Starting HRT Post Menopause - anyone else done this?

[MargoLivebetter]

I am about to start on HRT. I am post menopausal and about to start HRT. I know lots of women start in peri-menopause so I wondered if anyone else had start after their menopause and how it is going.

Yes, I did. All going fine. I switched from combined patch to the mirena coil (for the progesterone part) and oestrogen only patch. Good luck!

@Everythingeverythingeverything did you notice a significant reduction in menopause symptoms?

I'm about to start! See my other thread in this section. I'm 59. I'll let you know how it goes!

For me, it was for joint health / mobility issues (that had massively declined since the menopause 4 years earlier). And yes, it was quite a clear change, in that I no longer feel so disabled - I am so so glad I went on it, and have become quite evangelical about it with all my friends!

Im 59 and getting stiff, I wonder if hrt would help?

I did, I was 58 and probably about seven or eight years post menopause. I'm not sure exactly, as a Mirena coil had stopped my periods at 46, so it's anyone's guess when menopause would've happened without it. I had to talk my GP into prescribing though, and now I'm over 60 she keeps suggesting I might want to come off it - I don't!

I started full HRT as vaginal oestrogen pessaries weren't enough, and the aches and pains and night sweats were getting really annoying. I started on oestrogel and utrogestan tablets taken every day, but when I had spotting about a year or so in my gynaecologist took me off utrogestan and gave me another Mirena. That did the trick and I'm happily on HRT and feeling really good. Aches and pains have gone and I no longer have night sweats.

Good luck @TwentyFourHoursToTulsa . Thank you @Everythingeverythingeverything . Thank you @DramaAlpaca that sounds really positive.

I have been using Gina vaginal estrogen pessaries but it is no longer enough to combat the vaginal atrophy. The vaginal atrophy is now affecting my bladder and everything feels dry, shriveled and sensitive. I literally feel as though everything inside of me in the womb, bladder, vaginal area has contracted. My bladder capacity has shrunk and I'm having to get up 1-3 times a night to pee, which is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying. I'm really hoping that the HRT will help with this.

I'm going to start on oestrogel and utrogestan tablets.

Why are you starting it now @MargoLivebetter?

Im 59 and consider it again. I tried it 4 years ago but a combination of health anxiety and a nurse hrt specialist at my gp practice who was anything but, meant I gave up on it. Probably the wrong thing but I lost confidence in her advice ( which changed within a few weeks)

Sorry @MargoLivebetter, just read your update.

@DramaAlpaca, can I ask if you were referred to gynaecology to get a scan for the spotting? I had spotting too with hrt and the specialist told me as it was over 6 months from starting the hrt then it couldn't possibly be hrt related and would probably be more sinister, which worried me terribly. I had to wait months for the internal scan which was fine and the spotting was put down to "hormones".... Just wondering how your spotting was treated, if you dont mind me asking.

I have no faith at all in my NHS GP at all, so I paid to see a private women's menopause specialist GP. I'm seeing it as an investment in my future! I had an hour long consultation and I was really happy with the thorough approach and that if this doesn't work that there are other options to try too. She will write to my GP and tell her what she is prescribing and going forwards I'll be able to access the prescription via my GP, so will only pay the standard prescription fees, not private ones.

In relation to spotting, the specialist GP I saw said that some women absorb oral progesterone badly and this can lead to spotting, as the womb lining is building up more than it should. She said that if that happened, she would recommend delivery of progesterone via a coil.

Yes, I did. My symptoms were terrible in perimenopause and increased after menopause. I started HRT at 55, 3 years post menopause. Symptoms went within 3 weeks, but I kept having new symptoms so the dose was increased over time. Atrophy was my final symptom to the party, 3 years ago! I had bleeding and ended up with a coil.

Yes I have been on it about 3 months, am 56. Think it is marvellous tbh

I have a new relationship of a year and we are at it like rabbits so really needed the vaginal atrophy sorting. But it's also completely eradicated all the aches and pains I was having. And I sleep really well again.

Would definitely recommend 👌

@LittleJustice that sounds fantastic!

@Bulbsbulbsbulbs good to hear that you have found a way of it working for you. Do you think it has helped with the vaginal atrophy?

Yes, it's helped. I was getting a UTI every fortnight. I use vaginal oestrogen as well, and testosterone. I just feel normal now.