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Original poster

Anyone else dithering about taking HRT?

26 replies

FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 20:06

I’m 53 and as the title says, dithering.

I did take it for a very short time a couple of years ago as a sort of prevention thing as I had no symptoms of menopause really. I stopped for reasons unknown - just I decided I didn’t feel comfortable taking it. Oh and I was also quite overweight so thought I’d lose the weight and then retry

So my BMI is now 22 and normal. And now I have menopausal symptoms which are to be expected obvs at 53. I have what are probably hot flushes quite a few times a day and my sleep isn’t great despite having good ‘sleep hygiene.’ And zero sex drive.

i still have periods most months although nothing since February now but id be surprised if I was done!

im aware I’m also really lacking in muscle mass

So I make the decision to start taking it and then… I get a bit nervous. No idea why? I’m relatively well informed, I know what protective benefits it has, I’m aware of the risks and I’m also not being swayed by the ‘Davina / Dr Newson effect.’

anyone else relate? I don’t try and manage it with supplements (bar magnesium and a gentle iron tablet which I need) because I know low oestrogen won’t be fixed with a multivitamin.

OP posts:
Smallmercies · 02/04/2025 20:11

Go for it! I love mine; no menopause symptoms and lots of energy. No side effects whatsoever. I'm going to the gym most days to build muscle

ForFunGoose · 02/04/2025 20:19

No supplement will have the benefits of HRT
AT 53 you will be doing more harm than good by not taking it. Bone density, muscle mass, brain function etc So many women are suffering in old age from ailments that body identical HRT can prevent.

Why would you dither and risk dementia, osteoporosis, falls in later life. I just don’t get it OP

Utahthecat · 02/04/2025 20:20

I’d prefer not to take it unless I really need it. I’m 50 and doctor prescribed me beta-alanine for hot flashes and it’s been great, and my sleep is improved as a result. I’m in France, not sure how much it’s used in the uk….

parietal · 02/04/2025 20:24

i'm considering it. 47 and only symptoms are occasional hot flushes and bad sleep. the miraculous claims for what HRT can do sound great but is it really that easy

Imabitbusyatthemoment · 02/04/2025 20:24

Me! I’m a bit younger than you - late forties, still have regular periods but certain I’m Peri.
I think the reason I am so undecided is because my symptoms are very intermittent. I haven’t had any hot flushes or much brain fog, but I have dry eyes, skin losing elasticity, zero libido, heavy periods, etc. all of which I cope with.
The symptoms that are more difficult to tolerate e.g. very sore hip joints, excruciating breast ache, and which would make me go straight to the GP for HRT have all disappeared again after a week so after telling myself that ‘now is the time’, I do a 360.
I did actually get a prescription a year ago but once again, symptoms stopped before I got a chance to start it so I never did.
I would like to take it for preventative measures against bone/muscle loss but then read horror stories on here that put me off.
I really just want someone to say to me definitively that it is something I should take whether or not my symptoms warrant it and that I’m unlikely to have bad side effects. So go on someone, if you’re out there, tell me! 😆

Pamspeople · 02/04/2025 20:28

I put it off for a few years for vague reasons to do with wanting to go through menopause "naturally" - but thn realised that balancing my hormones with hrt was no more unnatural than the weird hodge podge of supplements I was spending money on! So glad I went for it, made a huge difference very quickly to my symptoms of aching all over, disrupted sleep, emotional surges etc. I feel very lucky that I can use it, women I know who aren't able to have a hell of a struggle with symptoms.

Original poster
FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 20:51

@ForFunGoose I clearly state that no vitamin contains oestrogen hence why I don’t try and battle through on a weird cocktail of supplements

I’m quite well informed. I’m aware of the risks and I’m not actually risk averse tbh. But I’m also aware of how much HRT is touted as a golden bullet that all women simply MUST take.

I think at the back of my mind I think about my mum taking it for a short while. This was a couple decades ago so Christ knows what was in it (was it horse piss or something?!) but she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 58 and died 6 years ago aged 69. She was tested for the Brca gene at one point and didn’t have it so I know I’m at no higher risk than anyone else but I wonder if this is making me pause? I know it’s not rational and you’re right actually - I’m not frail at all but I am also not particularly resilient and strong and that won’t improve

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 02/04/2025 20:54

I was exactly like you. I started at 52 and it’s been great. Libido restored, no symptoms and lots of potential health benefits. I’ve always been pretty anti intervention but wish I’d taken it earlier now. Currently 58 and planning to stay on it forever.

Newgirls · 02/04/2025 20:57

You could take it for six months or so and see if it helps you? No need to commit for life? Or wait til your periods stop fully and then decide? As you would need different regime anyway?

Original poster
FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 20:59

@Imabitbusyatthemoment very much like me! I decide and then I pivot!

OP posts:
Original poster
FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 20:59

@Newgirlstrue!

is the gel and then 2 weeks of utrogestan still the ‘gold standard?’

OP posts:
Newgirls · 02/04/2025 21:01

If still having periods, patches are very popular

why not go and have a chat and you can decide after whether to get the prescription or not

Pamspeople · 02/04/2025 21:06

I think it's very common and understandable to be unsure, especially given the health scares there used to be - fortunately now debunked. I gave up drinking at around the same time I started hrt, with the view that cutting out alcohol decreases my risk of cancer much more than taking hrt might increase it. Didn't drink for a few years, now only now and then. I think if you've associated your mum's cancer with hrt at any level it's completely understandable that you'd be wary, OP. The risks are so very low, but it's not necessarily a rational decision when we're faced with these things.

Pamspeople · 02/04/2025 21:09

FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 20:59

@Newgirlstrue!

is the gel and then 2 weeks of utrogestan still the ‘gold standard?’

It depends very much on your individual situation, OP. Mirena coil often considered the best form of progesterone, rather than utrogestone, because it's more localised in the uterus and more easily tolerated by many women. And then add in the gel for an easily adjustable dose of oestrogen.

But no "one size fits all"

Original poster
FeatherChops · 02/04/2025 22:20

I don’t drink any alcohol at all so don’t have that concern and I haven’t smoked in decades and even then was only a ‘social’ smoker so that’s something.

I don’t want the coil I don’t think but I’d certainly look into patches perhaps. I’ve still got a stash of in date gel though so maybe I should just start with that?

Doctor useless and has just said they’ll prescribe whatever I fancy trying so on the one hand that’s great but on the other hand it meant that I was having to tell her about how HRT can be taken preventatively. She said ‘well I didn’t know that!’

OP posts:
Pamspeople · 03/04/2025 05:21

Don't start using the oestrogen gel without some form of progesterone.

BCBird · 03/04/2025 05:28

Dithering here too. I got the got and cold swears and aches on top of my usual fibromyalgia issues. Sleep crap too. Think its time

SnowdropsBlooming · 03/04/2025 09:01

Also dithering. Lots of reasons to want it, but the recent research on dementia is worrying me - seems that if you have a genetic risk for dementia, then HRT could possibly increase that risk. I'm 54, no periods for a year now, high blood pressure still despite losing weight, and GP wanted to see if that would be sorted out before she'd discuss HRT so the conversation has been on hold for six months.

Newgirls · 03/04/2025 15:43

Lordy - there is also research that says hrt reduces your dementia risk!

SnowdropsBlooming · 03/04/2025 17:46

There is. But it's inconclusive. and some of the very recent research shows that if you have a genetic risk (I do have a family history), that it might increase that risk. It's so hard to know what is best when it's still being researched and the conclusions are so variable!

And most GPs or generalists won't be up to date with all the ins and outs of the latest research, either, so it's hard to have a good conversation about the risk

Feelingstrange2 · 03/04/2025 17:49

Is the Mirena a HRT?

I dithered over that as it was recommended for my flooding periods. In the end I decided to give it "one last period" and each time it was about 6 months to the next. Whilst they were grim it was sort of do able being so very rarely. In the end, after about 3 years, and 6 of these awful instances everything stopped and I felt calmer too.

MeridaBrave · 03/04/2025 18:10

I take it all - estrogen gel and pessaries, progesterone and testosterone.

The estrogen has stopped the night sweats and hot flushes. The testoserone has resolved lack of libido (tried for 6 months just with estrogen but it didn’t help). The pessaries help with vaginal dryness. Have a mirena so no periods so don’t actually know if peri or post menopause.

Need to lift heavy and eat protein to increase muscle mass but HRT makes it easier to build.

Pamspeople · 03/04/2025 20:33

Feelingstrange2 · 03/04/2025 17:49

Is the Mirena a HRT?

I dithered over that as it was recommended for my flooding periods. In the end I decided to give it "one last period" and each time it was about 6 months to the next. Whilst they were grim it was sort of do able being so very rarely. In the end, after about 3 years, and 6 of these awful instances everything stopped and I felt calmer too.

Edited

Mirena is a slow release progesterone, which can be used to ease heavy or painful periods but also can be the progesterone part of hrt, to balance the oestrogen part.

Pamspeople · 03/04/2025 20:37

The updated Nice guidelines on menopause include a guide to impact of hrt on incidence of various health conditions, a useful summary for those with questions

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/resources/incidence-of-medical-conditions-with-and-without-hrt-a-discussion-aid-pdf-13553199901

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/resources/incidence-of-medical-conditions-with-and-without-hrt-a-discussion-aid-pdf-13553199901

glitterturd · 03/04/2025 20:39

Ask your doc for a referral to a menopause clinic.