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?

Also APS (I am assuming that your mean Antiphospholipid Syndrome). I'm 58 now. I haven't been on HRT and it has been fine for me. I had an endometrial ablation about 10 years ago so my periods stopped then. I'm assuming I am through menopause now.

HRT wasn’t widely prescribed in this country before the 1990s (and was only introduced, in the US, in the 1940s) so the answer to your question is yes.

The only way to find out if you need it or otherwise is to try it. Your GP could be your first port of call; mine was. I certainly couldn’t have done without it myself and I too have low tolerance for most medications.

I went through menopause with no symptoms at all. I am on HRT now, but not for menopause symptoms. It’s because they confer a few other medical benefits in areas where I’m genetically at risk.

Some people manage fine without HRT, some find HRT lifechanging. Speak to your GP about your symptoms and see what they suggest. If they aren't helpful then see another GP.

For a positive story neither myself or my mother have had HRT. Mum had her last period at 55, I'm 54 and still having them although they are finally beginning to get more messed up in the last year. Both had some mild symptoms but nothing really bad. So obviously a different situation to you where you are having life impacting symptoms.

I m 46, my last period was 16th May, then literally 1 drop of blood 5th June, that was it. I must be in very end stage perimenopause.

I first noticed symptoms in 2018. So bang on 7 years ago, which seems to be the average duration.

No HRT here. For the last 3 years my period has been erratic, slowly tapering off for the last year.

I found the journey bearable. It hasn't really impacted me to the extent I couldn't do anything that I wanted to.

My symptoms were:

A boost in sex drive, which has now diminished.
Regular, cyclical cold sores.
Last 12 months: cold flushes initially, then hot flushes at their height leading up to my last period. They are becoming less frequent over the last month.

Night sweats, similar to a hot flush, only regular for about 3 or 4 months around the time of my last period.

Aches, stiffness, muscle pain : not everyday, but at their worst from last period up until now, 4 months later.

Giving less fucks : liberating, really increasing for last few months.

Loosing my waist, craving burgers, drinking wine. I will need to reign all of that in. Currently feel like I deserve to indulge myself, its like a medal for having navigated this process.
Hairy chin: I have coarse black and white whiskers, that are deeply rooted. I pluck daily. My hair is thinner and my boobs have less volume and the shape has changed.

Brain fog, it might be connected to the wine (which I must give up).

My journey has been bearable, completely bearable. I think working from home has helped.

Yes, me! I've not had a period for nearly two years now, no HRT.
The hot flushes were pretty uncomfortable at times; I carry a small spray bottle of water and a fan. We holidayed in cool north Norfolk instead of Lanzarote.
My hair became very thin; my hairdresser was brilliant and tweaked my style and parting to disguise this. I'm pleased to say that it's now much fuller.
I almost left my 30 year career at a few points or expected and waited to be sacked. My brain changed, I couldn't remember things, lost confidence and gained anxiety. I try to laugh now, make a joke and say "I'll get back to you".
My cholesterol and diabetes risk shot up so I've been careful with food and don't drink. I walk a lot more.
A daily Menopace tablet has been brilliant, plus plenty of vit D.
Not having periods is the best thing ever, I feel so free!

53, non HRT to date. Periods started going irregular 4 years ago, last bled April this year, so can't be sure yet - I'm currently away from home and brought a load of sanpro with me just in case.

I have had some insomnia, but insomnia is my body's default stress symptom, and there have been quite a few stressors in the last couple of years (no job among others.) My hair is thinning, but my paternal grandmother and aunt and other women on yhst side of the family had very thin hair, so I always reckoned I'd be stuffed from that point of view. I do often have achey knees and ankles, but also a history of joint injuries. None of this means things might not become totally unbearable in the next few months, or this might be as bad as it gets.

With a history of reacting badly to medicines, it's probably best to see a specialist. I have friends whose symptoms were quite debilitating without HRT. It really is individual, and none of us is you.

(I expect it isn't entirely luck of the drawer, it's just no one's done the research to work out how to predict it.)

Some people manage fine without HRT, some find HRT lifechanging. Speak to your GP about your symptoms and see what they suggest. If they aren't helpful then see another GP.

For a positive story neither myself or my mother have had HRT. Mum had her last period at 55, I'm 54 and still having them although they are finally beginning to get more messed up in the last year. Both had some mild symptoms but nothing really bad. So obviously a different situation to you where you are having life impacting symptoms.

The title of the thread is "Has anyone NOT been on HRT? Has the menopause been ok if so?" Many people have answered that question. OP is asking for other women's experiences which will help her make an informed decision.

Also risk doesn't work as you state. You don't just get to 50 and the risks kick in, it's that the risks are much lower in women under 50, they still need to be considered on a case by case basis.

HRT can actually stimulate rapid growth of fibroids. They grow in response to hormones so menopause is actually a benefit. I had no idea I had fibroids until I had been taking HRT for three years when they started to impinge on my sciatic nerve.

I came off HRT when I was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer. After 4 years of aromatase inhibitors ( hormone blockers) my chronic sciatica has disappeared, the fibroids stopped growing and have gradually shrunk so no longer cause problems which also included bladder problems.

I started taking HRT because of muscle aches and pains and mood swings. I felt better mood wise and the odd hot flush I’d been experiencing disappeared but the muscle and joint pains just got worst. After a little research I started taking magnesium, B12 and vit D supplements which were far more effective.

Because I was post menopausal when I started taking the hormone blockers I didn’t experience further menopause symptoms. In the first few weeks I started taking the drug I had mild withdrawal symptoms from HRT, night sweats and a few hot flushes, but that settled quickly. I now have one hot flush a day about an hour after taking the hormone blockers, presumably when the drug is absorbed and is at peak concentration.

Having done a lot of research I think HRT is great when you hit peak symptoms, it helps you cope through the worst and obviously if you have a family history of osteoporosis it’s probably a good idea but no guarantee. It really depends on your baseline bone density.

My body type means that I started with a much higher than average bone density so the loss I have had due to the drugs has not caused problems. I had a DEXA scan before treatment ( and as it turns out post menopause) and it was over +1 for hips and spine. So I had considerably better bone density than the average 30yr old.

Bone density does decline in the first couple of years after menopause but then slows down to a much steadier rate. Whether you end up with osteoporosis really depends on the level you started and since your bone density level is maximised in your 20s and 30s there is little you can do by your 50s. Any benefits from exercise in 40s and 50s iare minimal. You may be able to maintain your bone density but it all depends on how good it was to start with. Inactivity, diet and eating disorders impact on bone density. Being active ( walking, sports, resistance training) in your 20s and 30s will always have more benefit than HRT later on.

We should be targeting women at a much earlier age re osteoporosis.

Peri menopause was a non-event for me, I was late to the party, not really noticing any symptoms until 52/53. HRT probably caused more problems than it solved.

I’ve now been 4 yrs post menopausal with the added problem of hormone blockers, but I would say that I feel ok. The hormone blockers cause a lot of joint problems but that’s specific to the drug. I’m also the lightest I’ve been since my 30s. It’s not been easy losing weight but it’s not impossible.

I think that we also have to accept that menopause blurs with old age. Accepting that as we age we need less food and that 60yr bodies are starting to show natural symptoms of wear and tear. A friend of mine who recently tried HRT was disappointed that it really didn’t cure all. She wasn’t comfortable increasing the dose as it had little effect so has now weaned her self of it. She is now officially post meno and feels much better.

Just to point out I am not 'scaremongering' about osteoporosis on this board, I just point out that women need a scan (and I think in the UK ye are fortunate enough to have REMS available which gives a much more accurate picture of bone strength than a DEXA) to check how their bones are to know if their diet and exercise is working, as there ll be no symptoms until a fracture from a simple fall.

As a non hrt taking post menopausal woman I feel the work to feel well is daily, but worth it because I feel strong and full
of energy - but it takes very little to knock me off that perch: any alcohol ( even one glass), sugar, stress ( any member of the family’s stress) will mean I have to dig deeper into my toolkit to keep well - that means daily movement , good food but not as much as I needed before- I’ve also managed to shift two stone - and am a normal weight now - I used to intermittent fast but it stopped
working for me - made me feel really stressed- and I put on a load of weight

Not HRT, and neither most of my women friends and family. We all dealt with hot flushes and fluctuating moods without it. For 8 months after my period disappeared, I slept in the guest bedroom. I was hot all the time even in winter - I had to sleep with the window open, and in spring I had a fan near me because the weather wasn't hot enough to freeze my DH by using air con, but I was boiling.

The symptoms didn't last long enough to go the HRT route.

That's interesting. I asked for a scan after my coeliac diagnosis as my research told me that osteoporosis is more likely for coeliacs, particularly if HRT hasn't been taken for menopause. I also have a diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency.
I didn't pass the test to qualify failing on two key questions - have I ever broken a bone (no) and did my parents need hip replacements (both died in their 60s from smoking related cancers).

I'm considering a private scan.

Well done you! Mumsnet really can be an excellent public service at times.

Thank you again everyone. Very useful information and diverse experiences.

As someone who reacted awfully once to trying the mini pill even BEFORE I had my head injury and post concussion, then my medication induced movement disorder, I think that any hormonal fluctuations and loss of oestrogen etc aren't going to be good for me, unfortunately.

I'm hoping my symptoms will get better, but it's definitely been a rollercoaster so far, particularly the horrid symptoms like gingivitis and dreadfully painful bleeding gums at times. I never had any gum problems before perimenopause, so that had been a wake up call to improve my oral health, especially as I hadn't flossed or used interdental brushes for a long time. It definitely helped and I don't get horrid swollen gums that make me cry brushing them so much now.

As for the gynaecologist or private specialist yes I saw one a few years ago who was quite good but keen to push HRT and said it could be life changing.

I'm sceptical at the moment but hopefully it will improve soon. Given that I've been perimenopausal for about 5 years now, and my periods are still really regular, I am hoping it wilp gradually improve and I won't have to endure another few years of this 😂

The only real thing I do genuinely worry about is dementia, as I've had 3 concussions in the past decade, so HRT might be something that protects against any risk.

I didn't use HRT. It wasn't available when I went through the menopause. Apart from one of two hot flushes, I didn't notice any problems

I’m 44 too and definitely perimenopausal too, not on any kind of HRT yet as I would rather avoid if possible.
Not against it as such and no judgment at all for women who do take it, I would just rather not take medication if I don’t have to.
If it helps, my mum never had HRT and had a fairly easy menopause so hoping I am the same

gingivitis and dreadfully painful bleeding gums at times. I never had any gum problems before perimenopause, so that had been a wake up call to improve my oral health,

Gingivitis is not a peri or menopause problem. It's an issue with your oral health which only your dentist can deal with. Using interdentals now won't solve your gingivitis' problems. You need to see a dentist.

Having past concussions is unlikely to be a determinant factor to future Alzheimer's or dementia problems.

Gingivitis is a perimenopause symptom. I'm pretty sure of it.

See below.

And this too.

Attached...

Gingivitis is a symptom, and so is bruxism.

It's not. Gingivitis is caused by multiple factors that have nothing to do with peri menopause. If you are in your 40s, you are now seeing an oral problem brewing for a long while but becoming obvious to you now.

My advice is to see a dentist. Whether you do it or not, it's up to you.