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’m 50 I’m reluctant to take hrt due to having adenomyosis, I’m suffering with insomnia and have to take the mini pill due to horrendous periods , I’m hoping I won’t have to take hrt.

I didn't and really regret it.

I think the current view that it is for "symptom management" is out dated, unhelpful and borderline sexist.

Like others I thought I could manage my symptoms. Which I could.

What I couldn't "manage" was the osteoporosis I've now been diagnosed with at 55.

Not to mention the good evidence on protection of heart and brain.

We've got to stop thinking about HRT as a solution to hot flushes and think seriously about the bone, heart and brain risks / benefits.

I’m mid 50s in peri. No symptoms other than a bit of brain word salad, and some dryness which I am treating with hyaluronic pessaries .

I eat a healthy diet with a slight focus on foods that help with hormone balance. My particular focus is on balancing cortisol as I think that might prove to be an overlooked area in helping balance hormones. So sleep and exercise are important too.

Im not sure if there is sufficient research as one in 5 women will have minimal symptoms so you may get lucky.

As for vanity? I don’t have an answer but let me know if you ever find the secret!

Why do pps consider the pill at not HRT?

So strange!

I didn’t take HRT. I had a couple of years of night sweats - putting a towel on my pillow helped. I’ve always been short tempered and lacking in patience so I didn’t notice those symptoms. I didn’t have brain fog or forgetfulness. I look my age but I’m ok with that. I’ve grown out my grey and my hair is shiny and healthy. I’m thrilled that my periods are no more and I can wear white trousers.

My symptoms weren't too bad but I was getting brain fog that was starting to impact my daily life. I was also very aware of the osteoporosis risk without HRT.

First month in I think my bran fog has improved. I'm not particularly happy about my first "period" though which is very heavy and painful. I'm hoping that calms down over time.

There's a comment above about GP's being reluctant to prescribe it. That doesn't seem to be the experience of my friends and my own GP was fantastic. I think we as women are more empowered now with the extensive information available to help us make informed choices and tell our GP's what we feel we need to support us.

In answer to OP:the natural (minimal) hormones in the gel have kept me safer from bone loss/heart health. Sexally I am A OK.

Definitely I got hairloss and looked more worn out /dry skin when I stopped due to shortage, (for a yearish)

'Vanity' is not a good enough reason to use something that a risk, although it is a small risk.

If you have symptoms, then reconsider.

Also, look at your future health, family history and how that may influence your decision.

HRT used within 10 years of the menopause reduces the risks of heart disease.
It also protects your bones and builds bone density up.
Ideally, you should be screened for your current bone density now and in 5 years, and make a decision around these important health risks.

But just for vanity? No.

@as @JenaWren said .

I'm on the fence too. Still having the odd period so I'm parking the issue (53)

Pros - protects bones and I'm a slim build so I do worry about that but I eat well and do lots of strength training. Also doesn't it give you nice hair and skin?

Cons - I worry about putting on weight, I don't feel I need HRT as I don't have any symptoms I can't manage and it sounds a right faff getting the right dose and being on medication every day (also there are shortages etc)

I'm a fan of HRT but I had no idea it did anything to prevent aging.

As PP said, there are a lot of good reasons to take it, but I think there are more things you can do for your body (diet, fitness, skin care, etc) if wanting to look good as you get older is your only reason.

Could you please share what you take for night sweats? I have a gp appt this afternoon to discuss peri (still fairly regular periods so I'm worried I'm going to be fobbed off) but the night sweats are utterly debilitating me. TIA

No symptoms AFAIK so don’t take it. Do lots of exercise, don’t drink and am active which may have helped.

ETA: had a recent DEXA scan which showed I have good bone density and have not other health issues which HRT might help with, so no real point for me, I believe.

I never took it.
I had all the usual of night sweats (and suddenly feeling boiling hot when awake, too) and various other symptoms (brain fog, occasional issues with balance, random pains) but nothing so bad that I felt inclined to go to the GP.

@WellFinch Asian don’t raisin LOL, never heard that before but I have mixed Asian/white cousins and it is so true!

Hi all, I've just decided to stop HRT. Was on it about a year. I'm nearly 52, started having sweats, brain fog and 'red mist' anger! GP suggested low dose Evorel Conti, it made me feel worse. Returned to GP put me on higher dose Evorel Conti along with utrogestan. Felt even worse!!! I also take the progesterone only pill and have done for 10 years due to heavy bleeding with a functional ovarian cyst. My cyst has definitely got worse, GP told me to monitor now I'm off the HRT but some days im crippled with pain. I'm hoping coming off I will return to normal in all
honesty I could manage the original symptoms the HRT made me 10 times worse. Also my blood pressure thru the roof but undergoing a LOT of work and personal stress.

I went through early menopause 20 years ago and so was told I was too young for HRT
Personally I have had no major issues. I had the odd hot flush early on but no night sweats. I get occasionally very hot for 10min then very cold for 10min now and that's about it.
I struggle to lose weight (not sure if that is age rather than menopause) but I have always had weight issues anyway.
No mental issues.

This is exactly me

I am currently choosing not to take it, due to previous history of migraine and endometriosis, as it can be contra indicated in this case,

I'd like the idea of a PP about having a bone density scan to see current state. However I guess that would only be possible if I paid privately.

Does it really slow down the ageing process? My menopause has been relatively easy apart from being a lot hotter than usual and heightened anxiety and I have been considering HRT purely for this, however I thought it was something you stayed on forever but the NHS say lowest dose for the shortest time possible (max 5 years) I would hate to have to go through withdrawal in a few years and go through menopause symptoms again as I am hoping my hormones are now relatively stable 2 years post menopause.

I struggled on for just over 2 years without HRT then realised after a chat with my GP that the risks were far smaller than I believed.

I feel great again! Can exercise longer, have more motivation so I eat better as I can now be bothered to cook and just all round happier. I sleep again which was the biggest plus, not the full 8 hours but far more than the one or two hours I was getting pre HRT.

I still weighed up the pros and cons and decided that losing these years to misery and just existing rather than living was worth the risks for me.

Definitely don't look any younger but with the improvement in sleep hours I look less 'dead behind the eyes'

@TheFastestSquirrel

" I'm not sure what the benefits would be. What does it actually do? "

Body identical HRT has been shown to help prevent diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancers and early mortality.

People choosing not to take HRT need to know that they are exposing themselves to potential future ill health.

Obviously some women don't get the choice if they have been medically advised not to take HRT for individual reasons.

Replaces a hormone your body needs for lots of things outside reproduction. Taking it can obviously reduce menopause symptoms (the most obvious of which are hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety and brain fog - but there are loads more) but is also protective against osteoporosis, good for brain health (it looks like it reduces the chances of dementia) and may be protective of the heart. It shouldn’t cause weight gain and won’t affect ageing in terms of looks as far as I’m aware. There’s some feeling amongst experts that we aren’t really supposed to live without it but in the past it wasn’t an issue since women didn’t tend to live long enough for it to matter, due to the dangers of repeated pregnancy, then, as ever, research didn’t happen very fast because it was a women’s health issue. I’m not an expert, but did some reading before making my decision, which was to take it so I’m not really the target audience for this thread.
It’s a personal decision, but to make it you need to know the pros and the cons, and to ask ‘what does it actually do’ suggests epic unawareness which, as with any health issue, probably isn’t going to work in your favour.

You don’t need to have periods with HRT. Speak to your doctor.

I didn't take it. I didn't want it, and was determined to try and see the menopause through without it. I had had previous extensive IVF and infertility treatment, and had enough of extra hormones going in to my body. I'm not fussed about looking older, it comes to all of us, I look OK, and do plenty of weight-training, so bones are fine. It's whatever you feel comfortable with.

Went into surgically induced menopause overnight early 40s, but had been in peri menopause for a number of years prior to that. Still felt like I'd been hit by a truck I can't take HRT due to a significant family history of gynaecological cancers, so I've had to go without. It's been rough, but do-able. All I can do is treat the symptoms as best I can. Lack of energy and less than zero sex drive exacerbated by vaginal atrophy are two of the worst issues, but there are lots of others. I just make the best of it because I have no choice. Given the option, I would have taken HRT without hesitation.