Using supplements for protection post menopause

Hi ignore my previous message pleeasse!!! I just wanted you to know how I feel post menopause re supplements instead of HRT
My menopause was late. I was having periods up to almost 60 years old
The hot flushes and night sweats started soon after and have been terrible at times!
I'm not good with going along with what the GP says. In the past they've provided me with terrible advice {even though I work for the NHS in a medical capacity) I feel I may know just a bit too much at times!!
I'm looking at supplements for menopausal symptoms and I've come across some that appear pretty good. Including Calcium, Vit D, Red Clove, Black Cohash etc.
My head is telling me I would be much better off taking this type of (my own) researched medications
I'd be interested in hearing other people's takes on this

Sorry to say this Truthyruthy...I have taken every one of those supplements you have mentioned as well as St Johns Wort and not one of them helped me in the least....If I were you I would take HRT and get your life back...

Menopause is caused by lack of oestrogen. Replacing the oestrogen is the most natural and effective way of dealing with it.

Well I have a GP appointment for the 29th Sept to discuss menopause issues
I'm unsure whether to start using the combined patch
I hear what you say Espee but I have reservations and at 64 I've never taken any type of HRT before.
The post menopausal supplements I've taken have always been sporadic so when I feel okay (much of the time) I don't bother.
However I religiously continue with Marine Collagen supplements combined with Turmeric etc.
Also vitamin D supplements.
I'm undecided at the moment but my anxiety has gone through the roof recently!
(No more AD'S though. I hate the side effects, and their effectiveness always tapers off for me. I've tried them all)

At 64, you are unlikely to be offered oestrogen straight away without a fight Truthyruthy though up to 10 years after menopause is the advised cut off date which means you do qualify. Ideally you should have started as soon as your oestrogen levels started to dip.

All your problems and the more severe ones yet to come such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, incontinence, prolapse, vaginal atrophy etc. are caused by lack of oestrogen alone, why some women choose to use unproven supplements instead of the natural hormone you are lacking always amazes me.

I don’t believe in supplements unless you know you are deficient in any vitamin or mineral. With a normal healthy diet and exposure to sunlight you should be in excellent health.

I suggest you read up the best practice guidelines for the NHS. Google “NICE guidelines Menopause” then you can go to your medical appointment knowing what the top specialists advise for all women in the U.K.

Esspee Thanks for your reply and I will read up on the NICE guidlines as you say

However, we don't really know if a woman Is more at risk of oesteoporis, oestearthritis, vaginal atrophy etc dependant on whether we take HRT or not

My mother, her mother and my mother in law never took HRT and they all surived, or are still surviving, and pretty healthily well into their 80's {my mums mum into her 90's)
My mum in law is 88 and going strong and never had HRT she has told me many times. Certainly no bone density loss that makes any difference to her mobility.

The idea of oestrogen to help post menopausal women years later is an appealing one but we don't know if that may cause problems once we start reaching that age of course. Maybe some older ladies on here could tell me different!

At this moment in time I am interested in HRT patches to help with anxiety, mood swings and other horrible symptoms, but is it really natural for a woman in her 70's, 80's or even older to take a hormone that younger women of childbearing age produce naturally?
I'm not sure a 10 minute appointment with an unknown GP will suffice!

It is natural for women past childbearing age to die. Now we have better healthcare we can live one third of our life after menopause. Evolution will catch up no doubt but in the meantime we do have the choice to embrace medical advances and supplement the missing hormone or deteriorate due to the lack of that essential hormone.
If you look at similar conditions where the body stops producing an essential hormone e.g. insulin we do not hesitate to take insulin when diabetes is diagnosed, or thyroxine when thyroid problems start. Taking oestrogen to prevent the deterioration which inevitably follows when levels drop is logical.
Everyone I know on long term oestrogen replacement is living a much better life than their peers. They look and act years younger, have a better quality of life and are so much healthier.
Your second paragraph about not really knowing if a woman is at more risk of all the long term problems of oestrogen deprivation is categorically wrong. We do know. The link between osteoporosis and oestrogen deprivation is well established, as are the links for all the other issues I mentioned. You need to do some reading on the subject. Look for risk factors for each condition.
On a personal anecdotal level, last time I had a bone scan my bone density was that of a 43 year old. I was 60. When I asked for a scan at 70 my doctor read out the report at 60 which said that no further scans were necessary unless I ceased taking oestrogen.
In paragraph 4 you say we don’t know if taking oestrogen to “that age” (not sure what age you are referring to) may cause problems. There are lots of women enjoying their latter years having supplemented their oestrogen levels since perimenopause. I have been on oestrogen for 33 years. I am really good at recognising others who are also long term users.
It is your choice and we should be thankful we have that choice. Read up on the subject then talk with your doctor. If there are no contraindications you may be offered the opportunity to delay the deterioration that lack of oestrogen brings to women. Feel free to PM me as I would love to know how you get on. Good luck.