Anyone else in full Menopause and not on HRT?

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Im 51, was being monitored as was peri this time last year when I saw my gynaecologist, back this week and blood test show im now in full Menopause.
Main symptoms are hot flushes, wooly brain at times and headache/ migraines.
On the appointment my Merina coil was removed ( had been in 9 years)
I dont live in the UK and they are not going to offer HRT because of my history of migraines. Instead Ive been out on a supplement with melatonin.
Anyone else not taking/ able to take HRT ?

As osteo is often hereditary, maybe talk to your GP?
You should be eligible for a DEXA scan.

If they won't do it, maybe have it done privately? They need repeating every 3 years.

Post meno, women can lose up to 5% of bone a year for several years. Ideally you should have it done now to get a base line and then again every few years.

Prevention is far better than dealing with it post-fracture and taking drugs for it.

Well done on the weight loss!

Hi , I’m 51 and I haven’t had a period since January. I take ovestin for dryness and the mini pill , but I don’t feel the need for full hrt .

Thanks, that's really helpful. I understood it is hereditary and my sister had a dexa scan and was told she has low bone density. I will ask about it next time I go for my check. Alternatively, agree it could be worth having it done privately.

Me, by choice, I had a year on hrt in peri and overall it was not good. The supplements are all quackery mind you.

Exercise and a few carefully chosen items (eg wool duvet) have been successful in limiting symptoms.

Me
54.
Havn't had a period for 2 years so I assume I'm in full menopause.
I feel better than I did in my 40s.
No brain fog.
Only possible "symptoms" are poor sleep and tendency to put on weight easily. But those ha e both been the case since my 20s.
I do a bit of exercise, lift weights, don't eat meat.

Ive never felt the need to take hrt. I had terrible period pains as a teenager and hyperemisis in both pg. I’m a bit scared of hormones, so I’m trying to get away without it. I did go to a women’s health talk and understand that hrt has benefits for heart health.

I’ve not taken anything, apart from some evening primrose oil for the flushes.

I am 49 and also get migraines (much worse since peri-menopasue). My preference is to get through the menopause without HRT in the hope that calmer hormonal waters post-menopause will mean fewer/no migraines. I had a consultation at the National Migraine Centre and they said this approach was worth a try. Obviously I would still consider HRT if things got really bad.

I'm 57 and effectively had an early menopause due to medication for endometriosis. I chose not to have HRT because I wanted the meds to have the best chance of working. I just have a local oestrogen cream for vaginal dryness. I do worry slightly about bone health now I'm older. The menopause symptoms were sudden and brutal but over fairly quickly, and at the time I was desperate to be out of pain (and then to stay out of pain).

36 and going through menopause thanks to breast cancer.

I feel very lonely and scared with it sometimes because the way HRT is promoted it makes me feel like im going to drop dead at 50 and look awful before then without it but hey ho.

I should probably stay off these sort of threads but it is helpful to read about people doing it without HRT and still living well. Maybe I should start a separate one asking people not to suggest HRT.

I’ve initially had a lot of hot flushes but the day ones are getting better so I’m hoping the night ones will soon as well. There are drugs they can offer you for it but they sound a bit hardcore for the level of symptoms I have.

On advice of BCN there is a vaginal moisturiser I’ve purchased, brand name “yes”. Maybe helpful for ladies who can’t do estrogen.

Im going to focus on keeping fit and doing resistance exercise going forward. And try and eat as clean as I can and hope that does something. The doctors say I don’t need of focus on calcium, just vitamin D but I’m keeping an eye on my intake anyway as I think it’s probably on the low side.

Me

56- 2 years post menopause

Some symptoms but not enough to warrant HRT.

I tried it but could not cope, couldn't think straight at all. It was absolutely awful

I'm long over menopause. Never spoke to anyone about it, never took anything, and really never felt any different.

@aodirjjd , so sorry to read about your cancer. If you are able to, I think a thread about managing menopause without hrt would be a great idea .

I'm late 40s and in the thick of peri.

I have pretty much every symptom but can't take HRT as my mum had hormone receptive breast cancer in her 40s.

I have triptans (for hormonal migraines) and tranexamic acid (for heavy bleeding) from the Gp and am trying a variety of supplements to try and ease the symptoms. The latest is lions mane for the awful brain fog.

I'm 54 and still getting the occasional period. Not taking HRT. Made me feel sluggish and did nothing for me. Just letting nature take its course and it's been ok on the whole. No hot flushes so I'm lucky with that.
Could do with the periods buggering off now though! Feel I've done enough years having started at 11 and am 54 now!

@aodirjjd Im so sorry that you are going through this. Speaking to my friends here in RL and out of a group of 9 only 1 has been offered HRT. Might be a good idea to have a HRT free thread ?

I thought vast majority of women in UK in menopause were not on HRT.

I'm probably in menop & not on HRT nor sought to be on it. In adulthood I've always had poor temperature control, prone to suddenly hot suddenly cold, so the HF are just a bit more frequent cycles of something I'm used to, although being triggered by emotions is new. It's made me kind of practice CBT methods, so I can stop or reduce fear or anger from developing.

Someone tried that a few months ago and it was hijacked by the pro-HRT brigade.

Same but I am prescribed topical estrogen for vaginal atrophy

58 . Have got through it . Was never offered HRT , never even considered it.

My main issue was the extremely heavy periods in the run up to then stopping. Took other medication first that.

@Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice , that’s a real shame .

Im in spain. Im on it. Can you see another gynaecologist?

My friend gets hers over the counter so worth exploring that too

Post-menopause here and I've never taken HRT. My night sweats etc weren't too bad. I found that the symptoms were worse when I was stressed so I started doing meditation videos etc, which really helped. Different women's symptoms vary widely and I think it's partly the luck of the genetic draw. I do yoga every day and walk, which I hope will protect my bones. Also eat healthily and take supplements. COVID hit me hard - I did wonder about HRT for the brain fog and tiredness but things are improving now so I probably won't go for it. I wish there was more info generally about it though. I don't really know if I should be on it so 8 just keep my fingers crossed.

I think Id like to give it some time on what the gynecologist has recommended first - at least 9 months.

Just out of interest, did you see your gynaecologist as a routine thing or for something unusual you'd noticed?

I'm just wondering how it works in Spain because in the UK women are only referred to NHS gynaes if they have a problem.

Blood tests aren't done in the UK for peri or menopause in women over 45.

It seems that treatment in Spain varies from being able to buy it over the counter, (women in the UK were buying it when there were shortages here) to not getting it at all from a specialist.