flushes, I've noticed my skin is starting to feel very thin and itchy, and I have completely lost the ability to multi task - I'm getting really forgetful.

When my sister asked her GP about HRT she was advised not to as we have a strong family history of breast cancer, so I didn't really even consider it myself. But speaking to friends and coming on here makes me wonder if it's now the norm to be on it?

Durr, of course, I never thought of that. Makes sense, But couldn't the HRT company stump up the cash and then leave the trial in the hands of impartial medics to do the actual trials/study?

Yes, you have a point there!

I am much less of a people pleaser than I was and people do tend to see it as you being "difficult" rather than just setting boundaries for your mental health.

OF course, I can't go by my mother's example as she always had a hair-trigger temper and I can't say she seemed any different during what must have been her perimenopausal years.

Oestrogen is the people pleasing hormone. When that reduces women take the love goggles off. 😂
Look into the work of Dr Mindy Pelz.

I know a few of my friends who are on it, I am 51 and have friends of similar ages. It's like everything medical though, there is a big socio-demographic aspect to it. If you're educated, informed, have time to read and know where to go to access information, don't feel intmidated having constant battles with the GP over prescribing and are confident in understanding your own health, you are more likely to ask for HRT.

There are still a lot of women who think HRT is dangerous. There are lots more - like my mother - who see going through the menopause without any drugs or medication as some sort of personal triumph and accomplishment and who look on "weak" women who resort to patches/gels as inferior.

Interesting link thanks

I think "social contagion" is fairly offensive tbh.

On one hand you could argue that when groups of friends are talking about menopause and discussing things like itchy skin or aching knees which people don't traditionally associate with menopause that the penny drops and women realise that the range of symptoms is far more than hot flushes.

On the other hand, those of us who have struggled massively with confidence, mental health and anxiety are not developing those symptoms purely because a friend has.

As you say, women need to be ready for constant battles with GPs. From my government post above, it provides advice for healthcare professionals and I am assuming they are using these kinds of reports for their practice and also following the NHS party line.

That trial did show that women on estrogen-only (no progestogens) have less BC than the non-HRT population, and this is confirmed by other trials since.

That's interesting!

Out of my office of middle aged women I was the only one on HRT.

However I have no clue why the others weren't having it, as they would spend ages telling me all about their horrendous symptoms, how their lives were generally falling apart and were having a far worse menopause than the symptoms I had.

Reasons for not being on HRT were generally the myths about breast cancer which they could not be persuaded on.

Fine, but I got very fed up of hearing about the misery.

But it is well established that oestrogen can cause breast cancer - mine was caused by oestrogen - hence I now take drugs to prevent any eostrogen in my body at all

I need to be on it (aged 50) as I feel bloomin awful without it. My sister is in her 60s and regrets not going on it years ago as she is suffering terribly with pain linked to osteoporosis. My mum also didn't use it and had massive mobility issues from her 60s onwards.

See this is what I've always thought. But there is so much conflicting info out there! I have taken the stance that I won't take it and I am long past the worst. But I do wonder when I hear about osteoporosis. But when I checked, my only risk factor is being menopausal and my steroids. The others I can do something about, even the steroids soon, I hope.

I just get so confused that I just shelve the idea and don't think about it mostly. Until threads like these, when I end up even more confused.

My grandma and sisters lived to their late 80s without HRt or breaking a bone. Focus on diet and lifestyle and strength training and that will help your bones

I don't want to take it but if I hadn't I would not have been able to manage my stressful job. As it was my marriage was a casualty of the menopause.
The physical and mental symptoms were bloody awful.
I just weaning myself off it now at 61.

It was very briefly jrntooned when I went through menopause but Dr quickly said I was too young.
I think he was concerned that HRT, when it came out would see women on it 20-30 years, not 60-70 as it would have been my case.

That trial did show that women on estrogen-only (no progestogens) have less BC than the non-HRT population, and this is confirmed by other trials since.

This finding has always slightly confused me because I think I read that the chance of a woman getting BC increases as she gets older because the older you are, the more oestrogen your body has been exposed to. (But then I guess not all BCs are oestrogen sensitive) But why would oestrogen actually reduce the chance of BC? Is there such a thing as progestogen sensitive BC? Is it about the balance between the two hormones?

I thought I read that women who are overweight are more at risk of BC partly because their fat cells produce more oestrogen (way more complicated than that I know!) but wouldn't that mean that overweight women would be less likely to experience menopausal symptoms? And how does exercise reduce the risk of BC so dramatically?

I feel there is so much going on that we just don't understand and I don't get the sense that a huge amount of research is being carried out to find answers.

Actually not as bonkers as it sounds
The high levels of discussion means women new to the menopause are looking for symptoms.

You could be nervous about an event. Suddenly it's menopause related anxiety.
You could forget something. Suddenly it's the menopause brain fog.
You could be hot. Suddenly its a hot flush (I remember I was never allowed to just be hot in my mums 23c house without it being a hot flush)

I'm not and nor is my friend. The GP said as I've not got symptoms there's no need.

As someone living abroad and not having really heard all that much about it could someone explain why it is needed for some women? Is it just while they go through menopause and afterwards they stop, or does taking it prevent menopause?

Why would everyone be on it? Presumably the human body is made to function in a certain way and so menopause shouldn't leave the majority of women unable to function?

I’m not.

My mum suffered terribly mentally with the menopause and went years without knowing what it was. I am 44 and showing similar symptoms. The anxiety and brainfog gets me so down, I’m constantly tired and my hair is shedding - I’ve never suffered anything like this previously in my life but my GP just won’t listen.

Your fanny becomes so dry you can't sit down, suddenly you have vaginal atrophy!

Your libido is zero, you can't have an orgasm, blame it on menopause!

You are so anxious you are suicidal, surely its menopause!

You've lost all your joy, you feel like an empty husk, menopause again? Just buck up!

In the nicest possible way, give over. You are obviously very lucky and don't have symptoms but please accept that women have different symptoms and yes, medical science does say these are caused by oestrogen depletion.

Such a lack of empathy you have.

I'm not, I am 57 and have resisted strongly despite the aches, flushes and anxiety. Most of that has passed now. For me, better the devil you know.

I know three women who have been diagnosed with BC after a number of years on HRT. I know one woman with BC who wasn't, but she was in her 30s when diagnosed.

Co-incidence or not, my symptoms weren't so bad that I was prepared to take the risk. All those on HRT were told to stop taking it when diagnosed.

Those who say they’re in their early fifties and fine…symptoms can take a year or two to become marked. I started HRT at 55, 19 months post-menopause. I felt just fine to start with.