Ladies who decided not to take HRT...how has it been?

I don`t choose to add chemicals to my body, to change what is a natural progression and to alter how my body copes.

I eat wholefoods, including organic soya and various seeds and included varied exercise. I am 76 now and doing very well on my lifestyle

My friends and I all ate a slice of hrt cake, at lunchtime, which was like a brick but full of phyto oestrogens. The recipe can still be found online

I forgot to add that I am very healthy and strong and still go cycling up hills. I also have a new allotment

Never felt or had the need to for HRT. I am 66 now, walk miles every day, swim, look after grandchildren. Busy weekend coming. Grandchildren staying over for 2 nights. Clip and climb tomorrow and swimming on Sunday. There are slides and wave machine activates every 30 minutes. Fun days ahead!

There is so much written about the awfulness of menopause that I was dreading it and very worried. I bought all the books etc and waited...and waited...and nothing. Just periods stopped.

I didn’t take anything as strong family issues of cancer and heart problems- although those with cancer hadn’t taken HRT either. Not pleasant at times but I got through.

I now regret this and started HRT late as have had fractures all due to bad osteoporosis, that could likely have been prevented with HRT. The HRT will help my bones but the damage has been done.

I only had the bother of hot flushes but other than that, fine, and at 77 next month still keep busy with my many groups and grandchildren.
I realise that not everyone has a smooth journey through the menopause years but I wonder if it's made a bigger deal of these days. Celebrities have brought books out and presented TV programmes on the subject and I wonder if some are influenced into considering it an illness rather than a woman's' natural bodily progression that is going to happen and we have to just get on with it.

I had a hysterectomy in my late 30s
Never took HRT,never got hot flushes and I’ve always been a moody cow so doubt that would have made a difference anyway 😜

Sarnia I agree!

I took HRT for 2 weeks then decided to stop it. Yes I had awful hot flushes and felt spaced out and grumpy at times but nothing I couldn't handle. When I look back it was no big deal for me, I got through it and am still here over 20 years later. I now have cancer which is not curable for me so in hindsight the menopause was a walk in the park considering what I am going through now.

Tiley

I took HRT for 2 weeks then decided to stop it. Yes I had awful hot flushes and felt spaced out and grumpy at times but nothing I couldn't handle. When I look back it was no big deal for me, I got through it and am still here over 20 years later. I now have cancer which is not curable for me so in hindsight the menopause was a walk in the park considering what I am going through now.

💐💐💐

Doodledog

It's difficult to say, as I didn't take it, so can't compare with how things would have been if I had.

I always had awful periods, and was put on a form of contraceptive pill at the age of 12 (!!), so felt I'd had enough by way of artificial hormones by the time I reached middle age. I had hot flushes, but not night sweats or any of the other horrors you read about. My sister did take HRT, and whilst she is only 2 years younger than me she looks a lot younger, so there's that, but on the whole I don't regret not taking it.

Snap!

Tiley

I took HRT for 2 weeks then decided to stop it. Yes I had awful hot flushes and felt spaced out and grumpy at times but nothing I couldn't handle. When I look back it was no big deal for me, I got through it and am still here over 20 years later. I now have cancer which is not curable for me so in hindsight the menopause was a walk in the park considering what I am going through now.

💕💕 💐💐

Tiley

I took HRT for 2 weeks then decided to stop it. Yes I had awful hot flushes and felt spaced out and grumpy at times but nothing I couldn't handle. When I look back it was no big deal for me, I got through it and am still here over 20 years later. I now have cancer which is not curable for me so in hindsight the menopause was a walk in the park considering what I am going through now.

Thanks for your reply. Wish the best for you 💕

Shinamae

I had a hysterectomy in my late 30s
Never took HRT,never got hot flushes and I’ve always been a moody cow so doubt that would have made a difference anyway 😜

😁😁

Thanks again for all the replies. It's good to see so many people feeling good and being active in the waters but I do appreciate health can be a lottery. I'm definitely more relaxed about not going on it now, though it's good to know it's an option should it be needed and I know some women really would suffer without. It's good to know it isn't horrendous for everyone and as someone mentioned, I think I'm almost post menopausal now with the lack of periods. Wishing you all the best 🤗

Lia173

Thanks again for all the replies. It's good to see so many people feeling good and being active in the waters but I do appreciate health can be a lottery. I'm definitely more relaxed about not going on it now, though it's good to know it's an option should it be needed and I know some women really would suffer without. It's good to know it isn't horrendous for everyone and as someone mentioned, I think I'm almost post menopausal now with the lack of periods. Wishing you all the best 🤗

Should have reviewed my last post before I posted it. "It's good to see people being active in their later years", not "the waters" . I'll have to blame that one on brain fog 😁.

I was offered it but didn't take it.

I was lucky. Never had any problems with periods and had a calm menopause.

Possibly worth trying it and see how you find it.

My GP talked me in to having HRT - I insisted I felt fine, but he said that as a close relative had died from heart disease it would help prevent that. I got the prescription, and read the leaflet. It stated quite clearly that any one with the hearing problem that I had - otosclerosis - should not take HRT as it might well worsen the condition, which had probably been triggered by pregnancy. I didn't take it, clearly, and felt somewhat miffed as I had seen the GP to discuss my worsening hearing.

I'll be 80 this summer. I do seem to be more wrinkly than friends who did take HRT, but otherwise if anything more able physically.
My daughter, almost 52, much more like her father, brainy, more emotional, more of a worrier, she's glad of her patches and so is her husband. Horses for courses!

There are lots of natural things you can take to help with menopause. A good herbalist would advise you. Why fill your body with chemicals. The menopause is a natural phase of life.

Romola

I'll be 80 this summer. I do seem to be more wrinkly than friends who did take HRT, but otherwise if anything more able physically.
My daughter, almost 52, much more like her father, brainy, more emotional, more of a worrier, she's glad of her patches and so is her husband. Horses for courses!

Think I'd prefer to stay physically active than have less wrinkles myself but I have read a lot of women believe it keeps them looking youthful, which is always good. I joined a skincare group and some ladies even use the eostrogen cream that is meant for dryness in other areas on their faces. Not sure that should be done but they swear by it!

Skydancer

There are lots of natural things you can take to help with menopause. A good herbalist would advise you. Why fill your body with chemicals. The menopause is a natural phase of life.

Good advice, thanks.

My periods faded away with minimal symptoms apart from vaginal dryness. I'm on long term pessaries with a tiny dose of hrt which I use once a week, although they'represcribedfortwice a week. There is some evidence that they reduce the risk of UTIs as you get older. I'm mid 60s and will continue to use indefinitely. Prior to being prescribed the hrt pessaries I did try non medicated cream to reduce vaginal dryness, which helped but not enough.

I didn’t take HRT. Never had a hot flush. Instead feel very cold all the time. My problem with the menopause has been severe panic attacks which I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Apparently doctors suffer from them too.

I simply was not offered them but was aware of the frequent headline reports of heightened cancer risks.
My periods had long ceased when I had the Mirena contraceptive coil removed for the final time because it is common for menstruation to dwindle or all but end very soon after it is first inserted, I hadn’t noticed, but I was quite happy with that outcome anyway - a win-win really.

However it would have been nice to have had the option because it has become common knowledge that hot flushes etc are not the end at all but just the start of life without those hormones and the positive benefits HRT could have provided into my 60s and beyond.
all the talk is still about hot flushes and not wanting sex anymore more at 40 something as though that is the “be all and end all” of a womans health.