Over 70 and starting HRT

I'm 62 , I've been prescribed Estriol cream which has improved the soreness and no UTI since using it . I tried replens and other over the counter solutions but they were ineffective . I didn't use HRT when I started the menopause in my early 50s as my GP wouldn't prescribe it but it seems to have come back into favour now .
The only side effect I get from the estriol is a bit of a smelly discharge for a day or two and I have to use a panty liner . I use it twice a week .
I don't think we should suffer in silence and put up with these things , life I'd hard enough as you get older without feeling so uncomfortable 😕

I have been on Kliovance for about a decade and I couldn't feel better. My (female) doctor wants me to change to gel based HRT to protect my liver and discourage strokes so I shall see how that goes.

I’ve been on HRT since I was 50, thought I would take for a few years & tried to come off- my HRT nurse went nuts, said was I trying to nose dive into the menopause- fair enough the hot flashes soon came back & disappeared over a few day when restarting HRT. My gynaecologist said there women on in their 80s- I said really😳

Should have mentioned my womb is slightly thickened, gynaecologist said he would keep his eye on it but heard nothing in two yrs. my HRT is Femoston conti 0.5mg/2.5mg. Tried patches but then there was a shortage which I found were very good for me, then switched to this HRT- no side effects I feel 😊

I've been on HRT too since my 40s and now 77. My GP wanted me to come off, so I asked her to refer me to a menopause clinic which I now attend at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The Consultant I see is an HRT pioneer and he put me on Oestregel which I use daily. It's transdermal so I put it on my thighs and it is absorbed through the skin. He wants me to stay on it forever and has advised my GP accordingly.

HRT has certainly helped me and I’ve been taking it for nearly three years now, since I was 55. It is sad from some of these posts, that it still gets a bad press, even though there has been a lot of evidence to show that the risks are still very low.

I was on HRT for 20 years and felt good- however, I developed breast cancer and had a mastectomy- I wouldn’t risk it again.

Following with interest. I had HRT for ten years since I was 47. Worked wonders. I’ve not taken it for ten years but seem to get regular UTIs and dryness and suffer from Atrophy.
Had a minor gynae procedure earlier this year and was incidentally prescribed pessaries afterwards but the side effects for me was diarrhoea which wasn’t really tolerable.
I think I might speak to the GP again

I was told by my GP at 65 I was too old and it doesn’t work for older people. I was so disappointed. I did wonder, being a man, he didn’t realise even a little benefit was good for quality of life!

I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. There is a link between that and cancer despite what they might tell you.

Hi. I started systemic HRT in my late 60s, and wish I’d done it sooner. As far as atrophy is concerned, it’s localised oestrogen that you mainly need for that. Sounds like you need more. Look into an Estring, which you keep in and change every 3 months. It gives a larger and more continuous dose of oestrogen to the area. Failing that you can increase the Vagifem. Twice a week probably isn’t enough. It takes time as well. There’s a fantastic private group you can join on FB, called Vaginal Atrophy. I recommend joining it, there’s so much info there. Good luck. X

Hi. HRT is not made from animal’s urine and hasn’t been for year. It’s actually made from plants!

I asked for HRT a couple of years ago. My female GP wouldn't even discuss it with me!
It was just no,no no," it will give you Cancer, it will give you high blood pressure.

Some HRT is still made from pregnant mares’ urine and still prescribed in the UK nellgwynne

I am 54 and two months on from starting HRT. No more night sweats and its done wonders for the stiffness in my hands. The increased cancer risk is extremely small - and its even smaller if you go down the progesterone tablet and oestrogen gel combination route which I use, due to having blood pressure issues. As I understand it, the combined tablet carries the highest increased cancer risk, although still very low, as well as the gel/tablet combo there are also patches which may be more convenient for some. I see no point in suffering when there is suitable treatment available - and there are other benefits to HRT such as helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Carmel46

I've been on HRT too since my 40s and now 77. My GP wanted me to come off, so I asked her to refer me to a menopause clinic which I now attend at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The Consultant I see is an HRT pioneer and he put me on Oestregel which I use daily. It's transdermal so I put it on my thighs and it is absorbed through the skin. He wants me to stay on it forever and has advised my GP accordingly.

That is the same gel I use, also put onto my thighs. Although I do wonder how women who have slim thighs manage, one pump seems to be an awful lot of gel lol! I also take a progesterone tablet at bedtime, helps with sleeping.

Those of you who are having problems with getting your GP to prescribe HRT, try a different doctor or ask for a referral to a specialist menopause clinic. My lovely female GP was happy to put me on it as soon as I asked her, got a review with her tomorrow but all is going well - side effects with HRT are rare, fortunately.

nightowl

Some HRT is still made from pregnant mares’ urine and still prescribed in the UK nellgwynne

The only HRT made from pregnant mares urine is Premarin or Prempro and is one of the older types no longer used as widely there are many more types of HRT available that are not produced this way

Very interesting comments here .
Like many of you I went on HRT at 50 - came off at 60 with a breast cancer scare . At 65 went back on but it was creams which had to be kept cool etc . It as all very messy and do I stopped . There isn’t a day goes by where I don’t regret coming off . I read these comments with interest !

After a very nasty UTI , two years ago my GP prescribed Ovestin.1mg every 3-4 days. Absolutely marvellous and no further problems. I shall be 79 in December

I agree totally. I was on it successfully since 55 in London. New town new GP doesn’t know much but said at my age (70) it did more damage than good.
Ive come off but suffering so badly, hot flushes, anxiety/panic, insomnia. Might go privately if can find one in Gloucestershire.

Im with you then i guess Undines- i also think a lot of this over the HRT is 'over-hyped'- i am Not able to take it due to being on warfarin for life (and probably all my other medical problems!) BUT i think that its not that bad if thats your only 'problem' - i have sooo many health problems that if that was all i had i'd be celebrating! I think that maybe the HRT could be addictive as well- think of a bit back when supplies were short? and women were so 'desperate' to get them that they were lobbying Mp's to do something about it!? That can't be good, can it? I've had the odd flush still but well, i've so many other health worries its the very least of my problems.I'm sure i too will be shot down on here for this same as you undines, but i think if these ladies had a natural way to manage things it might be more beneficial for them- not addictive.Like yourself undines ive bladder problems too (along with many more problems) and they had me on Oxybutinin for about 6 years- then withdrew it from the market as it contributed to altzheimers and other health problems! So am back to square one with no help for it- what if down the line they discover HRT needs to be withdrawn??It doesnt pay to get reliant on something you all rely on as a 'magic cure' perhaps?Think of all the ladies who managed before it was invented? They just got on with life and dealt with things.Or sought out a natural or herbal remedy i guess..No magic cures involved.

Also on hrt at 79 still have a waistline hooray

Has anyone considered that their symptoms may be just normal menopause symptoms like their own mum and granma had, and its the way nature meant it to be? And just weather it out till it passes? Then they would be fine? Thing is now they get to a certain age and all these women think 'oh its ok i can just take HRT & it'll be fine...I dont thin i would have been taking it even if i wasnt on warfarin tbh as who knows what natural body phases its messing with...

*think