HRT users - how old are you?

[BonosToupee]

First of all apologies, that’s quite a rude question!
I’m curious because I’m 61 and have been on evorel conti for 8 years. The last couple of years my GP has encouraged me to stop using it, but reluctantly issued another repeat for a year.
This year I decided to give it a go, and 6 weeks on I have just stuck a patch on my butt! I’m sleep deprived, feel dreadful and am losing quality of life.
I know that I can keep using it and will continue to fight my corner, but was wondering how long other people have used it for.

I'm also 61, but I was a late adopter of HRT and have only been on it for three years. I'm on Oestrogel with a Mirena coil for the progesterone part.

My GP is trying to persuade me to come off it, but I'm fighting my corner as it works so well for me. My current argument for staying on it is that the gynaecologist who fitted my coil two years ago is happy for me to be on HRT at least until the coil stops being effective.

I'm thinking of asking to be referred to a menopause clinic if I get any push back next time I need my prescription to be renewed.

I thought these days they let you stay on it for life if you wanted??

@63 and your GP is not up to date with current advice.

59 and not used it, my surgery doesn’t prescribe it!
up till now though I’ve been okish just hot flushes

Surely they can't just refuse to prescribe?

I'm 68 and have been on HRT for four years. I intend to stay on it for life if I can (unless any future health issue leads me to change my mind).

42 and quite new to it
my dads partner is 79 and still happily on HRT

It’s truly ridiculous how uninformed GP’s are about it. It’s not fair that we have to stand our ground.

I'm 78 and have been on HRT for years. I'll stay on it until my dying day. If you suffer from debilitating menopause symptoms there is no reason to stop, particularly as it supports bone health.
@DramaAlpaca I was prescribed it by a specialist menopause clinic at Chelsea & Westminster hospital after my then GP recommended i came off it (at the time there was pressure because of breast cancer issues that have since been discounted) I have no problem in getting it prescribed by my GP now.

64, I've been on oestrogen only since a total hysterectomy 17 years ago. I was on a tablet for a while then changed to the lowest dose patch. One of the GPs in my practice tried to persuade me to stop it, saying I was at increased risk of blood clots and uterine cancer. I pointed out that I don't have a uterus, hence my oestrogen only prescription! I also thought that the blood clot risk is from tablets, because they're processed by the liver. Fortunately, another GP thinks the benefits outweigh any drawbacks and she's willing to prescribe it.

55. On it about 3 years.

55 and been on it 4 years. Im on Evorel
Conti too, OP and I’m staying on it for the foreseeable!

45 and on or for 2 years

46 and started on it last November

55, and been on it for three years. I use Evorel patches and take micronised progesterone tablets.

I started after peri affected me so badly that I was breaking down physically and mentally and couldn’t work. Within a few weeks all my joint pain and sweating was gone, my brain fog had lifted, and my terrible anxiety and depression disappeared. Without it, I would have had to stop working, driving and living my normal life. I’m about to have a hysterectomy so won’t need progesterone for much longer, but I will carry on my oestrogen for as long as I can find a GP who will prescribe it. Luckily, even though I’m being investigated for a gynae cancer just now, nobody, not even my oncologist, has suggested I should stop. Once I retire I might feel differently but I really want to be able to enjoy my retirement, and I’m not sure I’d be able to if I’m as debilitated as I was before I started taking it.

I have friends still on HRT at 60 and 65, after five years +.

48, started at 44.

How can a GP 'not prescribe' HRT?!

Testosterone and vaginal oestrogen are two of the great wonders of modern science.

I'll alter that to "some" GPs not all are uninformed. All the GPs in the practice I worked at prescribed it. I've been on it myself for 10 years. I'm 62. All patients should be reviewed and their risks reassessed annually. I'm very overweight so probably at higher risk especially of breast cancer but my surgery (where I'm a patient not a GP) just do the prescription with no questions asked.

58 and on it for one year. It’s helped with brain fog and night sweats. Vaginal estrogen felt like it was giving me a uti so I stopped it early on.

45 - been on it 9 months. Best thing I ever did!

its not a rude question - 43

I started when I was 49 I think and according to my GP I could stick with it for life if I want to.

52 and I've been on it for 6 years.

Neither NICE guidance nor the BNF have suggested stopping ages or maximum durations. The British Menopause Society recommends staying on for as long as you consider the benefits outweigh the risks (there is a slight increase in risks with duration of use, but it's hard to quantify because people who've been in it longest started on older types; and increase in things like stroke risk has to be weighed against the reduction in other risk like osteoporosis). You should have an annual review and discussion, but not be under pressure to stop.

Early 50s, just started.

Late 50s and been on it 11 years.

No plans to ever stop, I want the heart and bone benefits for life thank you!, and my GP has suggested increasing the dose from a 75 patch to 100, depending on blood test results (to check mental sluggishness isn't anything else).

37 - been on it 6 months!