What’s the end game for HRT?

[Anonymous]

My understanding is we take HRT for five years. Then, are we left to manage without the medicine and far lower hormone levels?

Without the hormones, my mood is rocky.

Is there a tapering or something else that we can take?

[Anonymous]

Where did you get the five year number from?

[Anonymous]

Well my doctor said she has an 80 year old patient still taking HRT.
However if you don’t want to take it forever, I have read that high FSH (not just low estrogen) is responsible for some of the menopausal symptoms, and it’s highest during early menopause. Then it usually drops back down. So HRT helps most during those transition years and may not be needed as much later on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did you get the five year number from?

NP. I have been HRT about a year and also understand that the current health guidance is to go off around age 60.

[Anonymous]

I went off at 60 after five years, and started to have issues, including vaginal bleeding (checked multiple times for cancer) and terrible hot flashes. My Gyn has me on progesterone (which is protective against cancer) and the estrogen patch, and I feel *much* better.

[Anonymous]

For some of us the worst of the menopausal symptoms pass pretty quickly and HRT gets you over the hump. I was on it for only 6 months (went off for insurance reasons) and while I really needed it when I needed it, and it helped a lot, when I went off 6 months later I was 100% in a different place. No more hot flashes, primarily, which meant sleep got better, etc.

I’m sure there are other symptoms that I still have at lower levels that HRT would help, but since they aren’t that bothersome I’m happy to skip it.

[Anonymous]

There is a DCUM forum for this topic.

[Anonymous]

Never needed HRT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did you get the five year number from?

If I recall correctly, my doctor mentioned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well my doctor said she has an 80 year old patient still taking HRT.
However if you don’t want to take it forever, I have read that high FSH (not just low estrogen) is responsible for some of the menopausal symptoms, and it’s highest during early menopause. Then it usually drops back down. So HRT helps most during those transition years and may not be needed as much later on.

That's interesting to know. I didn't think we were "allowed" to take HRT beyond five years. My doctor suggested that was the case.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went off at 60 after five years, and started to have issues, including vaginal bleeding (checked multiple times for cancer) and terrible hot flashes. My Gyn has me on progesterone (which is protective against cancer) and the estrogen patch, and I feel *much* better.

I'm glad you had help to figure that out and they let you get back on HRT. I also have the patch and a pill for the progesterone, which also helps me fall asleep!

OP

[Anonymous]

My mom is still on a low-dose of HRT at 79. She went off about 15 years ago and it was awful. Quality of life counts. And she's still super healthy.

[Anonymous]

Til death do us part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went off at 60 after five years, and started to have issues, including vaginal bleeding (checked multiple times for cancer) and terrible hot flashes. My Gyn has me on progesterone (which is protective against cancer) and the estrogen patch, and I feel *much* better.

Er, no. Progesterone is the the one that is conclusively linked to breast cancer.

Estrogen is correlated with endometrial cancer.

Yes, a small risk in both cases. But you're way ass backward in thinking progesterone "protects against cancer."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went off at 60 after five years, and started to have issues, including vaginal bleeding (checked multiple times for cancer) and terrible hot flashes. My Gyn has me on progesterone (which is protective against cancer) and the estrogen patch, and I feel *much* better.

Er, no. Progesterone is the the one that is conclusively linked to breast cancer.

Estrogen is correlated with endometrial cancer.

Yes, a small risk in both cases. But you're way ass backward in thinking progesterone "protects against cancer."

Hmmm, DP here. I was told that progesterone keeps the lining from building up caused by the continued estrogen. And that the build up of the uterine wall is what can cause cancer. Ergo, if progesterone is keeping it from building up, then it is protecting from cancer.