Should I start HRT?

[Autumnrabbits]

I am 49, still have regular periods and my only symptoms are anxiety (which I've had all my life and not materially worse), irritability (getting very annoyed about stuff but again, nothing new!), low energy and low libido. I have a full time professional job (am main breadwinner), 3 kids (one of whom does a lot of competitive sports so I have to drive to training 2 evenings per week, 2 hours each way, 2 hours training so 6 hours), a 17 year old with ADHD, v poor attendance/PDA issues and their dad/my ex does nothing so I am basically a single mum to the older 2) so it's understandable that I am tired and stressed. My main worry is that my DH is annoying me massively with everything he does and my libido has dropped. Lots of my friends are on HRT and tell me to start taking it asap but not keen due to cancer risk, even if not significant, and because I am not sure I feel bad enough to justify taking it.

I don't think we're disagreeing. I've used HRT long term, starting after 'trying everything' else.

OP was asking if she needed HRT.
If like, you she said, she'd tried everything and still had symptoms, that's different, isn't it?

But in the context of eating/ drinking things that are known to cause those same symptoms, it's worth tackling those too.

Well my appointment is next week and Im preparing to be fobbed off with stuff like this as I have few physical symptoms

If you go along and say you want to try HRT because you have XYZ symptoms, the Dr should prescribe. Hot flushes and sweats are not 'necessary' to have HRT.

I'd focus on saying you have read/ researched HRT and you want to try it- not go along and describing your symptoms then waiting for the Dr to offer a diagnosis (which isn't menopause) or suggesting other drugs.

Asking for a 3-month trial is sensible and they shouldn't make it a battle.

Can I please ask if you found that starting HRT made you lose weight or gain weight? After always having a flat tummy, I am now getting a bit of a gut and love handles. Could this be down to menopause and will HRT fix it (I am nearly 50).