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?

So sorry your going through a lot of surgery 💐 . When it comes to your hormones and how you feel /symptoms try not to let doctors dictate to you . I had really late start to menopause and had terrible symptoms . My GP ( Female ) was brilliant partly because I refuse to leave the surgery until she prescribed me HRT 🤣. If I didn't have any symptoms then I wouldn't have bothered . You only need HRT if you really cannot cope with the symptoms. HRT is much much safer now. many women cannot cope and for some not all, HRT is fantastic a gives them their lives back .

I'm thinking of looking into this , I'm craving carbs like there's no tomorrow. I'm not sure if my will to eat is too strong 😂 . Do you do this ? I can get hypoglycemic would that make it difficult ?.

Have a listen to the podcast. We really don’t need to eat as often as we do. When I’m not at work I delay breakfast or skip it. It’s harder when I’m up at 6.30 but I do try Mon to Fri. I’m not. A morning person so the plus is that I have more time to shower and get ready I find as soon as I’m dressed I’m not hungry and have tea/ coffee until 10.30 or later .

The more you fast the easier it becomes. It’s daunting at first but then is easy,so much energy!

This morning I felt a twinge of hunger but had hair appointment at 10 so ignored it and I’m now sitting in the chair with foils for the next 2 hrs with water and not hungry at all. Last ate at 6.30pn last night.

Ive been on it for 3 years. I just went off and lost 10 lbs. It put weight on me. Odd, i thought it was menopause, but no the HRT did.

No. I'm 59. Last period at 56. No real symptoms. Haven't seen a GP in over 20 years. Never taken HRT; never will.
It may be useful for some people, but it's not for everyone. If you don't feel you need it, then enjoy the fact that you can live "faff-free", and without wasting doctors' time.

I know this is an old thread but I commented further up.

I don't think any doctor would consider a woman asking for HRT a waste of time. The state of my prolapses were in, plus vaginal atrophy meaning that at 44 my vulva had gone grey, plus I cried for two weeks of the month, every month...

I was in danger of being seriously suicidal which a lot of women are during peri. I don't think my GP considers that I wasted her time.

God that’s awful but extreme and not typical 9f course a doctor should act on that.

@Hbh17 , I tend to agree , it’s a personal decision and I know a lot of women desperately need hrt , but I really can’t be bothered with it . It sounds so complicated and I don’t fancy getting periods again.

HRT won't give you periods

Yes I’m on HRT & no periods

I genuinely don't know anyone in real life who discusses HRT with friends in a somewhat critical way. I've friends who're on it and friends who aren't. We don't really talk about it much.

It's not a 'faff' @Hbh17 and not sure what you mean by that or wasting drs' time.

This forum is biased because it's mainly used by women who are having problems either getting HRT or finding the type that suits them.

Plenty of women get on ok with the first type they use and see their dr for an annual review ( which is legally necessary for any drug.)

No one needs to use hrt if they have no symptoms. The grey area is a lot of women put up with and accept a lot of quite debilitating health issues which they don't realise are linked to the menopause. They think they are a consequence of 'old age' and that nothing can help.

Growing up , it seemed that we only heard about ladies who'd had a hysterectomy talking about hrt. I suppose those who were post menopausal didn't talk about it.

Medical science has evolved , and more people are on allsorts of medication now as it had become widely available. There seem to be more types of treatment under the hrt umbrella now.

Also , I would take what people say with a pinch of salt . In my peer group 40 something women say they are already on hrt , but they are the type who've been to elevenerife when others have been to Tenerife.

I’m 53 and don’t take it. Nearly 3 years since last period. I use vaginal oestrogen a SI still want a sex life and want to stave off atrophy but otherwise no symptoms ( had 6 months of flushes at night).

Some people class the use of vaginal oestrogen as being on hrt .

I'm nearly 62 and haven't had it. I have oestrogen pessaries but these are not systemic and are not generally classed as HRT as they only affect the immediate area. The only menopausal symptoms I had were vicious hot flushes at night (not sweats) for which I was prescribed Citalopram off-licence, at half the usual dose. I was done by 45. Sister hasn't had HRT either. We both think our penchant for walking in the outdoors was what kept us stable.

My mum never was on hrt ( different generation). I can see what's happening to her body - low bone density, low libido, hair loss and early symptoms of dementia. I don't want to repeat her journey , so I'm on hrt since 49. I'm 52now. Very happy with the way it makes me feel , with my skin, my hair and recently done a bone density scan ( everything is in top shape). So, I'm pro HRT team, as I think it improves the quality of woman's life.

I’m 55, my last period was three years ago and I’m not on HRT. I still get hot flushes and the doctor was very quick to offer it to me a couple of years ago when I asked about excessive sweating, but I really don’t want to mess with my hormones. I don’t think I need to. However, I get the impression that almost everyone else is on HRT - maybe it’s just my friendship group. My two best friends from school days are on it, my three best friends from uni are on it, my two closest Mum friends are on it and so is my sister in law. My sister isn’t. I’m surprised by the statistics quoted on here.

@muddyford Stopping periods before 45, with few periods leading up to that in the early 40s, is an early menopause. Although menopause is 'from' age 45, stopping early is a risk for bones. A lot of drs believe that 47 is the acceptable 'earliest'.

Drs advise women with early menopause to use HRT at least to the average menopause age of 51 to help prevent bone loss.

I appreciate you feel well, but you don't know what's going on with your bone density (and osteoporosis is 'silent' until there's a fracture.)
You might want to talk to your GP and ask them to refer you for a bone density scan, based on the risk factor of early menopause.

Went into medical menopause in 2022 when had chemotherapy for breast cancer. Not on HRT due to hormone based cancers. On Tamoxifen as well. No hot flushes, normal bmi, no heart issues, no sweats. Slight oestopenia for which take calcium and vit D otherwise stay in normal bmi and exercise about 5 hours per week.

JFT I was like you, looked 20 years younger then chemo treatment and menopause put that 20 years on within a few months. But it's now 2 years on and hair is much better, face is much better, neck meh, rest of body much better, did take 5 hours exercise a week and keeping to normal bmi but feel very healthy now and garden looks amazing. 😂

Had to come off it, due to metastic breast cancer. My body and brain misses oestrogen terribly!

I use vaginal estriol cream and I pay for my prescriptions.
The pharmacist told me today that for HRT prescribed products I could buy a prepayment certificate for less than £20 which lasts a year. I don’t know if this is new, but it’s the first time I’ve heard of it!

It was introduced some time ago. You apply online.
Once you're over 60 all NHS prescriptions are free.

I didn't use it.