Is anyone else not on HRT?

I had my last bone scan at age 60. My bone density was that of a 43 year old. I asked for another scan at 70 but was shown the report of my previous scan which stated that there was no need for further scans unless I stopped taking oestrogen.
No worries there. I’m on it for life.

DiscoDancer57. Please don’t minimise the results of menopause.
You say you have never known anyone die from menopause.

Are you unaware that women have been sectioned, committed suicide, or had their careers wrecked. A shockingly high percentage of elderly women who fracture their hip die as a result. Osteoporosis is caused by lack of oestrogen.
Many who live with incontinence, osteoarthritis and prolapse will tell you that their quality of life is severely impacted. Vaginal atrophy and loss of libido cause the breakdown of marriages. Alzheimer’s is a living death.
I am sure others can provide more examples. You haven’t had problems so far, that’s great but don’t minimise the suffering other people experience.

The dr suggested I go on it! I saw no reason to as I sailed through the menopause no sweats mood swings nothing! I stopped my periods at 47! No probs whatsoever! I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid tho

No HRT here either. I don't take any tablets or any kind of medication unless absolutely necessary. I'm a great believer in alcohol as a medicine. Seriously though, my Mum took HRT for decades and now has osteopenia, so it didn't prevent that did it? My Dad has a form of thrombophilia, so I probably wouldn't be able to have it, even if I wanted it. (which I don't) Thankfully I don't have any medical issues currently and I'm hurtling towards 63. If I start to crumble in later life then so be it. I'll just have another glass of red. {grin}

Nothisagain

@glorianny
I do know that bones are built up and depleted continuously but I thought that overall bone health is established in your youth . Happy to be corrected

It may be but targeted drugs can increase bone density and stop osteoporosis. If it is treated it can be cured. Calcium and Vit D supplements are required all the time and weight bearing exercise helps. The bone density may be laid down in youth but it can be developed in adulthood.

I had a few symptoms but managed without HRT. That was over 10 years ago. However I wish I was on it. I feel I have suffered from anxiety since then, dry eyes and atrophy. Plus a dowagers hump emerging. I have witnessed ladies who have been on HRT who are definitely younger than their years physically and mentally. And when they come off the treatment have aged rapidly. It seems to hold back the years.

@oakdryad
I’ve just read your post - you’ve explained very clearly what I was trying to express .
Thanks

@glorianny
I do know that bones are built up and depleted continuously but I thought that overall bone health is established in your youth . Happy to be corrected

Never been in it.I suffered from very painful periods so was pleased to see the end of them.
I was going through a lot of family trouble at the same time so my worst hot flushes had two legs on them.

The best explanation I have read is one that says to think of bone as a bank account where you “deposit” and “withdraw” bone tissue. During childhood and the teenage years, new bone is added to the skeleton faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser. For most people, bone formation continues at a faster pace than removal until bone mass peaks during the third decade of life.

After age 20, bone “withdrawals” can begin to exceed “deposits.” For many people, this bone loss can be prevented by continuing to get calcium, vitamin D, and exercise and by avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use. Osteoporosis develops when bone removal occurs too quickly, replacement occurs too slowly, or both. You are more likely to develop osteoporosis if you did not reach your maximum peak bone mass during your bone-building years.

I have to take high doses of cortico-steroids periodically. I know they have a major effects on how the body uses calcium and vitamin D which can lead to bone loss, osteoporosis, and broken bones so my doctor prescribes calcium and Vitamin D supplements to counteract that but has never mentioned HRT as a preventative.

And the idea that you build up bones in your youth is a complete mistake. Bones are built and lost continuously. The problem is sometimes the loss is greater than the building. Even so that can be reversed. Drug treatment combined with exercise and supplements can reverse that. The drugs are used short term and calcium and Vitamin D are used long term. No need for HRT

I’m not on HRT, I was advised not to take it as I have had a PE.

Nothisagain

I am bewildered by posts about how HRT is so good for your health that you are damaging yourself if you don’t take it .

NICE guidelines are clear that HRT can be offered to those who need relief from symptoms but it isn’t to be used as a preventative. No doubt this is because for each benefit there are also more associated risks to be balanced .
As far as I know the only clear benefit is for people with weak bones . I don’t think it can be called a cure for oesteoporous but it seems to stop things worsening . I don’t think it builds bones up - you do that in your youth .
As for stroke clots cancer etc , we know the risks are there .
HRT’s effect on dementia is very unclear . It was thought to actually increase the risk . Then some studies said inconclusive . Is that why people are now saying it prevents dementia ? It really doesn’t based on current knowledge .
Also, of what quality are these studies?
Some posters mentioned how HRT is everywhere in the media ( prompting this thread). I’ve noticed it too.
There are lots of other women who either don’t want it , don’t need it or hated being on it . Why don’t we hear from these women?
No money to be made from people happy as they are I suppose.
I’m all for openness about the menopause but all we get in the media is ‘Here take these steroids , it will change your life’

Good, sensible post. I think someone said upthread....’if it’s not broke’.....

There’s no guarantees with anything. You can’t take HRT as an investment for the future.

I've never had HRT. My periods just stopped when I was 51 and that was that. Never noticed any symptoms to speak of. The big thing was that my migraines vanished. I'd never realised they were hormonal, but they must have been. That was a big plus.

I had about 5 or 6 years of horrendous periods that came every few weeks, lasted for 2-3 weeks, flooding, etc, lots of scans and womb biopsies, medication, etc. Eventually, everything stopped when I was 59 1/2. I'm 63 now and have never been on HRT.

I am bewildered by posts about how HRT is so good for your health that you are damaging yourself if you don’t take it .

NICE guidelines are clear that HRT can be offered to those who need relief from symptoms but it isn’t to be used as a preventative. No doubt this is because for each benefit there are also more associated risks to be balanced .
As far as I know the only clear benefit is for people with weak bones . I don’t think it can be called a cure for oesteoporous but it seems to stop things worsening . I don’t think it builds bones up - you do that in your youth .
As for stroke clots cancer etc , we know the risks are there .
HRT’s effect on dementia is very unclear . It was thought to actually increase the risk . Then some studies said inconclusive . Is that why people are now saying it prevents dementia ? It really doesn’t based on current knowledge .
Also, of what quality are these studies?
Some posters mentioned how HRT is everywhere in the media ( prompting this thread). I’ve noticed it too.
There are lots of other women who either don’t want it , don’t need it or hated being on it . Why don’t we hear from these women?
No money to be made from people happy as they are I suppose.
I’m all for openness about the menopause but all we get in the media is ‘Here take these steroids , it will change your life’

I do not take, and my menopause came and went with only minor hot flushes etc. I never felt the need for HRT and neither did my doctor.

Esspee

DiscoDancer1975

DiscoDancer1975

No. My mother had and died of breast cancer. My menopause wasn’t too bad. Intermittent symptoms over about 5 years. The worst was travel/ morning sickness type symptoms, which I could never be sure were menopause related anyway.

All gone now. I tended to treat each symptom in its own right. I’ve always taken Magnesium, calcium, Vitamin D, for bone strength. Regular exercise.

Glad I never needed it.

Yes...agree, if we all took medication in case something happened in the future if we didn’t, the drug companies would all be even richer than they are now.!

Preventative medication is far from unusual. Think of things like statins, beta blockers, antibiotics, ACE inhibitors.

*Prevention is better than cure*

I’m only talking about HRT Esspee. As I’ve said to you many times before....the examples you give are for conditions, from which, if left untreated, the patient could die.

I’ve never known of anyone dying from the completely natural process of menopause. It is after all...the mirror image of puberty, which I can’t imagine anyone trying to stop, or change, unless they feel they’re the opposite sex.

That’s a whole different thread.

I haven't taken HRT, very fortunate not to need it, but I do get concerned by the swings of opinion every few years; breast cancer was suggested years ago, then it seemed HRT helped to prevent it. Other less serious side effects have been blamed on HRT and then later discounted. I can't understand how this happens when drugs are supposedly throughly tested, unless they are simply not tested enough, and time reveals the true effects. My eldest DD has to take it, and I do worry about how it might affect her in years to come.

I am another who had an almost problem free menopause. I had fibroids in my late 40s but that is all. I was offered HRT but saw no point.

I'm way past needing it now, of course, but never did take it as I was lucky enough to have very few unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Some friends did suffer and I had every sympathy for their decision to take HRT.
This current shortage must be causing a lot of suffering and I hope it's resolved soon.

DiscoDancer1975

DiscoDancer1975

No. My mother had and died of breast cancer. My menopause wasn’t too bad. Intermittent symptoms over about 5 years. The worst was travel/ morning sickness type symptoms, which I could never be sure were menopause related anyway.

All gone now. I tended to treat each symptom in its own right. I’ve always taken Magnesium, calcium, Vitamin D, for bone strength. Regular exercise.

Glad I never needed it.

Yes...agree, if we all took medication in case something happened in the future if we didn’t, the drug companies would all be even richer than they are now.!

Preventative medication is far from unusual. Think of things like statins, beta blockers, antibiotics, ACE inhibitors.

Prevention is better than cure

"hot flushes"

I have never taken HRT. I was very late to the menopause - 57 and I did suffer from anxiety and hit flushes in a big way. At the time, there were many scare stories about HRT, so I just got on with it. I did increase my vitamin intake.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.