Ladies……can we talk HRT?!

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

For those starting on their menopause and HRT journey, just like with everything theres now a trend of being advocates and activists. While they do amazing work bringing awareness to a topic that needs to be talked about, it can also be like a MLM.

If menopause communities work for you, thats great, but for some its exhausting and draining.

All that matters is your health and well being. But many need to be aware that you don't have to join menopause communities, you dont have to download apps, buy books, read websites and follow along on social media. The internet has a huge amount of information just a Google search away. You can quietly do your own research, get your prescribed medication and continue your life without being part of any group or community

 

[Southernmiss]

For those starting on their menopause and HRT journey, just like with everything theres now a trend of being advocates and activists. While they do amazing work bringing awareness to a topic that needs to be talked about, it can also be like a MLM.

If menopause communities work for you, thats great, but for some its exhausting and draining.

All that matters is your health and well being. But many need to be aware that you don't have to join menopause communities, you dont have to download apps, buy books, read websites and follow along on social media. The internet has a huge amount of information just a Google search away. You can quietly do your own research, get your prescribed medication and continue your life with being part of any group or community

Exactly. But the advocates can be a great resource and starting point for those needing the info and not knowing how or where to find it.

And symptoms can come and go and change, so some have a need to continually seek out information for themselves that they can discuss with their healthcare provider.

I had a visit this week with a new healthcare provider who was very happy that I knew so much about my medical history and that I had 5 years worth of blood test reports with me so that we could easily discuss a new treatment/medication.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Exactly. But the advocates can be a great resource and starting point for those needing the info and not knowing how or where to find it.

And symptoms can come and go and change, so some have a need to continually seek out information for themselves that they can discuss with their healthcare provider.

I had a visit this week with a new healthcare provider who was very happy that I knew so much about my medical history and that I had 5 years worth of blood test reports with me so that we could easily discuss a new treatment/medication.

My sister is an advocate and part of menopause communities. She is always telling me about this App or that website and thinks its the best ever and I should be like her.

Im not like her. I dont want to be part of menopause MLM communities. Her way works for her, my way works for me. I just wanted to make people new to the menopause journey aware that some menopause advocates can be very forceful in their views and it can be overwhelming with so much information being thrown at you all at once. Some people may think they are missing out if they don't join a menopause community. Thats totally not true. As long as you are getting medical advice from your primary care doctor, there are many ways to journey through menopause and HRT

 

[easyas123]

Some people may think they are missing out if they don't join a menopause community.

I must admit, this is the first time I've ever heard the phrase 'menopause community'.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I must admit, this is the first time I've ever heard the phrase 'menopause community'.

Its a relatively new concept. I first became aware of the menopause movement and menopause communities around 2021 when a high profile UK tv presenter call Davina Mccoll started talking publicly about her menopause journey. She did a tv documentary which kinda started things in UK and Ireland and since then many other high profile media people and celebs have also started talking publicly. While its great that the subject is being talked about, theres a whole industry around it now, which is very much like MLM. That aspect I dont like.

 

[easyas123]

theres a whole industry around it now, which is very much like MLM. That aspect I dont like.

Yeah, I agree w/ you on those MLM

 

[Southernmiss]

In the US, I think we are behind Europe in talking about menopause. I do think that doors are opening and we are at the beginning of changes. And the ability to get information is something new and refreshing for those of us who are experiencing menopause now.

I never heard a word from my own mother about menopause or any other woman in my life. Sure, I heard about hot flashes and sleepless nights and night sweats, but that was it.

I've had to advocate for myself (and my daughter) for other health issues and menopause is just another one that I have to learn about so that I can seek out the best practitioners and treatments for myself.

I sure knew in September that I could not live with the brain fog and sleepless nights any longer and that I needed a prescription of something. So I sought my own info to be able to have the discussion with my doctor. Thankfully, he immediately responded that I could take hormones and that he was comfortable working with women on adjusting things to what they need for their particular situation.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

In the US, I think we are behind Europe in talking about menopause.

I agree. I joined a fibroid hysterectomy group on Facebook which I found very helpful. The majority of active posters were from America. The huge difference in the care I received, the information available to me from my local medical professionals and the cost of my medical care in Ireland compared to the stories shared by the American ladies was eye opening.

 

[Skippy918]

Here’s a video for a good laugh. Holderness family.

 

[Southernmiss]

She is me!

 

[Christine]

I don't know what a menopause community is but I learned SO much from a Reddit forum as well as Mary-Claire Haver and other doctors. I am just about 10 years post now. Ten years ago, when I couldn't sleep, I was given a pack of Prempro (what was used in the WHI study) and sent on my way. I couldn't even tolerate it and stopped. After that, there were no discussions and it was apparently "dangerous" unless you were really suffering.

My mom had been on HRT during the whole ordeal with the WHI results came off and her GYN basically called her late one night and told her to quick taking them and throw it all away. My mom is 80 know and hasn't used HRT for probably 20 some years. I think she does okay but she's got the bone loss.

Finally with all this new "news' coming out on various forums, I talked to my doctor just this past summer and she agreed to start me on something even though I'm at the end of the "window." I am so bummed I missed the window. I mean, I'm actually kind of furious. I can no longer recapture what I lost with regard to boneless, cardiac health, or dementia prevention but I guess I can stop anything further.

Unfortunately I am having a bit of a side effect issue with the CombiPatch and am going back to the GYN tomorrow to discuss different products. We shall see. I'd just like to sleep better.

 

[anniemae]

I have been following dr. Haver and she certainly gives a convincing argument to take HRT. It helps prevent all kinds of diseases, including cancer, dementia and heart disease. I think most people can't get it out of their heads about the scary warnings for HRT in the past. from what I understand, it is different now and that study was flawed.

I am still scared to take it, I heard it can start your cycle back up again. I guess as with anything, you have to see if the benefits outweigh the risks. They also used to say you could only be on it for about 5 years, now they say you can be on it long term.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I’m so glad to see this discussion as I see perimenopause looming. But I still see all the articles about increased risk with HRT. I’m hoping more info comes out in the next couple of years.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I really wish I could do HRT, but I had ER/PR+ breast cancer and finished treatment back in June. I'm on zoladex to put me in menopause and anastrozole as my aromatase inhibitor. The hot flashes have been terrible and I already had insomnia which is now worse since rolling over in bed triggers a hot flash. My oncologist put me on gabapentin which definitely helps, but I could use more sleep.

 

[Christine]

I’m so glad to see this discussion as I see perimenopause looming. But I still see all the articles about increased risk with HRT. I’m hoping more info comes out in the next couple of years.

I don't know if there will be a lot more information because I don't think they've entered into any more major studies; however, there was a very good one out of France recently with about 42,000 women. Not that I can ever find it again.

Some of the conclusions that have come to is:

Estradiol is better than synthetic estrogen.
Estrogen does not cause cancer; however, if you already have an estrogen-positive cancer that's in "infancy" stages or already there, it will stimulate it. This why they will often ensure that you are regularly receiving mammograms before starting HRT.
Transdermal delivery tends to be safer than the oral route as there isn't a first pass through the liver with transdermal. This is thought to reduce or eliminate any clotting/stroke risks that the oral meds had.

 

[Southernmiss]

This is an informative article written by women in science in the Nerdy Girls substack

https://open.substack.com/pub/those...n?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=wy1dm

 

[cmlnkb]

Wow thank you for the responses ladies!

 

[neverlandsky]

Checkout menopause reddit. There’s good information there with HRT, BioHRT, and going without any type of HRT due to underlying medical issues or choice, along with how to get doctors to listen and other stuff.

 

[disneychrista]

I can't use estrogen due to migraine headaches with auras. But I can say that the progesterone only birth control pills I take help A LOT with controlling hot flashes. I stopped taking them in January and started getting hot flashes. I started taking them again in August and they stopped.

 

[beckicnm]

I can't use estrogen due to migraine headaches with auras. But I can say that the progesterone only birth control pills I take help A LOT with controlling hot flashes. I stopped taking them in January and started getting hot flashes. I started taking them again in August and they stopped.

You can use estrogen patches for HRT even if you have migraines with aura.