if you feel so good, how would you even know if it is working or helping? without symptoms worth targeting it doesn't seem worth the potential risks.
50
u/Away-Potential-609
I've been on both sides of this because I didn't go off HRT by choice. Before I was diagnosed with cancer I was having a really rough time of perimenopause and was hopeful that HRT would help. In the short time I was taking it, I had mixed results. Some things seemed to improve, others were unchanged. If I hadn't had severe symptoms I don't think I would have considered it.
Regarding disease prevention... even when I was more optimistic/enthusiastic about HRT I saw that a lot of the purported health benefits were heavy with confirmation bias... the data that HRT prevents things like heart disease and dementia is very inconclusive, but if you want HRT to be a heroic remedy then why not play those up. Meanwhile the cancer risk is not zero. The survival rate for breast cancer is significantly higher in post-menopausal women because lower-estrogen is protective, and women who take HRT are forfeiting that benefit. Breast cancer risk skyrockets after age 45 and is even higher after age 65. Some pro-HRT people like to tout the survivability of breast cancer, but surviving cancer does more damage to the heart, brain, bones, etc. than HRT could ever have prevented. All that to say, the claims of disease prevention are over-simplified and leave out the real complexity of disease risk as we age. No one can know in advance whether the diseases that may come for you are the ones that HRT might reduce vs. increase your risk.
Knowing what I know now, if I had made it all the way to my late 50s with few menopause symptoms, I would leave HRT to those who really need it for their quality of life.
44
u/NoneOfThisMatters_XO
I didn’t go on it and I feel like other subs downvote you for that. There really is a lot of pressure to do it.
37
u/Winter_Bid7630
With RFK Jr. and therefore the FDA pushing for the removal of black box warnings on HRT and also citing decades-old research to justify its widespread use, more and more women are giving it a try. It's also really trendy right now with a ton of social media influencers claiming dramatic health improvements from taking HRT. There's a shortage of estrogen patches right now because of this surge in popularity.
My doctor tends to agree with Dr. Jen Gunter and thinks HRT is wonderful for people who are dealing with severe menopause symptoms, but thinks there isn't enough research to justify its widespread use. Like any medication, it comes with risks.
So, for someone like you, who is doing really well, why take on those risks when many of the benefits being pushed by RFK Jr. and social media influencers aren't proven by research?
I've been in perimenopause for 8ish years and feel pretty great. Any issues I've had have been improved through vaginal estrogen cream, exercise, and improving my diet. I've had a couple of night sweats, but the only hot flash I've had was after my last glass of alcohol, which was almost a year ago. I rarely take vitamins, get enough sleep, meditate, and feel pretty great. I'll get on HRT if that changes, but I don't take medication I don't need.
34
u/scoutiedal
The studies on the health benefits of HRT are very inconclusive. Really it’s your choice. The best evidence is around bone loss but diet and lifting are very important in prevention as well. If you feel great go hormone free. I use vagianl estrogen only for GSM. I feel pretty good too.
31
u/Curious-External-7
It sounds like you already live a very healthy lifestyle. If you're feeling well, I wouldn't mess with that. I've seen too many comments from the other sub about the troubles some of them have dialing in the correct dosages.
23
u/Zoinks222
I’m confused why anyone is pressuring you to take hormones since you don’t have any issues with menopause.
16
u/4travelers
Mom 94yo, Sister 76yo, Sister 72 yo have never even considered HRT and all have lived to tell the tale.
16
u/Agitated_Eye2638
HRT is not compulsory. Do what is working for you.
15
u/10MileHike
I am post menopausal by over a decade. I;m going to be very frank in this post and hope I do not offend anyone. As that is not my purpose.
All the women in my family live to between 92 and 100 and none of them took HRT. I do believe quite a bit in the genetic predisposition to many things, which is why I think its important to look thru one's family history. There are things we cannot fully control...they are part of our makeup.
I would never discount any of the positive effects of HRT therapy for anyone doing it. But on the flip side, I don't want to be nagged and proseletized to about doing it. And the pressure the OP describes is very much alive out there. Reading deeper between the lines, it seems that many women are terrified of aging. I am not. (I discuss a bit about "mood" further down in this post.) A lot of both physical AND psychological experiences do have very much to do with how you frame things, and one's deepest and almost "unconscious" beliefs about aging as a woman. I work on myself to dispel all the myths, and belief systems that don't ring true for ME.
I am not worried about dementia or heart disease, since in trying to get my lipids profile as close to perfection as possible, I started taking one of the safest and most well studied meds, a mild statin, which research also shows great great promise in preventing dimentia and alzeimers. My microbiome has improved because I am now getting >30-40g of fiber per day, and for my LDL-C and Apo(B), I consume < 10-15g of Saturated fat, which has also kept me at pretty much the same weight I was at in my mid 30s, and my cholesterol profile healthy. I also walk 3 to 5 miles a day 3x a week and swim every other day in summer.....less chance of me falling and breaking my hip because I work on my balance..
I am a huge believer in physical therapy and "movement". For both my heart, musculoskeletal system, and mood.
I place more importance on not suffering a stroke, or heart event, than I am about hot flashes, mood disorders, etc. I've lived long enough to take those things in stride, life is an up and down event.....I never expected to feel at my age the same as I did when I was 30. I do accept some of the deficiencies of aging.......because there is no way around it. And I have never been a woman who worried about aging, at all. I just accepted that we do age. I always promised myself when I was younger that I wouldn't become obsessed about it. And, this may offend some: I actually think that at least "part" of the emotional distress some women experience during menopause may be directly related to how they feel about aging. And that might be good to explore. Therapeutically.
I am not interested in adding any extra risk to my life... and I do believe there is some heart health risk to HRT for some people. But I am also very intentional about living a healthy lifestye and eating properly. As well as doing all the important "preventative" healthcare things that people over 65 should be doing. I get a full body skin cancer check, yearly, no matter what, for instance.
I "do" however use vaginal estriodol, which is non systemic and helps a LOT with dryness, UTIs, etc.
Finally, my neice had triple negative breast cancer, (the worst kind of BC), and the first thing the oncologoists (modern oncologists, in one of the most famous universiity hospitals in Calif) asked her was if she was taking hormones. Not saying it does, but there may be a relationship. That made me nervous. What she went thru for 4 years I would not wish on anyone, so maybe I also have a slight fear of the "possibility", however remote, of HRT and certain cancers.
But its not an argument I even want to have. I just feel, intuitively, that I didn't want to get on HRT and so, I did not.
And yes, I have noticed a very strong push in social media, that is even creeping into other health topic subs, haivng nothing to do with menopause or HRT. And that almost feels like marketing pressure or at least pushing an agenda. But I also dislike those commercials that show older people in fields of wildflowers, frolicking as if they were 20-somethings, becuase I don't think that is "realistic" for many people. I have my aches asnd pains, just like many others do. I used to play tennis 4x a week.....I can't do that anymore, so I do other things that I CAN do.
I don't think we can control everything. At my age, I have become a more patient and accepting human, and my overall attitude is "I do what I can." That is what everyone should do. Do the best you can do for yourself, that aligns with YOUR belief system, values, and deeper intuition. Examine it and decide. Then, carry on with confidence and belief that you made the right decision for yourself. Just smile and thank the friends pusing you about it, and tell them, you are glad they are getting relief, but you are pleased with your decision (if you so decide that way).
15
u/Buffalippo
I could have written this!
I also feel the social pressure from my friend circle despite being extremely active, fit, and healthy. I basically have no reason to go on HRT but I feel immense pressure to.
11
u/Reiki-Raker
Adrenals are supposed to make the transition smooth but a lot of people haven’t taken care of themselves and their adrenals are fried.
WHO released that birth control is top level cause of cancer last week. I wonder how long before HRT is the same by WHO.
I do not trust one thing our Federal Death Association approves of.
11
u/Grdngirl
My boss is on the highest does of HRT and while it helped with her sui@idal ideation. She still had anxiety and sleeps like crap. So it’s not all roses on the other side. I’d i’d say try it if you were completely miserable and it was affecting your everyday life. But you seem to be doing pretty well and you don’t seem to be too bothered by that many intense symptoms. So I would just do what you want and stay off of it. It’s not absolutely necessary to take HRT.
10
u/franzvonstuck
Please don´t get me wrong, but I have to say it very harshly:
I refuse to believe, that everything will be fine once you take HRT. It is massively the lifestyle, which influences the way you age and many people don´t want to or cannot do the work or change their habits.
I personally cannot take HRT due to other conditions and given how I badly reacted to my own hormones all my life, I wouldn´t want to put any chemical hormones in the mix. Currently, Im roughly 6 years into perimenopause with poor sleep, hormonal migraines due to peri, osteopenia and a lot of histamine issues and mast cell activation.
For many things, that HRT claims to do, there are non-HRT options you can do: Strenght training, eating whole foods with the right macronutrients, prioritize sleep as much as you can, move more, reduce stress.
This takes a lot of effort and I do wish, a magical fairy-dust unicorn pill existed, that would do the work for me.
Due to my constant exhaustion, I really don´t feel like putting in the effort most of the time, but I cook with whole foods, track my macros, try to get some exercise like walking, pilates and yoga, drag my tired body to the gym and try to sleep as well as I can in this hormonal chaos.
I live in Europe and unfortunately, this trend has spread here although many women still don´t want to take HRT. I see mostly women, who are afraid of ageing taking it.
I have colleagues, who take it and think, it is the fountain of youth. They don´t eat enough calories, one likes red wine a lot and the other one even tanned a lot (still does). Both have wrinkles and saggy skin, which proves, that HRT is not the magical pill for youthful skin it claims to be.
Unfortunately, I know of at least 2 women, who got cancer on HRT after menopause. One got breast cancer and the other one got the pre-stage of cancer in her uterus and had to get a hysterectomy.
Due to the PR and media coverage, that HRT gets, I would be lying, if I didn´t admit to be scared of osteoporosis, heart disease and dementia. Every doctor and menopause specialist recommends it nowadays. But it is too simplified and one-dimensional sometimes as you can get osteoporosis from other things than just the loss of hormones. What about your vitamin d, your calcium, your muscle strenght and type of workout? And some illnesses can cause osteoporosis like my mast cell activation.
It´s hard, but I don´t want to take HRT and only time will prove, if my decision is right for me.
10
u/Cat_From_Hood
Time to find some new friends 😂. Why would you take something you don't need? It might make sense if symptoms are bad enough to trial. Personally think it's better to focus on general health to make things go better.
9
u/ServiceKooky1323
A lot of the Dr influencers who sell books recommend it (Vonda, Haver).
8
u/blondy168
HRT doesn't solve everything, that's for sure - I'm listening to a podcast of Dr. Mary Clare's right now, she is on higher doses of estrogen (patch at at least 1.0 I think) and 200 mg Progesterone and says she wakes up at 3 am without fail and can't get back to sleep - doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of HRT to me. I found the same thing tried it once and it did nothing but wrecked my sleep. My experience.
8
u/evefue
I have seen it, too. I wasmicrobiology. In it for brain health, but my doc said that there isn't much evidence to support that it is preventative against dementia. I otherwise feel pretty good. I am not against it and am open to it if things go downhill for me, but not for now. My doc did say she was pushing people to take care of their microbiome.
5
u/AlinaNightrose
I didn’t do it either and yeah, the sub acts like you committed a crime. Exhausting.
5
u/rulytempest
I wish it wasn't so but I've tried HRT twice and both times had to give up and remove the patch. It always seems to work so well for the first week or so. Like I feel amazing! Anxiety disappears, I'm clam and sleeping well. Then the side effects of the HRT start to ramp up. Instead of calm I feel like Weepy PMS, wanting to eat everything in sight. And this last time the breast engorgement was crazy. I felt pregnant. These are things I don't want to feel again at my age!!
Many suggest I should just wait it out for a few months. But I just can't handle it. I suspect I have progesterone intolerance. I will say I have had great success with vaginal estrogen for prolapse and dryness.
5
u/Thin_Risk7778
As a breast cancer patient who can’t use HRT, I appreciate stories from people doing very well without it :)
5
u/Meesha1969
I think there is a world of difference between HRT from years ago and HRT today. I think it’s important to trust your inner voice. Being sceptical is okay but don’t let yourself suffer unduly. I’m unable to use any kind of hormone treatment. I would love to try it. I have had hot flashes every two hours for over 10 years and haven’t had a full nights sleep in all that time. I sooo want to get a full nights sleep if for no other reason than to be able to control my junk food cravings, but also, the fatigue and brain fog are so severe i feel incapable of doing most things.
4
u/Brilliant_Meet_2751
I agree, I’m 48 & feel good I do have random hot flashes & zero sex drive but I don’t feel it bad enough to try HRT’s. I take Black Cohosh a few times a week it helps w/hot flashes. Sex drive I have found anything to help w/that one yet.
4
u/Affectionate-Map2583
You sound similar to me. Why mess with what's working? I never tried HRT because I went through menopause without too many issues, all while not going to the doctor for a few years due to needing to find a new doctor and avoiding their offices in general during Covid. By the time I went, the doctor said "are you in menopause" so I said yes, and she said "and that's going okay for you?" (yes) and that was the end of that conversation.
I have seen stories on here from women who had issues with being on the hormones, so that's definitely a possibility.
4
u/Marvellous_Wonder
Have you though about NEM for reducing the chance of bone loss. I have been using it and it has really helped to reduce my joint pain. I also take marine collagen.
3
u/AlinaPetalwind
Every body is different. What works for the majority isn't a universal rule.
3
u/AmaraStarcrest
I didn’t do it either, and people definitely downvote you for that
2
u/AylaMoonpetal
Didn’t go on it either, and the downvotes came fast.
2
u/cookingismything
I didn’t go on hormones for a while but then the symptoms became too much and was affecting my everyday life. The night sweats were bad but mostly the mental fog and fatigue. I couldn’t function at work. So I’m on HRT now it has helped me tremendously but there’s no judgement from me. Peri lasts so long and symptoms come and go. Women have done it without help. Women have done it with help and women have had some help for periods of time. You need to do what’s best for you.
1
u/[deleted]
You can’t even go to any skincare sub these days, under almost every post there’s a suggest to start on HRT. Some truly believe it’s some sort of fountain of youth and makes them look 15 years younger. Yeah, riiight.
1
u/themainkangaroo
I think the only pressure is on-line. I am 63yo, use estrodiol cream but have never discussed this with friends my age, so there no pressure there. I have no sisters & my Mom was never on any hormone (she 90yo). The HRT push is an annoying on-line, media thing in my experience & the only reason I see it is within Osteoporosis discussions -- much bigger push to take bisphosphonates from doctors once they see a Dexa scores below -2.5 & sometimes above that if the woman has had fractures.
1
u/Acceptable_Iron_2080
My mom is now experiencing the repercussions of never taking hormones through menopause and beyond. If she had to do it all over again, she would take it. Go to a functional medicine doctor that will test your blood thoroughly and take their advice.