HRT following total Hysterectomy (post menopause)

[PuppyHerder]

Any advice would be welcome…
I had a total hysterectomy six weeks ago. I’m 53 and went through menopause 7 years ago.

I was on HRT patches a few years ago, but nothing recently.

Given I’m many years post menopausal, it’s come as a bit of a shock that I’m now back to having hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog etc.
Should I be asking for HRT? I assume that my ovaries were still providing some residual hormones and that now they are gone I need something to help?
TIA

I'm not sure if my experience will be of any help, but here goes: I had a total hysterectomy 10 years ago, when I was 40. I had depo injections for months beforehand, to see if I wouldn't be worse off.

Since then I've been on HRT tablets. I am aware this can elevate my risk of developing breast cancer, so recently asked my GP if I should come off it. She recommended I stay on it until I am of an average (or slightly past the) age for natural menopause. She has said it is entirely my decision.

MIL has told me in the past that when she came off HRT (for natural menopause), symptoms hit her with a vengeance - and that all her friends have had the same experience. Currently I can't cope with the symptoms on top of all the other health issues I have, so am choosing to stay on it.

I had a total hysterectomy at 52 and by then was pretty much finished with periods so I thought I'd be fine, but obviously the loss of ovaries was worse than I thought as hot flushes started instantly. They weren't too bad so I thought I'd just ride it out, but about 3 months after the op dryness was making me very sore, my joints were aching and fatigue was awful. I started on estrogen gel and felt loads better in just a couple of days.

Thank you both. I am concerned about osteoporosis too, so think I’ll explore a bit further. Feel like I should have prepared myself a bit better!

@PuppyHerder @NCembarassed
This is a good chart showing risk.

www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01-NEW-INFOGRAPHICS-NOV2025-C.pdf

After a hysterectomy you only use estrogen as HRT.
This reduces your risk of BC compared to other women (see chart.)

It's also worth asking for a DEXA scan for your bones because menopause at 46 is just in the 'normal' range (up to 45 is considered early.)

That’s really helpful thank you. My mum died from Ovarian Cancer aged 63 and I know she had osteoporosis and broke her hip a couple of months before she died, so a Dexa scan is a good idea.

You should qualify for a DEXA scan based on your family history. I'm sorry to hear about your Mum.