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?

No. I have had depression and anxiety almost all my adult life, PND, then hormonal mood swings to the point of self harm and suicidal ideation in perimenopause. Once I got started on Oestrogel, I could look back and see the patterns of when I had been stable, and when I hadn't. All instability coincided with periods of time when I would have had changes in hormone levels. I am now calmer and happier than I have been in decades. No vanity involved whatsoever.

For those who have been on it for a long time, at what point do you decide to go continuous if you have been on cyclical, so still having bleeds.

I was on cyclical for four years. Then I spoke to a different doctor. When I explained I had two periods a month he asked how long for? I said my whole life since I was 16.. he said well I think that’s enough of that you can have continuous and fingers crossed it will stop them. I said I thought it put you at higher risk and he said research showed not after 50. I changed straight away, had one horrible last period and nothing since- bliss!

What a bizarre question! What on earth has 'vanity' to do with wanting HRT?

It doesn't make me thinner or more beautiful. I don't want to return to the hot flushes, the night sweats, the panic attacks, the feelings of doom, the anxiety and the poor sleep.

As I age I would prefer that I didn't suffer from osteoporosis, or heart issues or vaginal atrophy. I would prefer that I felt like myself and the way I always have done.

HRT is working nicely for me. Why would I stop taking something that is working and that causes me no issues.

What does 'after the menopause has ended' mean though? Menopause is the one day after you've been without a period for 12 months (if over 50, 2 years if under 50), then you are post menopausal for the remainder of your life. So are you supeprised that women take hrt at any point of the post menopausal stage? Or that there a random cut off point that woman should stop taking it, like 5 yrs post menopausal?

It would be interesting if @Bignanna came back and explained the vanity thing.

I may be wrong but I think it was at least 30 years ago that some women (or maybe the media!) felt that HRT was something to take to keep women looking young and beautiful.

But that was possibly before all the latest research on how it protects bones, hearts and brains.

It certainly does help skin to maintain collagen, but that helps joints to stay supple, like the collagen between the vertebra, so anything facial is just a bonus.

I know what it does, but I feel that some do feel that HRT does make their skin less wrinkled,annd more firm, and this view is often endorsed in the media today!

All I can say to that is I wish it did make my skin less wrinkled and firmer, I wouldn't have to buy so much bloody moisturiser.

I know what it does, but I feel that some do feel that HRT does make their skin less wrinkled,annd more firm, and this view is often endorsed in the media today!

But your first post sounded very judgemental and almost trivialising why women use HRT, by using the word 'vanity'.

No doctor is going to prescribe it is an anti wrinkle drug.
You need to have symptoms, or be using it for prevention, in some instances.

I disagree. I have to take Anastrazole which rapidly reduces your hormone levels. I have been pleasantly surprised just how many menopausal symptoms just fade away. I still have the odd hot flush but they are short lived and not like those during menopause. My moods are good and stable now my hormones are no longer seesawing. I have the hormone levels of an eight yr old.
I took HRT for 4yrs hoping that my symptoms would disappear but it only alleviated the mood swings and hot flushes. It did nothing for the muscle and joint pains. Or the hellish insomnia.
I now sleep well.
The celebrity doom and gloom is unfounded. People only complain when they have something to complain about, very few people run around shouting about how post menopause is actually ok because why would you shout about it if you are not having a shit time. There is a disproportionate bias towards how bad it is.

Few of us remember how puberty felt, that overwhelming sense of fear as our bodies changed and we acclimatised to the new levels of hormones. The adjustments we made to our lives to accommodate periods-EVERY MONTH.

Why don’t we celebrate menopause? Because every Tom, Dick and Harriet is telling us not to, that it is the end of the world and life will never be good again.
The truth is that like puberty we shouldn’t fear menopause but embrace it and celebrate it.
I was sixty last month, when asked how I felt about it I listed the positives

1. I’ve lived longer than my DM did
2. I’ve made it two years post breast cancer
3. I’ve raised DC and with any luck will get to see grandchildren
4. I’ve made it to the other side of the menopause and can look back and firmly stick two fingers up at endometriosis and the crippling pain, polycystic ovaries, infertility because my bastard hormones were never any good when I did produce them.

Not everyone is has a happy premenopausal life. But just to let everyone know post menopause is actually a much more relaxed and tranquil stage of life.
On the other hand the process of transition (menopause) isn’t much fun and I think HRT plays an important roll in normalising life.
It doesn’t stop the aging process sadly, but may help bone density particularly in women who have already started to lose bone pre menopausally. But the stats are not spectacular as we are led to believe.
Since osteoporosis was my main concern when I was prescribed Anastrazole I did a fair bit of research and found that HRT may stabilise bone density but even with weight bearing exercise you will only see an improvement of 1-2%.
We do need to get the message out to younger women to work on their bone density when it will significantly improve rather than attempt to boost it with HRT.

In response https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37506393/
Sometimes the devil is in the detail.

I dont want the hormone levels of an 8 year old girl.
But I am pleased you are happy with it.
But menopause does not end. Fact. This was my point.

How old are you and have you gone through menopause?

53, went through menopause 10 years ago. Why?

and am still post menopause, obviously.

So you are still experiencing menopausal symptoms despite taking HRT?

No? I take HRT and always have, since my periods stopped and I became post menopausal. Which is the point of this thread.

It may be coincidence but you seem to be following all my posts on all threads angrymum. Bit creepy tbh.

Have a relaxing weekend.

When I started on it my GP said it should be for as short a time as possible. She’ll be prising it out of my cold dead hands.
My retirement age is 67. If she expects me to be a functioning member of society I’ll be on it until then at least .

The other thread was coincidental. I recently had a Hep C scare so thought I’d offer support.
I think it is important to advocate for women who chose not to take HRT or are unable to because the current media and influencers seem to have totally neglected the fact that it is a choice. I think it’s great that we have a choice but we should not forget that there are risks involved whatever your choice.
There are some increasing concerns within the medical community that there may be trouble ahead. Unlicensed dosing is a worry. But as long as women are involved in the risk assessment ( as I was) and fully informed of the risks then HRT should be offered if requested.
Whether you take it for life or never take it is entirely your choice but we should not be encouraging others by evangelising HRT.

As I said, I chose to take HRT because I was struggling with joint and muscle pain, but I found out that the problem was magnesium and vit B 12 deficiency.

If lifetime HRT post menopausally is what you need that is fine but not everyone is going to be able to take HRT indefinitely.

I just wanted to put across a different experience and that it’s not the end of the world.

If you take HRT you are not strictly post menopause because you are artificial maintaining premenopausal hormone levels. Therefore have yet to experience post meno sans hormones.

But just to let everyone know post menopause is actually a much more relaxed and tranquil stage of life

While this is true for me personally, it isn't universally true. Some women struggle with menopause to such an extent that it negatively impacts their quality of life.

I'm 63 and 10 years into post-menopause😀I am really enjoying this stage of my life! I feel good physically and mentally and overall would describe these years as contented and happy. For me there is a sense of freedom in being past the "childbearing" stage of my life and being able to prioritize my own wants and needs (without feeling guilty!) is wonderful.

But, but, but....many women do not feel this way and do suffer both physically and emotionally with menopause and that shouldn't be minimized.

To any woman approaching menopause I'd say be open-minded. For many of us it's not the dystopian nightmare that some in popular media make it out to be. OTOH, there's no virtue in suffering in silence when there are things available that might improve your quality of life. It's a very individual journey and you have to advocate for yourself and be proactive when it comes to your health and your individual risk factors.

This.
I think that many women are unaware that menopause is the transition from pre meno to post meno. It is tough but if you stay on HRT you will be unaware of the calm after the storm. Post meno isn’t hormone -less just lower but very steady levels .

I very much agree that some women experience more extremes but we do need to present a balanced picture of the positive menopause experience so that women don’t feel railroaded into a treatment because they think a problematic menopause is inevitable.

Never. Been on continuously for probably 15 years now. I'm late 60s.

I think that many women are unaware that menopause is the transition from pre meno to post meno. It is tough but if you stay on HRT you will be unaware of the calm after the storm. Post meno isn’t hormone -less just lower but very steady levels .. Post meno isn’t hormone -less just lower but very steady levels .

Many women aren't unaware. The 'storm' can carry on for many years and the outcome of loss of estrogen can appear years later (bone, heart and pelvic floor issues.) It's a myth that all the symptoms disappear post meno. Many women continue to suffer with anxiety, loss of confidence, insomnia, and develop serious diseases.

The BMS says 15 years is common for some women with flushes etc.

My Mum was having flushes and insomnia into her 80s but she had the 'perfect' lifestyle (healthy weight, loads of exercise, organic home grown food, non-drinker, no stress...) She asked her GP about HRT at 60, and was told she was too old.

Post-meno is very much 'hormone less' because HRT never replaces levels to pre-menopause anyway.

but if you stay on HRT you will be unaware of the calm after the storm.

The way to do it is to test it out. This is what good drs suggest. A 3 month break to reassess.

The other important issue is risk - apart from the obvious unpleasantness of flushes, insomnia etc- there are longer term risks of osteoporosis. And family history of heart disease needs to be considered.

Exercise alone doesn't replace estrogen as far as bones go. (Very good interview with a consultant on the British Menopause Society videos on this.)

HRT needs a 'whole body' assessment for the short and long term.

Sadly, NICE has decided in all their wisdom that it's not worth providing women with DEXA scans, despite osteoporosis in 50% of women after age 50 costing £millions. The Royal Osteoporosis Society wasn't impressed.

But it's something you can access yourself privately and if women are considering staying on or stopping HRT it's an important factor. For £200, once every 3 years, you can find out how your bones are.

We need to get away from this idea that HRT is just for peri menopausal symptoms for a few years, because for some women it's about long term prevention of other disease.

Thanks for this, she makes me feel as if I'm being unreasonable. I did ask about NICE guidelines and that seemed to stop her. However she has said I'm going to be too old for another mirena coil and went into some gruesome details!

@Bignanna As one who has experienced a surgically induced menopause (removal of ovaries), I can absolutely tell you that being on HRT is not a vanity issue.

I have tried until recently to persevere without HRT after my estrogen implant was withdrawn - even following the 'advice' of one member here who claimed to have not needed it after a 'full hysterectomy' years ago - and it has nearly cost me my marriage and my sanity.

N.B. I may very well start a thread about those who claim to have had a hysterectomy 'with everything taken out' and never needed HRT. I suspect very strongly that all they had was a hysterectomy and their ovaries left intact, hence why no or mild symptoms. This seems all too common and the ignorance about what women have actually had done to their own bodies is astonishing and frankly pisses me off more than just a tad.