HRT or no HRT

[Essieloulou]

Hi, has anyone gone through the menopause naturally , wothout HRT and did you use any supplements, im trying tp weigh up pros and cons

Tha.k you

I know for many people it's been amazing, but I'm not sure why those people need to post on threads asking about experiences of a non-HRT menopause

In response to the implication early on in the thread that any woman who went on HRT must be fat/unfit/weak…..

I think many of us post after trying without, and seeing an improvement with. So we do have experience of both

I’ve spoken to two older women in their 60s who now have osteoporosis and are so annoyed that HRT wasn’t seen as an option for them 10/15 years ago. It may annoy people but honestly I really don’t think some people realise what an issue osteoporosis is and how it can affect you even if you’ve a healthy lifestyle.

When I was on the fence about HRT I went and had a dexa scan and I have osteopenia at age 50! Despite being a healthy weight, don’t drink, don’t smoke, do loads of weights and weight bearing exercise. It’s freaked out a lot of my friends who aren’t on HRT and are now going to get scans too.

Same for me. I discovered I had osteopenia through an X-ray for something entirely unrelated. It was my GP who told me it was showing. I'd never even heard of it at that stage and never thought about relatives having it. Bit more digging led to me asking for a DEXA scan which confirmed it. I requested HRT to try to prevent it getting worse. I didn't have too many menopause symptoms but had started with insomnia - waking at 04:00 every morning. Have been on patches for last 3 years. Insomnia stopped almost immediately and recent DEXA scan shows osteopenia has not worsened. Obviously, I'll never know what would have happened otherwise but I'll take the results I've got. BMI of 23/22 and a good diet, for reference.

But you are using hrt, topical oestrogen is hormone replacement therapy, like any other hormone replacement. Not that it matters either way, any treatment that helps with symptoms is great in my view, but oestrogen topically is still hrt

@Pamspeople Vaginal estrogen is not classed as HRT. It's called topical estrogen. It isn't effective for anything other than local issues- vagina and bladder.

There's a bit of a misunderstanding with this especially with the media who said 'HRT now available over the counter' - when Gina was made available.

@MargoLivebetter Not sure what you mean by bio-identical progesterone cream. If it's the sort you buy (one brand is called Well Spring) it is a scam- it can't be absorbed by the skin in a way that has any effectiveness. If it's being prescribed by a private dr, the same applies - it's unlicensed - to be used alongside estrogen it would have to be used in bucket loads, which it isn't.

I know it's topical, but it's still a replacement for a declining hormone. I just think the distinctions that get made between hrt and "not hrt" or between hrt and "natural" supplements are a bit misleading! I used to make those sorts of distinction myself and was devoted to the idea of "natural", but the more I looked into it the more I feel it's an unhelpful distinction. Also a bit of a marketing scam, like putting "healthy" or "natural" and pictures of oats and sunshine on processed food packaging!

Exactly this. Many women, myself included, go through months or years trying to deal with symptoms using "natural" supplements, spending a fortune in desperation sometimes. Then we try a prescribed treatment of hormones and symptoms are vastly improved. So we have tried both approaches, and for us it's been clear that supplementing our oestrogen (mainly) is what was needed, in a form that over the counter or herbal things wasn't touching.

I have no problem whatsoever with any woman choosing not to have something prescribed, I was extremely reluctant myself for all sorts of reasons.

And I'm bloody delighted for women whose symptoms aren't bad at all!

And I'm over the moon that I found something that worked for me.

I think the key thing is it’s great we all have the option. However, saying “managing without” as if it’s a failing to go on HRT does no one any favours. Also I really don’t think people get the osteoporosis risk until it’s too late.

It's not HRT.

It's a topical treatment . Like there are creams for other skin conditions that contain steroids.

HRT is systemic treatment. It goes into the blood stream and around the body.

It's a really important difference because a lot of women think it IS HRT.

UK consultants have been badgering the manufacturers of vaginal treatments for years to get them to change/remove the leaflet in the packaging. This is because it's the same leaflet as in systemic HRT and it's causing a lot of women to freak out at the 'risks' which aren't applicable.

NHS says vaginal oestrogen cream is HRT @JinglingSpringbells

Link if photo doesn’t work www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/vaginal-oestrogen/about-vaginal-oestrogen/

It's very badly worded and confusing.

• Vaginal oestrogen is a local HRT. This means it's only used to treat menopause symptoms such as vaginal dryness and irritation.

It is not HRT in the accepted understanding of the term.

Ask any consultant.

A LOT of stuff on the NHS sites are not accurate and need changing.

See my previous post about consultants trying to get the packaging changed.

@JinglingSpringbells it is a progesterone USP cream containing 20mg per 1.1 grams.

Ah OK, NHS is wrong. 😑 I don’t care either way really but on a very basic level as a layperson understands, replacing declining oestrogen with oestrogen from a cream is hormone replacement. But if it makes you feel better to say you’re not on HRT then I don’t mind!

Where are you getting it from?

I'm sorry but it it not HRT in the accepted use of the term.
Do you think old ladies in their 90s using it are going around saying they are 'on HRT'?
No.

Maybe you didn't appreciate the campaign by consultants to get the packaging and leaflet changed which has been going on for at least 10 years.

Sounds like we need to define HRT 😂! When I answered the question I was referring to HRT in the traditional sense of a medication that is prescribed in the UK by a GP or consultant.

I kept thinking I'd need it and then the symptoms subsided and changed and I just never made it to the GP, which is in itself a living nightmare where I am.

As I've mentioned I have used other tools which I wouldn't myself describe as HRT, but do have some kind of hormonal element to them. I don't mind either way if people want to call that HRT, but I myself hadn't considered that it was.

Progesterone USP is available through a couple of online suppliers in the UK.

That's really interesting, I see your point

That's right, no mammograms! There's an article in Daily mail today why it's maybe not such a good idea. Professor Michael Baum who set the programme up has since called for it to be scrapped. Rates of over treatment are high. Same in cervical screening, which I've also opted out of. Before anyone shoots me down I'm not telling anyone not to go, everyone is entitled to do as they see fit

Yes, managing without is an odd one. Do aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen have risks and some nasty potential side effects? You bet. But do people post about ‘making it through’ or ‘managing’ without painkillers for a headache?

Lives are saved by breast and/or cervix screening. Make the choice for yourself but don’t support stopping these checks. Are men’s health checks thought excessive? Thought not.

Quite. I’d rather receive treatment for a cancer I don’t have than not receive treatment for one I do.
Edit: and ‘treatment’ in the case of something dodgy on a mammogram amounts to further tests - biopsy or lumpectomy to check. They don’t go full chemo on the say so of one mammogram.

Why wouldn’t women in their 90s say they were on HRT?

I’m 51 , and I am trying to manage the menopause without hrt . I just can’t be bothered finding the right regime after years of gynae issues. I have had some hot flushes and awful moods , but nothing too horrific. It is an entirely personal decision, and I don’t judge women who do take it .