Do you take HRT? Did they improve your life in any way?

[Anonymous]

I am the one who mentioned "second menopause" and stopping Mecosta and Vagifem.
I had to stop because I was diagnosed with hormone sensitive breast cancer in 2021. I didn't mention that because I figured people would jump all over me for allegedly implying a connection WHICH I AM NOT. But imo it would be nuts to keep taking estrogen in case any cells are still floating around.
"Second menopause." Funny I have used that phrase at oncology and ob gyn and nobody quibbles. Obviously the official pause was a year after LMP.
But after 11 years of no hot flashes their resumption after stopping the patch and the diagnosed vaginal atrophy after no topical hormone was an unpleasant surprise.
The flashes are dwindled. The vag is a wreck. Even with moisturizers recommended by gyn sex is too painful.

[Anonymous]

That's Menostar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the one who mentioned "second menopause" and stopping Mecosta and Vagifem.
I had to stop because I was diagnosed with hormone sensitive breast cancer in 2021. I didn't mention that because I figured people would jump all over me for allegedly implying a connection WHICH I AM NOT. But imo it would be nuts to keep taking estrogen in case any cells are still floating around.
"Second menopause." Funny I have used that phrase at oncology and ob gyn and nobody quibbles. Obviously the official pause was a year after LMP.
But after 11 years of no hot flashes their resumption after stopping the patch and the diagnosed vaginal atrophy after no topical hormone was an unpleasant surprise.
The flashes are dwindled. The vag is a wreck. Even with moisturizers recommended by gyn sex is too painful.

I'm sorry. I hope your cancer was successfully treated. Thank you for sharing your story!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the one who mentioned "second menopause" and stopping Mecosta and Vagifem.
I had to stop because I was diagnosed with hormone sensitive breast cancer in 2021. I didn't mention that because I figured people would jump all over me for allegedly implying a connection WHICH I AM NOT. But imo it would be nuts to keep taking estrogen in case any cells are still floating around.
"Second menopause." Funny I have used that phrase at oncology and ob gyn and nobody quibbles. Obviously the official pause was a year after LMP.
But after 11 years of no hot flashes their resumption after stopping the patch and the diagnosed vaginal atrophy after no topical hormone was an unpleasant surprise.
The flashes are dwindled. The vag is a wreck. Even with moisturizers recommended by gyn sex is too painful.

I'm so sorry. Did you know that vaginal, localized estrogen is safe for people who currently have cancer? You don't have to live with a wrecked vag! Here is a summary (from Dr. Corinne Menn) of the relevant literature and the position statements of the relevant medical societies:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PHi4SZ0G9ZGI8CtLz5BdmP-YW5SXoVzDFY8fgIqKR5I/edit

[Anonymous]

Thank you both.
I have asked my oncologist and she prefers I try different moisturizer and lubricant than topical, given my medical history of polyps too. The bleeding and polyps twice in 2022 were discouraging. My former gyn missed them in a D&C, found one in the office visit after. Incompetent. Second polyp was tucked under cervix and new gyn found it in office after it spotted. This all consumed March to August of 2022 including sonograms to rule our endometrial cancer.
Just so tired of being medicalized.
Thank you for letting me vent.
I really am very lucky. I am 73.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both.
I have asked my oncologist and she prefers I try different moisturizer and lubricant than topical, given my medical history of polyps too. The bleeding and polyps twice in 2022 were discouraging. My former gyn missed them in a D&C, found one in the office visit after. Incompetent. Second polyp was tucked under cervix and new gyn found it in office after it spotted. This all consumed March to August of 2022 including sonograms to rule our endometrial cancer.
Just so tired of being medicalized.
Thank you for letting me vent.
I really am very lucky. I am 73.

I am sorry that you are suffering on multiple fronts. I appreciate your generosity in sharing your experiences.

[Anonymous]

Dumb question, is a GYN the appropriate kind of doctor to ask about HRT? I am 53 and have NOT had any significant menopause symptoms: no vaginal dryness, no hot flashes. Brain fog and fatigue? Well, some, but minor, and given the zillion potential causes I don't know that it can be attributed to that. Is HRT just for women with severe symptoms? Does it offer other benefits/risks? My dermatologist, who also does a lot of fancy cosmetic stuff including vaginal rejuvenation laser treatment for stress incontinence (I guess it's sort of dermatology? It increases collagen?), was pushing bio-identical hormone therapy. I was polite about it but basically felt like I don't really think a dermatologist, not matter how good, is the right kind of doctor to decide if you need this....

[Anonymous]

Menopause care has fallen into a gap. Obgyns don’t do it because they mostly work on the childbearing set. PCPs won’t do it because they think it’s a gyn issue. Endocrinologists don’t do it regularly. So we’re stuck with derms and others who are pushing lasers and such, which don’t address the root cause.

Try one of the menopause telehealth services! They’re great and will get you the care you deserve. They can help you find a course of action based on your symptoms and comfort level. They’re reasonably priced and will actually listen to you and not dismiss your concerns or try to sell you $$$ unregulated pellets or laser your labia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Menopause care has fallen into a gap. Obgyns don’t do it because they mostly work on the childbearing set. PCPs won’t do it because they think it’s a gyn issue. Endocrinologists don’t do it regularly. So we’re stuck with derms and others who are pushing lasers and such, which don’t address the root cause.

Try one of the menopause telehealth services! They’re great and will get you the care you deserve. They can help you find a course of action based on your symptoms and comfort level. They’re reasonably priced and will actually listen to you and not dismiss your concerns or try to sell you $$$ unregulated pellets or laser your labia.

Can you recommend one please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Menopause care has fallen into a gap. Obgyns don’t do it because they mostly work on the childbearing set. PCPs won’t do it because they think it’s a gyn issue. Endocrinologists don’t do it regularly. So we’re stuck with derms and others who are pushing lasers and such, which don’t address the root cause.

Try one of the menopause telehealth services! They’re great and will get you the care you deserve. They can help you find a course of action based on your symptoms and comfort level. They’re reasonably priced and will actually listen to you and not dismiss your concerns or try to sell you $$$ unregulated pellets or laser your labia.

Can you recommend one please?

DP. I have heard of ones called Alloy or Evernow but didn’t use them. I have a GYN that is knowledgeable and prescribed typical HRT that’s covered by insurance, so they are out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Menopause care has fallen into a gap. Obgyns don’t do it because they mostly work on the childbearing set. PCPs won’t do it because they think it’s a gyn issue. Endocrinologists don’t do it regularly. So we’re stuck with derms and others who are pushing lasers and such, which don’t address the root cause.

Try one of the menopause telehealth services! They’re great and will get you the care you deserve. They can help you find a course of action based on your symptoms and comfort level. They’re reasonably priced and will actually listen to you and not dismiss your concerns or try to sell you $$$ unregulated pellets or laser your labia.

Can you recommend one please?

I have used Gennev happily. I see them once a year and they do renewals for an entire year. I also really respect the main medical staff at Alloy. But tbh I would use any of them to get what I need. It’s not hard to prescribe properly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Menopause care has fallen into a gap. Obgyns don’t do it because they mostly work on the childbearing set. PCPs won’t do it because they think it’s a gyn issue. Endocrinologists don’t do it regularly. So we’re stuck with derms and others who are pushing lasers and such, which don’t address the root cause.

Try one of the menopause telehealth services! They’re great and will get you the care you deserve. They can help you find a course of action based on your symptoms and comfort level. They’re reasonably priced and will actually listen to you and not dismiss your concerns or try to sell you $$$ unregulated pellets or laser your labia.

Can you recommend one please?

I have used Gennev happily. I see them once a year and they do renewals for an entire year. I also really respect the main medical staff at Alloy. But tbh I would use any of them to get what I need. It’s not hard to prescribe properly!

I tried Gennev earlier this year and found the provider to be old school and basically say eat less carbs and exercise more, and that no one should be on HRT for more than 5 years. Gennev takes Aetna though so in another couple months I may try a difference provider there.

[Anonymous]

I tried topical estrogen-I gained 5 lbs. the first (and only) week I was on it so I stopped using it. I felt puffy and like I was retaining fluid. My weight went back to normal within a few days of stopping it. I was disappointed as I was really hoping it would help my hot flashes and brain fog.

However, I have used vaginal estrogen for the past few years with no side effects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 58, postmenopausal, horrible hot flashes, mood swings, worried about sex because it eas starting to hurt. Testosterone cream made me horny and crazy but didn't fix my main problems.
Low dose estrogen patch felt like warm syrup flowing over my nerves. Used Menostar and topical Vagifem estrogen tabs 2x week from age 60 to 71. It was bliss I only recognize in retrospect. No flashes, no skin or vaginal fragility, looked 60 for 11 years.
Had to stop in 2021. Second menopause was a shock. Hot flashes. Vaginal atrophy. I am my age now. Ugh.
Go low dose.

What the heck is second menopause!?
Why does no one tell us about these things.

It isn’t really a second menopause, which is the moment you have gone 12 consecutive months without menses.

It’s a return of the symptoms of peri/post menopause which cause diminished quality of life as poster describes. The thing is that for some women those symptoms carry on for decades after menopause - I work in elder care and have worked with women in their 80s who still have hot flashes for instance.

Again, the subject of long term HRT is a matter of debate in the medical community. The current advice is to take it for as short a time as absolutely necessary, but for some women that would be a very long time.

I was very well informed about the risks of HRT before asking for it, and still my GYN talked with me for over an hour before he prescribed it. I told him that I would accept a risk 10x higher since by that point the effects of nearly a decade of night sweats and chronic insomnia had left me stuck in clinical depression and with a body that felt 81, not 51. Two years later I feel my age and better every day because I’m losing weight and getting my fitness back with great sleeping patterns and all the other benefits that flow from that. My attitude at this point is that they can take my HRT from my cold dead hands and not before.

I’m not sure that’s accurate re the research saying you should take it for as short a time as possible. I see a menopause specialist who says there’s no reason to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the one who mentioned "second menopause" and stopping Mecosta and Vagifem.
I had to stop because I was diagnosed with hormone sensitive breast cancer in 2021. I didn't mention that because I figured people would jump all over me for allegedly implying a connection WHICH I AM NOT. But imo it would be nuts to keep taking estrogen in case any cells are still floating around.
"Second menopause." Funny I have used that phrase at oncology and ob gyn and nobody quibbles. Obviously the official pause was a year after LMP.
But after 11 years of no hot flashes their resumption after stopping the patch and the diagnosed vaginal atrophy after no topical hormone was an unpleasant surprise.
The flashes are dwindled. The vag is a wreck. Even with moisturizers recommended by gyn sex is too painful.

I also had hormone sensitive breast cancer. I am just approaching menopause but was told I could use vaginal estrogen if needed later on because it does not go into the bloodstream.