Ladies who decided not to take HRT...how has it been?

My gp recommended hrt when blood tests confirmed I was menopausal. I have rheumatoid arthritis so high risk for osteo. I’m 75. Recent dexa scan confirms very little change since the first deva 10 years ago. The medics are clear that hrt for 5 years in my late 40’s has helped my bone density

It's difficult to say, as I didn't take it, so can't compare with how things would have been if I had.

I always had awful periods, and was put on a form of contraceptive pill at the age of 12 (!!), so felt I'd had enough by way of artificial hormones by the time I reached middle age. I had hot flushes, but not night sweats or any of the other horrors you read about. My sister did take HRT, and whilst she is only 2 years younger than me she looks a lot younger, so there's that, but on the whole I don't regret not taking it.

I decided against HRT after my sister had mouth cancer.
I'm 73 now and have had hot flushes on and off since my late 50s. I can manage those.
I'm healthy and reasonably active and enjoying my life and retirement.

I’m 72 and have never taken HRT. I’m very active, involved with my grandchildren doing school runs and holiday care. I still work part time and I look after a horse in all weathers. I recognise that in many ways I’ve been very lucky, but I also think it helped that my mum had a positive attitude to the menopause which meant that I approached it as just another stage of life.

I didn’t take HRT, not after my menopause nor after my radical hysterectomy. I don’t know if it made things worse not taking HRT but I’m 66 now and fine aside from other unrelated medical conditions.