Hrt starting at 65yrs

I started aged 42 and been on it ever since, but a friend in her late 70's has just started on it. I am sure it will make a difference, but you might have to try different types to find the right one for you.

Following as I’d like to go back on HRT!

Interested as am 59 and been on a good few years - love it, but always worried GP will want to take me off! Don't want to risk it …

My doctor told me that as I am 10 years post menopause HRT would not be effective, I may ask another doctor.

I've been on hrt patches since my hystericalectomy 27 years ago...gp often asks me if I want to come off them...a loud no way usually does it

I am the same age and suffer badly from aching bones and legs too. I would be interested if the hrt helps it. If so, I will definitely ask my gp for some. I saw an orthopaedic specialist last year regarding the aching bones and I suggested hrt but he said they would not prescribe hrt for that reason. I would like a second opinion.

I had surgical menopause aged 50 and wasnt permitted hrt! Doctor (male) said i would just have to cope and every woman eventually has the menopause.

I was prescribed HRT for osteoporosis prevention due to my build, very tall and skinny.

There are so many differing opinions out there about starting HRT later in life. I wish I could find definitive answers. Im 66 and more than 10 years post menopause. Ive just started trying the "internal" HRT and plan on asking for the patches after watching Davina McCall's documentary to help with aching bones, and onset of ostopenia. I hope my GP is up to speed on latest viewpoints. Will follow here and post GP's response end of this week.

Hi Theghostus, have you discovered the Balance website set up by Dr Louise Newson? It's so useful for evidence-based and unbiased information on menopause and HRT. There's a factsheet on there which you might find helpful. Here's the link: www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/starting-or-continuing-hrt-many-years-after-your-menopause-factsheet/

Me too, i was on hrt from age 42 till 50, I'd had a TH, my gp insisted i had to come off it at 50, wish I'd persisted now to stay on it.

I had hysterectomy at age 25 yrs due to endometriosis & fibroids, was put on HRT. Age 50 got bullied by GP to come off it, within a year I could hardly walk, kept falling down stairs, lost 3 inches in height in 2 yrs, had to move to bungalow, eventually in wheelchair. New GP sent me to rheumatologist who sent me to orthopaedic surgeon, who confirmed osteoarthritis and agreed I needed to be back on HRT. My biggest regret was ever coming off HRT and doing all this damage to my bones, one knee replacement done, other one due but still in wheelchair.

My Mum was in her late 70's and long stopped HRT but the Dr's suggested she should go back on it. It helped but as she slipped into dementia, she would forget to used it and with everything else we were coping with, it didn't get high priority.

Interesting! I'd like to go back on HRT but assumed I'm too old!!

I had menopause at 42 no warning signs .Changed a few times but in the end it caused me hearing loss No refferals to a consultant or now I believe there are Menopause Consultants in certain big hospitals You need a good general health check up and lots of investigations Don’t think they are as strong now I’m in my70s and my hearing has got worse ENT then consultant not interested

I would NEVER go on fake hormones. What do our bodies do with all that interference? There are many more natural ways that carry no cancer risk (and don't tell me the latest trials have said they're 'safe')

How can I tell the difference between aching bones and muscles. A lot of posts mention aching bones and using HRT for relief but how are aching bones diagnosed. Obviously not osteoarthritis, RA etc.

Consultant gynaecologist advised me I could stay on HRT for life if I wanted to and felt benefits. I have Oestrogel plus a Mirena coil as this is apparently the lowest risk combination, not sure about how I will feel having the coil changed in my 80’s!

I’m very interested in this thread as Im 66 and 10 years post menopause. I was persuaded not to go on hrt by my gp when it was happening and i really feel that I wouldnt feel so old and look so saggy if she’d put me on it then. I do exercise regularly but nothing changes. A year ago i went to my current gp and asked about hrt and the only thing she offered me was the vaginal suppository type which is really only for improving the lady bits and I don’t really have a problem in that area!!

I am looking into all this at the moment, but it is complicated by the fact that I have intermittent atrial fibrillation. I have quite bad osteoporosis and am on treatment for that. I have just started ovestin (vaginal oestrogen) for urinary problems and this is helping.

There is a private menopause clinic nearby and I might go for a consultation there if I cannot get a GP appointment.

“I would NEVER go on fake hormones”
So if you had diabetes you wouldn’t take insulin or if you were hypothyroid you wouldn’t take thyroxine?!!
All replacement hormones are synthetic for the reason that your own body isn’t making them in sufficient quantity. It has always been a mystery to me why oestrogen replacement is treated any differently from other hormone replacement. I take thyroxine and oestrogen and would certainly take insulin if necessary.

I was on HRT for 10years started it at beginning of menopause I decided to come of it as felt 10years was long enough. Now 7 years later asked Dr about going back on it as it seems it helps keep things at bay but was told if you’ve had a long break from it you won’t get any benefits from going back on it.

Vagifem and ovestin have been so helpful for me to deal with vaginal atrophy. And I would consider other types of HRT now if I was sure that the benefits outweighed the risks. I am 68 and have osteoporosis in my femur due to a hyperparathyroid tumour which was removed successfully. It is just in the osteoporosis range and I have taken alendronic acid for 4 years but was never offered HRT as an alternative. I have no aches and pains except muscular but would like to improve bone strength. Anyway I keep looking at the new research about HRT and feel that it’s benefits may outweigh the risks for some women who are post menopausal. Falling and breaking a hip has risks too.

If your GP isn't sympathetic to HRT, it's probably worth paying for a one off private HRT specialist appointment. I was lucky enough to find Caroline Overton at Bristol's Churchill Hospital before she retired. She wrote a letter to my GP setting out exactly what to prescribe me on the NHS, which my GP was perfectly happy to go along with.