Has anyone NOT been on HRT? Has the menopause been ok if so?

[ForeverDelayedEpiphany]

I'm 44, and think my body has been in perimenopause since my youngest daughter was born in 2020.

Literally textbook symptoms, itchy ears, hot flushes, weird tingling, itchy skin, horrible palpitations and awful waves of anxiety, much worse migraines, dry eyes, thinner hair... it's not been too good, but it's been bearable.

The thing is, I am extremely sensitive to medication side effects, especially ones that affect the endocrine system. I have a medication induced neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia that is like Tourette's and Parkinson's disease combined (and was caused by an off label antipsychotic). When I had to use some antifungal cream for thrush after breastfeeding once, it made my involuntary movements worse (as I think it is probably something that affects oestrogen and therefore dopamine receptors (.

Anyway, my rambling post is basically a way of saying I'm not sure about HRT but perimenopause symptoms aren't really great and seem to be getting worse.

Has anyone been through the menopause but not taken HRT? If so, how are you doing? Has it been ok?

I've not been too bad. Late 50s and my periods have only recently stopped (I think - we're not quite at 1yr).
I get the occasional hot flush, mostly at night, but beyond that nothing much else.
I'm a bit more achy, but then again, I'm in my late 50s. My hair's a bit thinner but not see-through.
I had a frozen shoulder a few years back, which can be a 'thing', but other than that, all seems well.

I take a daily multivitamin but that's it.

Me.
My Doctor isn't keen to prescribe it as I have chronic illnesses and already take lots of meds.
It's not the most fun, but it's ok, and I understand why I can't have HRT

Op just playing devils advocate here but the people who’ve said they sailed through, you’re not sailing through, you’re already finding it tough. I’d agree to find someone good and have a chat about your options

I didn’t take HRT and didn't feel that I needed it as had minimal symptoms.
I had a fairly late menopause though, not sure if that made a difference.

I'm not on HRT. I've just turned 50, last period was four months ago so not officially out of the peri stage yet, I had hot flushes over a period of about a month earlier this year and then they just stopped but other than that haven't really had much in the way of peri symptoms except that I give a lot less fucks generally and I'm less inclined to put my needs last before kids/family etc.

On the whole I eat well, plenty of protein, cook mainly from scratch, don't eat loads of UPFs etc. I've strength trained fairly consistently for the past 5 years, take menopace, prioritise sleep (usually asleep by 10pm, latest 10.30pm). I do enjoy a bottle of wine on a Saturday night and of course over indulge around Xmas and summer holidays but I'm otherwise fairly healthy. I do think lifestyle plays a part, but it's a bit luck of the draw really. I've never really suffered from PMS either so maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones who aren't much impacted by hormone issues.

I sailed through / but it was mid fifties ( so less worry about bones )

but in your case I would try it / its about giving you back hormones that have been in your body for years anyway so much less risk I would have thought of nasty side effects ?

I'm 51 and definitely in perimenopause. I've had a few symptoms but I dislike the idea of taking hormones so I am managing. So far it's not too bad.

Same for me.
I’ve been anxious and grumpy all my life so I can’t put that down to menopause.

No one in my family has and we are all happy and healthy with none of the symptoms that may be attributed to being overweight and having an unhealthy lifestyle of which the symptoms are blamed on the menopause.

Atay in shape, eat well, eliminate stress and don’t ever let yourself become overweight.

I know it's not oestrogen per se, but the antifungal drugs are endocrine system disruptors which affect oestrogen and therefore they also have an effect on dopamine, from what articles I've read. Hence why my involuntary movements became worse, after I used literally a tiny amount. I'm just very sensitive to these things unfortunately 😕

No, I didn’t go on hrt and have been fine.

I took evening primrose oil to help with hot flushes.

Retrospectively, I realised I did become more anxious at times, but didn’t put it down to the menopause at the time.

Thank you everyone for your replies, it's been very interesting reading about others' experiences.

No HRT, and definitely in menopause.
Hot flushes are annoying, so are mood swings and forgetting stuff. but i remind myself everyday that i won’t have a period ever again. So worth it.
Much better now, 3 years in anyway

I'm nearly 70, had menopause at 51. Just hot flushes at the time, have never taken HRT. Just incredibly relieved to be done with periods!

57 here and no periods for at least 9 years. Suffered terribly with hot flushes for a couple of years but those have stopped a good few years now. No HRT but did take black cohosh and sage tablets for the hot flushes which helped. Couldn’t have HRT due to family cancer history so it was never an option.

like most things I think it’s the luck of the draw - some women sail through, some with a few problems and for others it’s terrible. I think I got lucky really.

I'm 53, perimenopausal and not taking HRT. I have been taking a high dose calcium and vitamin D supplement since my mid 40s because my mother has osteoporosis and it has been grim at times. My only symptoms are annoying but transient - hot flushes and poor sleep but generally I feel 'normal'. I think some women really suffer and need HRT but honestly I sometimes feel a bit annoyed at how menopause has been commercialised.

None of you have osteopenia or osteoporosis? That's pretty amazing tbh

Be aware OP that none of these replies will be relevant in so much as you are you! It really doesn't matter what anyone else has done but be aware of the risks and benefits of HRT so you can make a choice for yourself.

Many women who say they felt fine will get osteoporosis, (it affects 50% of women over 50) more so if they had an earlier menopause.

Several posters here have suggested you have a DEXA scan and if you decide not to try HRT, ask your GP to refer you for a scan once you get to 50.

It's not clear if you have missed periods since you were 39 but this is a red flag in terms of bone health, because it means you're missing ovulation and that means lower estrogen.

So it was a systemic drug you took not just Canestan cream? I didn't appreciate that.

You can get DEXA scans privately. Just ask your GP to write a referral letter based on your medical history @MoominMai

I chose not to take HRT. I managed. Sage tablets were brilliant.

No HRT. Used from about age 47:
Soya milk
Menopace supplements
Lady care magnet (called something else now I think- be aware when using devices on lap!)
Poor sleep and low energy are ongoing post menopause but I was wary of HRT. Had symptoms been unbearable I would have gone for it though.

No, it was Canesten cream. Yep, my body is very odd. And likes to overreact in the strangest ways to the most seemingly innocuous substances 😳

I was wary about HRT because I was adopted and do not know anything about my medical history.

Now nearly 10 years post menopause and I have been pretty lucky. I have had sweats, anxiety, some sleeplessness and gained a bit of abdominal weight .

I found really looking after my diet , exercising several times a week and cutting out alcohol pretty much managed it all . If I had really struggled though I would have tried HRT.

I still have regular periods. But I know my body is very much being affected by fluctuations in hormones as I definitely suffer from perimenopause symptoms quite a lot more.