I’m so surprised by the number of people who seem to have quite out of date information on HRT. Here in the UK, the reporting now is that the increased risk of breast cancer is minuscule (although if you have the BRAC gene, perhaps not). And your risk of getting a blood clot is the same as taking the pill. And all the benefits so greatly outweigh the negatives, the main ones being that it massively mitigates your risk of osteoporosis and dementia, plus all of the symptoms that are relieved. I had to have a hysterectomy a few years ago aged 45, and am on the oestrogen patch (Evorel 50) and it’s helped so much - especially my mood, but also my sleep (probably linked, I am guessing). The only problem is keeping it on, which I have discovered is much easier if you keep it on your butt under your pants (underwear). Also, if you have had a hysterectomy and don’t have a womb, you can take HRT longer than the recommended 5 years as the risk of cancer in your womb is no longer there. I hope my comment doesn’t come across as rude. I don’t mean to be. But there’s been a big shift in the way people are talking about HRT in the UK after a big study in the 1990s that started a lot of the misinformation about the dangers of HRT was discredited. I recommend listening to Dr Louise Newson’s podcast on HRT. See what the NHS now says about it. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
Ella I’m so glad you wrote. the reason I listed all of these comments was in hopes that someone like you would write because I’ve heard from speaking to other people about the benefits and the misinformation that’s going around or at least the lack of modern information so thank you for writing. The one thing that concerns me with HRT is that it’s recommended to come off of it in five years to me that seems a bit like the book flowers for Algernon and that you find success and then you have to give it up. What are your thoughts on that?
Hmm, that is tricky! Do you know how much the risks go up after 5 years? I’m lucky, in a way, having had a hysterectomy, because apparently I can stay on for much longer. The only thing that’s still a mystery about menopause is what happens after. People seem to talk about post menopause like you’re fixed again. Is that true? Or you come out changed, but feeling better. I have to say, a lot of my mums generation really did seem to suffer through the menopause and I am so grateful that HRT is a viable option again. I know a few women who stayed on HRT for years (one of whom had a hysterectomy, and one who didn’t) and they both seem really youthful. Probably more of an anecdote that reporting though! What do you think? Will you start taking it?
It's so confusing. I think I know where the "crazy old woman" stuff has come from over the generations...angry "Karens"....it's probably untreated symptoms form menopause! I take 5 mg of Lexipro which keeps me from being a total jerk. I have gone off of it and the jerk comes back...that tiny dose works for me. I started around 52 and I am newly 56. I will never go off of it...but I do have the brain fog, for sure but some of that may be due to my phone and the internet. I do not plan to go on any HRTY right now. Not until I understand it a LOT better...I am not suffering, either.
I’m so surprised by the number of people who seem to have quite out of date information on HRT. Here in the UK, the reporting now is that the increased risk of breast cancer is minuscule (although if you have the BRAC gene, perhaps not). And your risk of getting a blood clot is the same as taking the pill. And all the benefits so greatly outweigh the negatives, the main ones being that it massively mitigates your risk of osteoporosis and dementia, plus all of the symptoms that are relieved. I had to have a hysterectomy a few years ago aged 45, and am on the oestrogen patch (Evorel 50) and it’s helped so much - especially my mood, but also my sleep (probably linked, I am guessing). The only problem is keeping it on, which I have discovered is much easier if you keep it on your butt under your pants (underwear). Also, if you have had a hysterectomy and don’t have a womb, you can take HRT longer than the recommended 5 years as the risk of cancer in your womb is no longer there. I hope my comment doesn’t come across as rude. I don’t mean to be. But there’s been a big shift in the way people are talking about HRT in the UK after a big study in the 1990s that started a lot of the misinformation about the dangers of HRT was discredited. I recommend listening to Dr Louise Newson’s podcast on HRT. See what the NHS now says about it. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
Ella I’m so glad you wrote. the reason I listed all of these comments was in hopes that someone like you would write because I’ve heard from speaking to other people about the benefits and the misinformation that’s going around or at least the lack of modern information so thank you for writing. The one thing that concerns me with HRT is that it’s recommended to come off of it in five years to me that seems a bit like the book flowers for Algernon and that you find success and then you have to give it up. What are your thoughts on that?
Hmm, that is tricky! Do you know how much the risks go up after 5 years? I’m lucky, in a way, having had a hysterectomy, because apparently I can stay on for much longer. The only thing that’s still a mystery about menopause is what happens after. People seem to talk about post menopause like you’re fixed again. Is that true? Or you come out changed, but feeling better. I have to say, a lot of my mums generation really did seem to suffer through the menopause and I am so grateful that HRT is a viable option again. I know a few women who stayed on HRT for years (one of whom had a hysterectomy, and one who didn’t) and they both seem really youthful. Probably more of an anecdote that reporting though! What do you think? Will you start taking it?
It's so confusing. I think I know where the "crazy old woman" stuff has come from over the generations...angry "Karens"....it's probably untreated symptoms form menopause! I take 5 mg of Lexipro which keeps me from being a total jerk. I have gone off of it and the jerk comes back...that tiny dose works for me. I started around 52 and I am newly 56. I will never go off of it...but I do have the brain fog, for sure but some of that may be due to my phone and the internet. I do not plan to go on any HRTY right now. Not until I understand it a LOT better...I am not suffering, either.
Haha, yes!! I think you’re probably right! What’s Lexipro?
An SSRI like Zoloft and prozac...it's great for PMS symptoms and apparently menopause too!
Ahh, I can see how that would work too! Does it help with sleep?