Over 70 and starting HRT

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

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 !

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

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'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.

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 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😳

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'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 😕

Been on the estrogen patch since my mid 40 ‘s (due to a full hysterectomy) and now I’m still on them at 81. When I compare my quality of life with other 80 year olds who haven’t made the same medication choices as I have the difference is significant. As I’ve aged my doctor has reduced the strength and frequency of use (I’m down to one every six days now) but to me it now just a way of life for which I’m thankful.

Jess20, I was told to take an oestrogen tablet when I lost my ovaries. It has changed my life. I have always had problems with a lack of oestrogen so struggled with mood and a host of other problems. The medical profession will find me armed and dangerous if they try to stop me taking it.

I'm a lone voice I feel and you'll probably want to shoot me but I would not go anywhere near HRT. How can it be good for us? The perceived benefits come with increased risk of cancer, even with the so-called 'safe' doses, and I'm willing to bet there are other side effects. It's a lovely bit of revenue for drug companies. If you are having problems I think the best recourse is to a medically qualified naturopath. There may be life-style changes required but in the Western world most of us should adopt those. I'm 72, still having the odd hot flush, but hey! - there are worse things! I have an over-active bladder, yes, but if I insist on drinking tea and alcohol I guess I'm partly to blame. My husband and I have plenty of sex (thank goodness for KY jelly!)
A friend of mine had a 'bad feeling' about HRT, came off it but too late. She got breast cancer. Her treatment was gruelling and although successful against the breast cancer, it triggered leukaemia. Thankfully she is now cancer free, after many horrible months, but she is depressed and weakened. No 'proof' of course that the HRT was to blame - but no thanks! There are other ways to cope and be healthier into the bargain.

I am 71 and suffer UTIs frequently. My doctor prescribed Estradiol vaginal tables without any problem. I have only just started them but judging from the comments on here, they are going to work well. if they stop my hot flushes as well, it will be life changing.

Dezzeau

I went to Dr Newson for HRT just before turning 68. - im now nearly 69. Am now on Testosterone cream too. Hoping its stopped my osteoporosis in its tracks and I view it as way to help my future overall health.

Oh you've given me hope! Did you have a face to face consultation or online?