Is anyone else not on HRT?

It is interesting that many of the symptoms described by menopausal women for which they are now prescribed HRT are the same symptoms they were once given anti-depressants such as valium for. Strange isn't it that only medicated women seem to be acceptable.

That's the point I was trying to make upthread DaisyAnne. Some evidence and cautiously optimistic isn't proof. I suspect this campaign by Davina McCall, well-intentioned though it may be, is mistimed and premature as far as dementia is concerned.

I agree with M0nica and argymargy. This thread clearly shows that menopause is not hell for everyone. I'd like to know why that is and to what extent lifestyle choices have an impact on what kind of menopause we experience.

I agree too that all kinds of medicines are overprescribed or prescribed without consideration of the side and/or longer term effects. I wrote elsewhere, on the Long Covid thread, speculating that the symptoms many hospitalized patients are describing could be as much to do with the drugs used in the hospital treatment as the virus itself. I am not criticising hospitals of doctors. They had to do what was necessary in an emergency situation but the drugs used to treat Covid do have potential short and long-term negative side effects just as HRT can.

I never had it. I had no symptoms and the GP said I didn't need it. I realise I was very lucky to have an easy 'change'

I do take Vitamin supplements but not Calcium as I have had Kidney stones in the past.

Oopsadaisy1

Never had it, probably didn’t need it as I was 66 when I went to my (new) GP and asked him if I could still expect some Menopause symptoms soon as so far I hadn’t had any.

He laughed and said that I needn’t worry about it…..but I do worry about my bones if HRT helps to prevent Osteoporosis, (although MrOops makes me a full milk coffee every day ‘for my bones’ he says) and I try to eat cheese and healthy food. But
its probably too little too late.

There’s no guarantee, so don’t worry. You can take Calcium, Vitamin D, and Magnesium supplements. Just live your life....

I agree with M0nica that driving the message that menopause is hell for everyone is potentially damaging. Also, the idea that HRT is the solution feels a bit like giving everyone SSRIs and/or opioids because they are quick & cheap compared with non-pharmaceutical options. We now have huge problems associated with overprescription of antidepressants and painkillers.

Interesting. I was listening to a talk yesterday where the experts were saying there is some evidence that has made the researchers "causiously optomistic" that it works against getting Alzheimer's.

"This is not the first study on the impact of hormone therapies on neurodegenerative disease reduction," study senior author Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation in Brain Science, said in a university news release. "But what is important about this study is that it advances the use of precision hormone therapies in the prevention of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's."

Never had it, probably didn’t need it as I was 66 when I went to my (new) GP and asked him if I could still expect some Menopause symptoms soon as so far I hadn’t had any.

He laughed and said that I needn’t worry about it…..but I do worry about my bones if HRT helps to prevent Osteoporosis, (although MrOops makes me a full milk coffee every day ‘for my bones’ he says) and I try to eat cheese and healthy food. But
its probably too little too late.

Have yet to read the latest post, but I watched Davina McCall's programme on HRT, sounded great till I heard one of the ladies say that to take it in later life can cause Alzheimers as opposed to when you take it in peri menopause.

Was on it for about 8 years after a radical hysterectomy in my early 50s. Came.off it because I had a TIA, didn't really suffer much with any symptoms.

I have every sympathy with those suffering from all the problems of the menopause, but I think the picture now coming over is that the mid 40s - mid 50s, at least, is hell for every woman is damaging to indivdual women and women as a group.

There are a lot of women who get through the menopause without any problems. A group that I once read accounted for about 40% of the female population.

By all means do all we can for those with menopausal problems, but as with other specifically female problems let us concentrate on those with problems and allow that there are many who do not have them.

Yes Esspee, there's a great deal of it is possible that ... and it may be that ... but that is not conclusive proof. The same organisation which you are quoting have said:

Until there is better evidence, the potential benefits of HRT as a way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease do not outweigh the potential risks of HRT, which includes an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

No, not on HRT and no menopausal problems. I always thought I must be a bit strange too, and wondered if I was missing symptoms that others were picking up on. I was actually quite happy when I had hot flushes one night that I could tell friends about - until I realised I was just dehydrated and once I got my fluids up the hot flushes faded away. My DM suffered all sorts with menopause, so I understand a bit of what others go through.

No, no HRT, am now 75 and in reasonably good health , and fairly fit, so I consider myself very lucky, I don’t feel it was a healthy lifestyle or good diet, just luck. But DD 2 is in her early fifties and is thinking of going on it as she is currently struggling with the menopause and has long covid, poor thing.

I was wondering about this idea that the menopause is a taboo subject. I grew up around quite a lot of older women, my grandmother's sisters. I remember them talking about "the change" I don't remember them discussing all the symptoms. I do remember it seemed to be a time when women were expected to do strange things and were allowed to behave badly. 'Oh it's just the change" seemed to be an excuse for all sorts of things.

“…. it is possible that oestrogen plays a role in protecting the brain from the damage caused by Alzheimer’s, and that this protective effect is lost when oestrogen levels are decreased.”

Both the above quote and the attached photo are taken from Alzheimer’s.org.uk

I thoroughly researched the subject when my mother showed signs of mental deterioration. Oestrogen at her stage in life was not the solution because she was well past menopause but I discovered a medication which was not yet approved for use (this was over 20 years ago) I managed to get her onto Aricept and it halted the decline so that she did not deteriorate further.

Esspee of course dementia is associated with low oestrogen because it is associated with old age. Prolonging higher levels of oestrogen in women may delay some of the symptoms of old age for some years but HRT is not the elixir of life.

This is what the Alzheimer's Society say:

Until there is better evidence, the potential benefits of HRT as a way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease do not outweigh the potential risks of HRT, which includes an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/hormones-and-dementia

P.S. the @ function doesn’t work on Gransnet.
To illustrate @Nothisagain. (you won’t receive notification)

We have asked for it but Gransnet is Mumsnet’s poor relation I’m afraid.

Dementia is associated with low oestrogen. I suggest you Google and read up on the subject Nothisagain.

@esspee

I’m sorry for your mother’s condition but you are wrong to claim or imply that HRT would cure prevent or even improve dementia .
I’m seeing these over blown claims for HRT all over the place these days and wondering why .

Because the risks are increased the further you are from your last period Theghostus few women of 64 will be started on HRT. There are many 64 year olds taking it but the vast majority will have started around menopause.
If you are asking for yourself I suggest you look at the risk/benefit tables in the NICE guidelines on the menopause. If you feel that you still wish to pursue this then a discussion with a consultant would be the next step.

Has anyone ever started hrt at age 64

Went on HRT because I had a total hysterectomy when I was 38. Was on it for 16 years and was taken off it. The menopause hit hot flushes ,night and day sweats. But I just put up with it. It's just become a part of me. I take vitamin D,K and calcium daily,cod liver oil, B12 and folic acid. Due to having HPX and a heart defect both things I was born with I take enough prescription drugs for. I am 64 now while the hot flushes and sweats are a bother at times they don't rule my life. My skin is clear and my hair as thick as ever. I know some have a awful time with menopause symptoms but for me it's part of aging and part of me which I embrace . Everyone must decide how best to cope with it. HRT or not everyone should have a choice. But no one should tell you are wrong whichever route you take.

Whoever said being a woman was easy. But I won't want to be a man. ?

Some years ago I heard an item on Women's Hour about a social group where the incidence of menopausal problems was very low.

This was because once a woman's periods had stopped she no longer had to cover her face and live in total seclusion but could go out more or less freely. I immediately decided that this was how I would approach the menopause and whether by coincidence or anything else, apart from some heavy bleeding from fibroids, I had no other symptoms. DD's experience has been similar, she never wanted children and is delighted that she is past the age when she could have them.