How long do you plan to stay on HRT for?

[NetZeroZealot]

I've been on it since I was 52 and am 60 now.

It's been a genuine life changer. I can't imagine ever stopping! But think I must at some point, probably when I retire - I still have quite a demanding job.

Interested in others experiences, especially people older than me who are still taking it.

How do you know when you should quit?

I couldn’t stay on HRT because of bleeding issues related to lupus but just came on to say you don’t actually ever have to stop now if it suits you. Louise Newson has her Mum on it who is 85.

You don’t have to quit, I won’t be doing so, I’m 57 and have bee taking it for 6 years now. My neighbour is 71 and still taking HRT. You don’t have to stop it, it’s given me my life back and my vaginal atrophy would return if I stopped, which was so horrendously painful.

I’m not stopping unless I have to

Latest research says that not only is it okay, to continue HRT longterm, but it's actually preventative for all sorts of things. Personally planning on staying on HRT forever.

There is no bed to quit ever. Your body won't start producing oestrogen again and the HRT is protecting your bones and brain health.

For ever

Need not bed!!

I'll be taking it forever.

Forever

My nan is still taking it at 89 and has no bone issues. My mum unfortunately can't take it due to breast cancer and has osteoporosis and she also has vaginal atrophy that someone mentioned above among various other conditions. They both advised me to take it when the time comes!

Older than you and coming up to around 16 years.

I'm using HRT through a consultant and it's to maintain /increase bone density as well as persistent hot flushes (tried a short break and they came back.)

You don't know when you should stop. There is no time limit but you might be pressurised by a dr to stop and then you need to decide if you want to disagree.

The reasons to stop would be that you are worried about the BC risk, or develop some contraindication.

If you want to trial stopping, you need to give it three months to see how you feel off it.

You should also consider a private DEXA scan because it's only with the information about your bone density that you can make an informed decision.

Started at 45. I am planning to review whether to continue as the evidence picture improves. Some of the claims about the benefits of taking it for long term health (heart, dementia etc) seem only weakly supported though still interesting. And I am interested to understand more about the impact of modern formulations on the (small bit real) risks of longer term use as they haven't been fully studied yet.

That said I'm currently expecting to be on it a long time for bone protection (I have osteopenia and strong family history of osteoporosis), so unless/until they come up with better bone health drugs HRT is likely to remain a good bet!

I’ve been on it since 43 and I’m 55 now. Was very happy with it. Had to stop this year due to changes in breast tissue Bering hard to see because of hormones. Got all clear but forgot to ask could I go back on it. So been off it for 5 months, still have a Mirena in and taking vaginal oestrogen.

it’s not been too bad, hot flushes now and then, but the Rage, madness, depression and anxiety seem to have gone. sleep isn’t great but it wasn’t before.

I’ll see how I go and if it gets bad again I’ll go back on it.

no history of osteoporosis that I know of. That would make a difference to me going back on it.

Interesting responses, thank you everyone.

Of course I knew about the benefits for bones, but hadn't considered that as a reason to continue taking it well into old age, so will definitely look into that some more.

I'm weaning myself off it at the moment. I'm 62 and haven't had any symptoms of menopause for about 10 years. GP said don't just stop taking it or your symptoms although milder will return, currently on half a pill every other day and feeling fine.

Interesting. I’m 61 and have just had an argument with the locum GP about renewing my prescription. I persuaded her to give me 3 months worth. The only reason for stopping she could give me was ‘clots’.

I have a history of bone problems and am osteopenic but she had no interest in this. I’ll have to try and get hold of my regular GP.

Oh and she wanted me to just stop. No weaning off.

I’m staying on it forever unless someone can convince me that staying on will be worse than depression, brain fog, constant UTIs and no libido.

I also plan to take it forever. It was a life changer when I started on it. I have been on it now for 11 years.

I took it from 42 to 60, then we moved. New GP said she wouldn't prescribe it. Now it's been found to protect your heart, as well as your bones. I have a cystocele, recently saw a gynae consultant, she said she is going to try and get GP to prescribe oral HRT, she said I have vaginal atrophy which has caused it.. I am at the moment using vaginal tablets and estrogen cream. She said that's why the internal exam was so painful. I had to come off the oral meds twice before operations, the hot flushes were back within a week! They have continued to this day,12 years.2 relatives, didn't want to take HRT, both have atrophy, and 3 unsuccessful operations for cystocele.

@Nannyfannybanny for women over 60, HRT is given as transdermal, so that's estrogen gel or a patch. Tablets are not used for women over 60. There is no age limit to using HRT and the 'not for anyone over 60' went out the window years ago.

The consultant you saw should be able to prescribe your HRT and ask your GP to continue with repeats. However, if she is still talking about 'tablets' she doesn't sound very clued up.

No, the consultant didn't say oral tablets.im on vagifem vaginal tablets,yet surgery secretary rang me and said I had asked for "tablets" she quired, said I'm not on tablets, I am having pessaries. The box says vaginal tablets.sorry for the mix up. Meant I was originally having oral. If I hadn't moved I would be still taking it orally. DD has a coil her, giving her lots of issues.

Forever. Never plan to stop

My GP is obsessed with me stopping. Has anyone got links that I can present to her? She has also said the mirena coil only is effective for 4 years not 5 as the progesterone element. I can't find any evidence to support this. I have had it for 5 years now would I have a new coil fitted or switch to combined patches? I don't trust anything she says!

she said she is going to try and get GP to prescribe oral HRT,
I'm confused :)