Did your periods restart when you starting on HRT?

[Decisionsdecisions1]

Hoping someone can help (while I continue to try to get a GP appointment…)…

If you’re periods had pretty much stopped by the time you started HRT, did they restart?

I’m 51 and my periods have pretty much stopped after 4 years of becoming less and less frequent. I’ve managed menopause symptoms (anxiety, irritability, waking at night etc) so far by lifestyle (diet/exercise/limiting caffeine etc) and magnesium etc.

But the hot flushes and sleeplessness and anxiety have become really difficult and frequent now. But I really don’t want intermittent bleeding etc to start again. I’m frankly loving not having periods!

This is me being treated by the NHS - I asked for testosterone and she said I’ll do a blood test to see what your oestrogen levels are like before adding that in to the mix

@MissAppley so frustrating!!!

I'm trying to get support at 55 and been told they don't do HRT for anyone over 51! I didn't start having symptoms until I was 53

@twojumps so the window is small!! How do we know when to go and ask?? We're all being let down x

That's absolute rubbish, again a GP who doesn't understand HRT.

Print off the NICE guidelines and show the GP. Sometimes we have to do their job for them.

I started HRT at 54. It has been brilliant.

The window isn't small. The doctor has given her incorrect information.

HRT should be prescribed on symptoms alone over age 45. That is what the guidelines say but many GP's don't read them and just make things up. It makes me so angry!

@MissAppley What you're describing is totally different.
Estrogen has to be tested before testo can be prescribed and it's all retested every 3 months.

Testing estrogen when using HRT doesn't show anything and the BMS says it shouldn't be done.

https://thebms.org.uk/2022/12/bms-statement-hrt-prescribing/#:~:text=Routine%20testing%20of%20oestrogen%20levels,%3A%20Progestogens%20and%20endometrial%20protection).

There is no recommended systemic level of oestrogen in association with use of HRT and response to treatment with HRT should be based on symptom control. Checking serum oestradiol levels is influenced by many factors including the timing of the dose and type of assay and cannot be assumed to be indicative of levels over a 24-hour period.

Routine testing of oestrogen levels is unnecessary and is associated with an unnecessary cost both to the NHS and patients in private clinics.

I'm trying to get support at 55 and been told they don't do HRT for anyone over 51! I didn't start having symptoms until I was 53

Who is 'they' @twojumps ?

This is complete and utter nonsense.
I've been told about women starting at 80+!

My GP

Blanket refusal and told it's not appropriate. Won't even give me an appointment

So, basically, no women who are with your GP can get HRT over age 51?

Are you going to report this formally? Challenge it?

It's not acceptable.

Definitely challenge. I went on HRT at 55, and still had regular periods, so still peri-menopausal. Its got nothing to do with she at all. Absolute nonsense.

*age at all