When to stop HRT

I too had an early hysterectomy at 39 and was put on HRT patches(Evorel 50)for menopause symptoms. Also, like Newquay, both my Mum and her Mum had osteoporosis and there is no family history of any cancer. I stayed on this until last year and our doctor always spelled out the possible consequences but, ultimately, it was MY decision.
I weaned myself off it over two years but even now am not sure I've made the right decision - now having hot flushes again at 67. It was certainly MY miracle drug Dillonsgranma

MOBrown - I think different people react differently. I was instructed to stop taking HRT and withdrew it very gradually but all my hot flushes returned and my sleep was constantly interrupted.

The GP prescribed Clonidine which doesn't work for everyone and didn't work for me. He then agreed to let me take HRT again on alternate days, which is a low enough dose to stop the hot flushes without all the risks they tell you about.

My older sisters still use it too - one with a patch and the other (who had a hysterectomy) with an implant. These may carry fewer risks. Good luck.

I'm 68, have taken it for 20 years and refuse to come off it like Dillonsgranma I think it's a miracle drug. My GP (Male) is fine with that but I sometimes battle with the HRT practice nurse. My sister (2 years younger) regrets coming off it.

I was on HRT for 10 years after a hysterectomy in my 40s, then the GP said it had to stop. I had full blown symptoms of menopause with terrible hot flushes and night sweats. 10 years later I still get some hot flushes. I believe they now say you can stay on longer. I wish I had!

I went on HRT at age 25 after a full emergency hysterectomy. I only came off it last January so was on it for 24 yrs. Everytime I went to Dr for repeat 3 month prescription he would say about time you came off them, as I am now 50. I got fed up having to get appointments and after moving 3 times in 3 yrs and changing Drs three times when I ran out last January I could not be bothered to make an appointment for another lecture so just went cold turkey! The first couple of months I had hot flushes and all the usual menopause symptoms, but I looked to natural remedies instead of chemicals. I now take Tesco own brand menopause multi plus multi vits + minerals (buy 2 get one free) and I take glucosamine sulphate max strength 1500mg for achey joints again Tesco own brand (buy 2 get one free). I was buying menopace and holland and barrat equivalents which cost an absolute fortune but when I compared ingrediants they were exactly the same at a fraction of cost! So I am glad I got myself through it and no longer take HRT after 25 years dependancy on it.

Ditto Dillonsgranma.

I have been taking hrt for 18 years and have no intention of stopping! Joanna Lumley feels the same. Miracle drug

I was on hrt following an full hysterectomy in my mid forties. I was on it for a very long time. It was a miricle drug for me. We used to call it my 'happy patches' but in my late fifties I felt it was time to reduce it. I came off it very slowly, over about nine - twelve months and was o.k. I'm occasionally tempted to ask again but then I think my aches an tiredness are age related and that can't be stopped. good luck

The one thing they never tell you (or that I didn't know and which you seem to be asking) is that when you stop HRT, you can expect the symptoms of menopause to return. That's why I weaned myself off gradually and it seemed to work.

My dear sister and I (only 22 months between us) decided when we reached 'a certain age' we should take HRT as both our Mum and her Mum had osteoporosis very badly and there was no history of breast cancer so we both took it for about five years which seemed to get us both over the worst.
Dear sister's DH then had a dreadful (mercifully rare) degenerative neurological illness and she nursed him day and night to his death for several years. Exactly one year after his death she was diagnosed with breast cancer-we are both convinced it was stress related. After chemo and surgery she's been doing fine for 10 years now btw. Although the cancer drug she's been taking has given her osteoporosis now so more different tablets. . . .

My problem was vaginal dryness and UTIs. I used HRT for some years, then GP refused further prescriptions. At the the time there was a scare about a link with breast cancer.
I was ok for about 4 years, the the UTIs returned, so I went back to the doctor, now use an estriol cream.
You should ask your GP's advice, we're not doctors (apart from Galen, as far as I know.)And everyone is different.

I came off gradually after over twelve years. I loved HRT and really didn't want to stop but GP was insistent...so I stopped, had debilitating hot flushes (which was why I started it in the first place) and found the fringe benefits. After this, I resumed the original low dose and very gradually reduced it, finally taking only one pill a week for a looooong time and then stopping. I had a few hot flushes but nothing like before and after a few weeks they stopped altogether. Good luck!