HRT Experiences

[Anonymous]

Tell me all about your experience with HRT. I’m in my early 40s and I have not yet missed periods but I’ve experienced hot flashes, weight gain including breasts, skin issues, brain fog, hair loss/growth, heart palps and I cannot imagine dealing with these symptoms for 10 more years. I already feel I’ve been in perimenopause for a few years. All the usual things are fine, sleep, exercise etc but I need something to give me a jump start.

I also would love to know the negative side effects of taking HRT.

[Anonymous]

There are at least a dozen threads on HRT experiences from just the last few months. Maybe try reading those before asking people to share again? I've given detailed personal experience and lots that I learned from research in several of those threads, not interested in typing it all out again. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about your experience with HRT. I’m in my early 40s and I have not yet missed periods but I’ve experienced hot flashes, weight gain including breasts, skin issues, brain fog, hair loss/growth, heart palps and I cannot imagine dealing with these symptoms for 10 more years. I already feel I’ve been in perimenopause for a few years. All the usual things are fine, sleep, exercise etc but I need something to give me a jump start.

I also would love to know the negative side effects of taking HRT.

NP, and I agree with PP - search the forum. Briefly - for me my main symptom at 51 was hot flashes, multiple a day and take my breath away intense, sometimes with slight nausea as well. I had relief immediately from the patch and a progesterone pill.

BUT, early 40's, no missed periods and all these symptoms? I'd be looking for another cause or at least confirming that perimenopause is the cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about your experience with HRT. I’m in my early 40s and I have not yet missed periods but I’ve experienced hot flashes, weight gain including breasts, skin issues, brain fog, hair loss/growth, heart palps and I cannot imagine dealing with these symptoms for 10 more years. I already feel I’ve been in perimenopause for a few years. All the usual things are fine, sleep, exercise etc but I need something to give me a jump start.

I also would love to know the negative side effects of taking HRT.

My experiences have only been positive, but I started on HRT once I was 12 months without my period - not sure how this works while you're still in perimenopause. There are some existing discussions about this topic though, just use the search function. You'll get a ton of hits!

[Anonymous]

It can take time to find the right combination of systemic estradiol, local estradiol, progesterone, and sometimes testosterone.

Best option is for you to find a knowledgeable practitioner who will work with you. What works for one woman doesn’t work for others.

Don’t expect immediate results. Especially with systemic estradiol and testosterone. Both take time - months.

If your current gynecologist isn’t on top of perimenopause education, you can try this locator tool. https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx

[Anonymous]

My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

Hormone induced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer. [/quote

One can also get breast cancer even if they don’t use HRT. It’s generally a low risk unless you have known risk factors.

Try researching on Reddit r/menopause. You will get more information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer.

you've posted this BS before ....I urge everyone to ignore this nonsense, scare-tactic comment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer.

you've posted this BS before ....I urge everyone to ignore this nonsense, scare-tactic comment

They have studies showing that they are linked. My mother currently has Stage 3 breast cancer. She was on HRT for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer.

you've posted this BS before ....I urge everyone to ignore this nonsense, scare-tactic comment

They have studies showing that they are linked. My mother currently has Stage 3 breast cancer. She was on HRT for years.

Sure. And lots of people who are not on HRT get breast cancer too. So what does that prove?

[Anonymous]

I know it's OT but what is the incentive to convince women you don't know to NOT try a tested and life-changing medicine?

Is Big Ice Pack on these forums or something? Afraid if we don't get hot flashes they won't sell as much ice?

[Anonymous]

The increased risk for breast cancer from drinking one glass of wine daily is much larger than the increased risk from HRT in perimenopausal aged women.

The study that showed increased risk was in women in their 60s and 70s being put on HRT. Which is why it is not recommended for older women but rather it is best for women within a couple of years of menopause meaning the cessation of menses.

[Anonymous]

OP I am the first responder who gave short shrift in my reply but given other comments I want to encourage you to see an HRT positive GYN who can go over the real risks with you as well as the huge benefits which have decades of research behind them.

As for me, HRT is the reason I am alive today. I have struggled with refractory depression my whole life but in perimenopause with chronic insomnia from messed up hormones I became suicidally depressed, the worst of many awful symptoms which made my life feel not worth living. I went on HRT, got my sleep back, got me depression in remission for the first time in a decade, changed my diet and am changing my body and look forward to the rest of my 50s and beyond being fabulous.

If you’re miserable don’t hesitate assuming after medical assessment you are not considered high risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was doing hrt and ended up with hair one induced breast cancer.

you've posted this BS before ....I urge everyone to ignore this nonsense, scare-tactic comment

They have studies showing that they are linked. My mother currently has Stage 3 breast cancer. She was on HRT for years.

The current HRT protocols are different from the past. As others said, OP should talk to an informed doctor and evaluate the risks versus benefit. If started in perimenopause or soon after menopause, HRT can reduce risk of several chronic diseases.