Who decided NOT to take HRT? What is your experience?

[Agree]

Please can menopausal / post-menopausal women share their experience of deciding not to take HRT and how it's worked out for you?

I'm not sure it's for me and am dithering.

My main reason for leaning towards HRT is vanity and not wanting to age quickly

I’ve not taken HRT but only really just coming to the end of my first year without a period . Commenting as I’m interested to see what others say .

Personally my symptoms were worse when I was still having periods than over the last 12 months . Biggest issues for me were sleep and weight

Post menopausal for two years now. No hrt, took it when I first got peri menopausal symptoms but didn't work.

I haven’t taken any hrt. It was never an option for me due to the type of breast cancer I had.

However, generally I’ve been fine. Night sweats have been the main symptom, and looking back, I became more anxious in certain situations (didn’t realise this was symptom to later). I also wake more during the night.

If you want to know how you’re likely to go through the menopause, then look at your mother!

It was grim without but my choice was to try and do without any sort of medication I didn't have to have, as it would be with anything else.

I don't take it, and never have.
I feel fine.
I don't particularly look young, but as I'm nearly 60 that's fine.
I don't see the point of going through all the faff for medication that I don't need.
But be aware that there is a vocal minority that enjoy proselytising about HRT. They can do whatever they wish, of course, but so can you!

I don't take it, and never have.
I feel fine.
I don't particularly look young, but as I'm nearly 60 that's fine.
I don't see the point of going through all the faff for medication that I don't need.
But be aware that there is a vocal minority that enjoy proselytising about HRT. They can do whatever they wish, of course, but so can you!

With regard to ageing.. I genuinely don't care as much about wrinkles, sagging, grey hair as much as I do my health.

I'd rather try and eat well, do a bit of exercise and control my weight (failing miserably atm) than take artificial hormones if I don't have to.

But that's my choice.. I know it's not everyone's and that's fine

I was advised against because of prior cancer.
Apart from intense night sweats (which I take separate medication for), I don’t feel/look much different than I did 8 years ago.
I forgot my meds when we were away for a week and wasn’t troubled so hopefully the overheating is on the wane now.

Forgot to say, would I take it? Probably not unless I suffered massively from hrt symptoms.

I tried to take it but it made me put on loads of weight. So I stopped. I had brain fog and forgetfulness, was probably a grump to live with, sweating and hot flushes, eventually it all eased back except for forgetfulness.

I think every woman should make an informed choice, but I will say that HRT doesn't stop you aging and so vanity doesn't come into it. Or if you use it for vanity reasons you'll be disappointed. If you choose to use it or not it should be based on actual benefits and risks as you may find that makes your decision easier.

Don't know your age , but a fair few women go onto having vaginal atrophy due to dryness / and can also get clitoral atrophy ( it shrinks / disappears ).
Not saying you will , but can also recommend you read : Me & My Menopausal Vagina by Jane Lewis .

I chose not to take HRT during perimenopause. I had severe symptoms but for some reason I thought it was 'bad'.

Biggest mistake of my life.

I went on it at age 54 and realised I had wasted 6 years of my life. If you have symptoms give it a trial run. If you don't have symptoms then that's a different decision.

I didn’t take it, but then I didn’t really suffer from any symptoms, I just realised one day that I couldn’t remember my last period.

i heard a ZOE podcast that said that nearly all women would benefit from it but I know most GPs are reluctant to prescribe it so I didn’t bother asking for it.

in terms of ageing I use a moisturiser twice a day. The morning one has factor 15 and the night time has something like collagen (can’t remember for sure what was in it but it was £40 so not cheap). I also try to drink a load of water.

Anyway I have very few wrinkles so I’m not worried about ageing. The things that make me look older are greying hair and less defined jaws but I don’t want a face lift.

I am in two minds also. I have been going for months between periods in the last 3 years and frankly I really like not having them so don’t want to start anything that would make me bleed, especially if it’s heavy or irregular.

Also I have been on levothyroxine for 10 years - it’s ok but it took over 2 years to adjust to the right level even with a good responsive GP. I could cry remembering how awful it was getting it right and I don’t want to start that kind of journey again with more hormones.

Right now the worst symptom I have is hot flushes which I hate, and am also quite keen to get the osteoporosis benefits of HRT due to family history.

Maybe I could start once I am over the 12 month mark? Would I avoid periods at least?

so hard to decide!

I didn't take any HRT, not because I had any objection to taking it but because I didn't have any symptoms that needed controlling - no hot sweats or anything. I had my last period in my early 50s and am 65 now, obviously I do look older but I don't think that should be viewed as a negative.

I was on it but suffered some spectacular migraines so came off. I’ve not gone back on. I’m 53. Very few symptoms and generally feel ok. Hopefully that continues.

I would also personally be gutted if it made me gain weight due to previous struggles

52, menopausal (just).

I use oestrogen cream as a preventative measure (though show no signs of needing it) but don't take 'proper' HRT.

General consensus is that I look pretty good for my age, I certainly haven't dropped off a cliff looks-wise.

All health markers A-OK. I'm very particular about exercise, diet, self care.

Insomnia is the only really troublesome symptom and I'm working on better sleep hygiene to see if that helps.

I'm not anti HRT and haven't ruled it out if things change down the track.

No, I'm not sure what the benefits would be. What does it actually do?

Mid 50s, never took HRT as didn’t have many menopause symptons (apart from anxiety which I had anyway!) I’m a size 10, have few wrinkles but basically look fine for my age. I do know several people who’ve taken it and found it really helpful, so I guess it’s up to the individual. If you think it would help, go for it.

Advised not to take it but used acupuncture to manage hot flashes and night sweats, sessions twice a week worked wonders for me. My sister used one of those Fanny magnets and that worked for her for similar symptoms.
We're both mid 50s and personally I probably am healthier and better looking now than my late 30s/40s and the 'small kids' era!

It doesn't help with ageing (why would it, if it did everyone in the world would be on it and looking and feeling like their 20-year-old selves!!).

I am on it. This, as my symptoms were so severe I considered suicide. It has transformed my life, my energy, my relationships, my physical and my mental health. Like other posters I hate the idea of being reliant on medication, never take anything unless I have to, but in reality, after it bedded it (and it took a while!), you'd have to wrestle my patches out of my cold, dead hands now. Life-changing stuff - but not for everyone. If you don't have symptoms then I wouldn't recommend it. If you do, I wouldn't hesitate.

I didn’t, my friend did. Her menopause was horrific and she is quite anti meds but she really couldn’t function at all. When you say ageing well I have aged much better than her. Really even with HRT it’s mainly your genetics so thanks to my Mum and Dad for that especially Dad as I’m mixed race and as they say Asian don’t raisin. She is also fair skinned and loved to sunbathe. Try and accept ageing it means you have made it this far.