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?

The language “taking it” sounds like the old fashioned hrt tablets. Most women are not in these any more but it does suit some. Most of us are on gel or patches for the oestrogen. I wouldn’t say I am taking a patch.

Of course not everyone needs to be on it but many women find a huge benefit. You cannot think yourself better with vaginal atrophy.

Of course they do
I never said otherwise

@Stroopwaffels it makes no difference what term you use. The means by which the hormone enters the bloodstream can be oral or dermal.

Yes. But it is generally accepted that the preferred route is through the skin. Women who pitch up at their GP wanting to try HRT in 2023 are going to be offered gel or patches, maybe spray. Not tablets.

Gel and patches are body identical, not made from horse urine. No increased risk of blood clots with patches/gel. Vaginal oestrogen cream is pretty much zero risk and can improve things hugely if you have atrophy.

I think a lot of people had their ideas about HRT formed in the late 90s or early 2000s and haven't really moved on from that. Lots of evidence that using estrogen on its own does not increase breast cancer risk, and that using progesterone 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off is better than taking it all the time.

I did try the vaginal cream and it was good but cost me £25!!

Not where I live! Here in Italy they are still of the view it's not good & it will give you breast cancer, despite a full liver check, mammogram, heart check up and bone density scan being mandatory before they will even consider it. And if your cholesterol is not under the limits, then there's no chance of it. I'm in my 50s and 1 year into full meno, although some symptoms have naturally resided without HRT.

Yes you did. You said people are blaming symptoms on menopause. I'm pointing out it's not blaming, it is literally that many women have these symptoms and they in fact are due to menopause. You belittled and minimised many women's experience. So I repeat, you have no empathy and are very lucky not to have these symptoms yourself.

Exactly - I am 77 and never took HRT (tablets as it was then) but I do not have dementia or breast cancer or brittle bones.
Not being on HRT does not necessarily cause dementia or other afflictions. We all get old and lose our youth regardless.

I'm 57 and I've never been on HRT

69 never been on it.

No

I am saying if you are diagnosed with menopause and hear some of the symptoms to be expected, it would is easy to translate some normal day to day life issues into being related to your menopause.

This is completely different to saying these symptoms don't happen in menopause.

However I can see you are suffering so I will leave it there :-)

So is this poster from whc rubbish?

Progesterone causes the bc

If people have cancer already oestrogen can feed it, but id rather keep my bmi down and have HRT

@ItsRebekahVardy basically that was my take on it:

Got my BMI down
Upped the exercise
Don't drink much, don't smoke

And took the HRT.

Many of my friendship group are on HRT - mid 40s to mid 50s. We fit the demographic of being educated, informed and happy to challenge. I had to battle through various condescending, male GPs to get it. Couldn't even get my blood taken and was offered 'high strength anti-depressants' which would essentially sedate me apparently when I said I was an insomniac. I'm still trying to find one that works for me but was offered tablets to start and have tried a few over the last 10 months. Now have a prescription for patches.

I'm on it (53)
Doctor upsold it really, said it was better for heart, bones, risk of stroke, so thought ok why not. I. I ireland though and I'm above threshold for medical card, so it costs me a euro a day. I should be more concerned that I spent 2.40 on coffee every morning.

@ItsRebekahVardy yes I started HRT this year and have given up alcohol and brought my BMI down from 29.9 to 23.5, so I should be lower risk for bc than before when I wasn’t on HRT.
It’s given me my life back thankfully.

Thats an amazing achievement well done! I lose weight cos I slept better on it and had energy to exercise

Not me, I tried it for several months but it didn't suit me - I think I'm extremely sensitive to oestrogen. It's a shame as friends who are on it are always telling me how great it is!

Not me, not keen on meds and so far (crossing fingers) so good

I’m on it (53) systemic & topical for vaginal atrophy. My sister is also on it after spending 2 years being fobbed off with antidepressants for her clearly menopausal symptoms

I get very tired of women who take HRT being judged weak or vain for not soldiering through the shite symptoms

if a woman doesn’t need it, great! But some of us really do

I'm considering giving up HRT, having been on it for a few years.

I also exercise regularly, dont smoke, drink very little & eat well. Makes no difference to my menopause

HRT stopped all of the hidious symptoms. It's been amazing I'm staying on it for as long as I can 🙂

My doctor suggested hrt because I just couldn't sleep. I was one year postmenopausal. After I started, I had a dexa scan done and discovered I have osteoporosis, so I will keep going with it, all going well. I need to be able to sleep, not waking every hour soaked in sweat, and I don't fancy breaking a hip either.

I do feel somewhat envious of those that it's really helped feel younger, and I worry about osteoporosis also. But the BC uncertainty still does concern me enough to put me off, even if I could persuade my GP.

My symptoms are mostly easing off - they come and go a bit, but they're not too bad except for the brain fog. This is all far preferable to the peri years, when my periods were horrendous thanks to fibroids.

Funnily enough, my periods stopped for good just at the start of the covid pandemic. Because of where I live (very rural) and WFH, I actually lost over a stone in 2020 (now BMI 23.5), because I wasn't shopping very often, was eating healthier and exercising more. I do wonder whether that helped offset some of the worst of the symptoms.