Over 70 and starting HRT

I took oral HRT for about 3 years around menopause which helped a lot with symptoms. When I came off it I felt ok for the remainder of my 50s.

By 66 I was feeling terrible with a constantly aching body and osteopenia detected on a DEXA scan. For this reason I tried HRT again using gel on my thigh and progesterone. One month later I had a haemorrhage in the kitchen which looked like a murder had taken place which gave me a terrible fright. I came straight off it but of course I’m feeling no better now at 69. Wish I could take it.

undines

It's possibly the type of HRT that's the problem. The HRT pill caused issues, but the newer patches are very low dose and you can minimise the risks further with HRT gel by using less. (smile)

I’ve been on HRT for many years and have no plans to come off it.

Regarding the cancer risk I have loads of friends who have had breast cancer but never been on HRT. HRT protects you from osteoporosis so that’s a good thing.

I was reading about former newsreader Jan Leeming who is amazingly now over 80 and looks terrific. She has been on HRT for years but last summer was mugged and pushed to the ground in France. She was taken to hospital due to the heavy fall and her age and the consultant said HRT saved her because she did not break anything whereas most 80+ year olds would have.

Nannan2

At the age of 70 I am finding myself having the most awful hot flushes , The one's I experienced in my 50's were nothing compared to these 🥵🥵. I can remember sailing through what I deemed my menopause & telling my daughter's it's a breeze 🤣
How foolish ,do I feel now . Sadly I had nothing to compare it to as my own Mother passed aged just 51 .❤️

I was denied hrt many times on asking. Im 70 now and entered a clinical trial recently for the BRACa gene. Turns out I am high risk for breast cancer. Clearly those hrt gatekeepers did me a favour by not prescribing it. I have yearly mammograms now..

I use oestrogel gel and a pill each night as I still have my ovaries. I feel very well indeed and my skin and hair and nails are still good.

Has anyone started taking hrt patch at age 65yrs...

Hi nannon

I feel many really suffered in yrs gone by my auntie went to a physciatric place as it was misunderstood. Hormone deficiency affects some women cognitively moreso so it's important for them to replace So hard to in modern day I think many have to and want to work - not be curled up at home on sofa or preserving feeling rotten. Think its improved so much through the skin and not horses things any more

Nannon
Sorry t

MarianNicholson

After 10 years off HRT, I have just restarted Estradiol patches for vaginal (and urinary) atrophy. Bliss!
Utterly necessary for ladies who are 'older'!

It is not 'utterly necessary' for ladies who are 'older' (l certainly class myself as 'older' being many years post menopause).
Menopause for me was/is an absolute relief from previous 40+ years of pain, haemorrhage and uncontrollable mood swings. I have researched HRT, recognise it's benefits and risks and support it's use for any woman that wants/needs it, l also believe it should be free throughout the UK, but it is far from beneficial for everyone as many are discovering.

Saetana

mrsgreenfingers56

I took HRT for 10 months and diagnosed with breast cancer. Often wondered if the HRT was the cause and pushed my oestrogen level too high. Of course I will never know.

I would be extremely surprised if taking HRT for 10 months caused cancer. Really sorry you had to go through that though, we sometimes forget that almost 50% of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives

This is the MHRA patient factsheet on HRT and the risk of breast cancer.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d68d0e340f0b607c6dcb697/HRT-patient-sheet-3008.pdf

...really sad for those that suffered unecessarily often for years! Some are affected more cognitively than physically i never had a flush at all

After 10 years off HRT, I have just restarted Estradiol patches for vaginal (and urinary) atrophy. Bliss!
Utterly necessary for ladies who are 'older'!

To pc612 - do you need to protect womb lining from thickening with your natural ostregen🤔

And many gps still untrained in it - Davinas input has lead to thousands being in training as we speak, owe her a great deal for bringing it out of the Dark Ages ( true, men wouldn't have put up with it all the same 😊)

Heartening thanks Dcba
I had the patch before gel and ustrogen if I hadn't put up with those awful 'heavy' yrs and had a hysterectomy I wouldn't need the ustrogen which protects womb

FLaurie.
I think it's about life quality for some more than others really
I'm convinced menopause affected my thyroid levels too. Loads of weight gain with slower metabolism. Hormones All tied up together 🤔?

Ps 'Louise newson'

If get appointment with Louse news is on video they talk you through and ask gp to prescribe
It's tablets that were the scare as goes through liver and caused a clot here or there as far as I'm aware but check, some cancers are ok with hrt it depends if ostregen linked, it's marvellous they can tell

Well over active bladder was a symptom too, I don't know why you would stop taking if got quality back? I hope I'm protecting my bones anyway
Good luck x

Mollie3
After many years of suffering, giving up on the NHS,
doing lots of research I found this product that I have been using for more than 20 years

buynaturalprogesterone.com/

It's the best quality one I could find, cheaper ones just don't make any difference. There is lots of information on this lady's website. More information in John R Lee MD book - What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause.

Progesterone helps prevent breast cancer, re-bulds your bones (estrogen does not rebuild bones) stops hot flushes, restores sleep, improves mood and memory, etc.

If you have had a full term pregnancy you cannot overdose on progesterone, it's the very high levels of progesterone during pregnancy that makes the majority of us look for healthy. Remember the glowing skin and thick shiny hair?

Information on dosage with product, as it depends on each individual how much you need.“

The progesterone cream that you’ve highlighted here is bio-identical Progesterone - and hadn’t actually been through many studies. Bio - identical ( which is very different to body identical which many ladies on on nowadays, do not to be confused) is also not recommended by the British Menopause Society.

I'm the same as you dragonfly46 . Diagnosed with breast cancer having taken HRT for a few years. Now on tablets to get rid of oestrogen and going through a second menopause. I'd advise caution!

That is what it is Grannieanna. What do you suggest? Shrinking petals !!!

Vaginal atrophy is such a horrible term! There must be a nicer way of describing it!

Mollie3

After many years of suffering, giving up on the NHS,
doing lots of research I found this product that I have been using for more than 20 years

buynaturalprogesterone.com/

It's the best quality one I could find, cheaper ones just don't make any difference. There is lots of information on this lady's website. More information in John R Lee MD book - What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause.

Progesterone helps prevent breast cancer, re-bulds your bones (estrogen does not rebuild bones) stops hot flushes, restores sleep, improves mood and memory, etc.

If you have had a full term pregnancy you cannot overdose on progesterone, it's the very high levels of progesterone during pregnancy that makes the majority of us look for healthy. Remember the glowing skin and thick shiny hair?

Information on dosage with product, as it depends on each individual how much you need.

Progesterone does not help to prevent breast cancer - it has a lower risk than oestrogen but is still a risk a for hormone linked cancers.

mrsgreenfingers56

I took HRT for 10 months and diagnosed with breast cancer. Often wondered if the HRT was the cause and pushed my oestrogen level too high. Of course I will never know.

I would be extremely surprised if taking HRT for 10 months caused cancer. Really sorry you had to go through that though, we sometimes forget that almost 50% of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives