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?

Tablets are not used for women over 60. I'm confused about this? I'm 60 and I'm on progesterone tablets and Oestrogel, as I have been for a few years. Should I be changing?

I'm still on Kliovance tablets too at 64. My GP hasn't said anything, although it's a bit of a universal that many GPs don't know much about hrt anyway isn't it?

My gynae says I can take my HRT indefinitely and into my 90's if I want. The side benefits are protection from osteoporosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's and incontinence. The latest research also says there's lower all cause mortality on HRT.

The oestrogen part of your HRT is transdermal, not a tablet. Utrogestan is fine.

It's four years if the Mirena is used for HRT. Five years for contraception.

So what happens after the 4 years? Do you get another one? Ive just started taking estrogel patches ( 25 dose) and am on the mirena. I don't intend stopping taking it because my joint pain is horrendous without it. But Im rubbish at remembering to change the patch ( even with a reminder) so didnt want to do another thing too!

Yes, the old one is removed and a new one fitted.

JinglingSpringbells, the uro/gynae consultant wants me to have continuous HRT, I have been on Vagifem vaginal tablets, twice a week. At the moment she has told me to use them every day. She didn't mention hells or anything else. We discussed the oral type , I was on originally.Therefore I need more,my prescription will run out.The surgery secretary rang me because she was confused, over the word "tablet", said I'm on suppositories. It says vaginal tablets on the packaging. I know a lot of people on oral HRT way beyond 60. Looking back, I was 63, when I moved, the GP then was a young woman, said she wouldn't prescribe it anymore at my age. This was probably the time when it was decided it would probably give you cardiac issues.

Gel, auto correct!!

They will have to prise it out of my cold dead hands 😬😂😊

For ever.

My mum took it until she was 83 and her GP refused to prescribe it any more. She was very unhappy about that and it was a factor in her quality of life going downhill because she didn't feel listened to. But I guess that's not in itself a good enough reason for a doctor to keep prescribing.

However, I don't know a single relative on my mother's side who has had breast cancer, we just don't seem to be a breast cancer family but we have high rates of dementia and other cardiovascular issues. I'm not sure the GP called it right.

I took it for only a year, maybe less, at age 52. I had to stop immediately because I got breast cancer. No family links. Family links to breast cancer aren’t as significant as they’re sometimes made out to be. What is much more a risk factor is having dense breasts.

56 been on it for 12 years. Take higher than the recommended dose which my gynaecologist reluctantly gave me! Have had a hysterectomy so all I need to worry about is breast cancer. I have a yearly mammogram and ultrasound. No history of breast cancer in my family.

I'll never come off as it protects my brain, heart and bones. Why would I?

While HRT has many benefits, there is no consensus among medical organizations that it "prevents Alzheimer's". The studies on this have been very mixed, with some actually showing increased risk:

https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-072770

There are studies that show decreased risk as well. There's also some promising research showing that it may be beneficial for women who carry the APOE4 gene.

The jury is still very much out on this issue.

My neighbour who is a very young 71, she looks amazing, has estrogen via a tablet, so not exactly true. She’s had a hysterectomy so doesn’t need progesterone.

What is much more a risk factor is having dense breasts

Which approx 40% of us have! And occasionally hrt increases breast density which might be a consideration for some women.

How do you know whether you have dense breasts?

This only shows on mammogram; doesn't have anything to do with size or firmness.

In general younger women have denser breasts which is why mammograms are rarely used in women under 40. On mammogram all that dense tissue shows as a "wall of white", making tumor detection very difficult.

As we age breasts tend to become more " fatty" and less dense, but for a significant percentage of women breasts remain dense into older age.

It's one of those risk factors we can't do anything about unfortunately.

58, have been on HRT for 15y. Life-changing. Makes life liveable.

They will prise it from my cold, dead hands.

@CulturalNomad thank you. I wonder if I can find out. I’ve had two mammograms and it wasn’t mentioned.

It doesn't look like this is routinely noted on mammogram reports in England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-on-reporting-of-breast-density/position-statement-on-breast-density-in-the-nhs-breast-screening-programme

I'm not in the UK so maybe someone UK based would have more info for you😀

My patches will be peeled from my cold dead arse. Fortunately my gp agrees

I went to a menopause talk by a consultant at Guy’s Hospital and she said never stop taking it, no matter how old you get. So, I’m following her advice.

I only started taking HRT two years ago, at 58. My GP was all for me stopping at 60. Fortunately, my gynaecologist has given me the all clear to carry on. I've had a Mirena coil put in and I'm good to go for another five years.

I feel so good on it I've no intention of stopping, unless something happens health wise that means I have to.

@bruce31 This is an informative article on breast density from the British Institute of Radiology. You might find it interesting (looks like there's a push to raise awareness):

https://blog.bir.org.uk/2023/02/09/why-understanding-breast-density-matters/