I don't take it because I am concerned about the potential effects. I wish it didn't come with these risks, as the menopause insomnia is kicking my butt.

My doctor was willing to prescribe the patch and in her opinion it is safe, but I'm too chicken.

Not an option for me due to factor 5 (blood clotting mutation). The risks of clotting with it are serious.

Hell yes! Increased my sex drive, zero menopause symptoms, and doc said it decreases risk of ovarian cancer (which is often more deadly and harder to detect Than breast cancer). So glad she explained the ovarian/breast cancers counterpoints!

No; it’s dangerous as hell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it is a thing of the past unless you have severe symptoms. In fact, the whole idea of it being "replacement" therapy sounds like it is a deficit, so it is now referred to as HT- hormone therapy. Women at menopause have what is for them a normal level of hormones at that time of life, and nothing needs to be "replaced" -so that language is even out of favor. -an MD mom.

And this is a shame, because you can feel better even with mild symptoms. Why suffer through menopause?

Uh, I’ll take mild symptoms over increased risk of breast cancer and stroke.
Why do we think life is supposed to be symptom-free?

The breast cancer factor outweighed the potential benefits for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it is a thing of the past unless you have severe symptoms. In fact, the whole idea of it being "replacement" therapy sounds like it is a deficit, so it is now referred to as HT- hormone therapy. Women at menopause have what is for them a normal level of hormones at that time of life, and nothing needs to be "replaced" -so that language is even out of favor. -an MD mom.

And this is a shame, because you can feel better even with mild symptoms. Why suffer through menopause?

Menopause is a natural life process, taking synthetic hormones is not natural. Sorry, but there is, in fact, a link between taking estrogen/synthetic estrogen and certain cancers, especially breast cancer, and blood clots/heart disease. Unfortunately, there is nothing natural that works as well as hormone therapy, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

So If HRT is not done anymore, what is the new effective treatment right now?

A lot of old, bad science on here. The connection to cancer has been found when people start HRT long after menopause, like 5 to 10 years later. If you start in peri, or just after your last period, it seems to have significant protective effects against dementia, and that is why I am taking it. If you feel that you have brain fog, aphasia, less short term recall, etc. that’s for a reason...your brain is significantly altered without estrogen, and studies seem to show that a rapid decline from estrogen to no estrogen can actually cause irreversible damage. There’s a reason rates of Alzheimer’s are so much higher among women, but most science in general focuses in men, not in the unique role that hormones play in a woman’s body.

Anonymous wrote:No, it is a thing of the past unless you have severe symptoms. In fact, the whole idea of it being "replacement" therapy sounds like it is a deficit, so it is now referred to as HT- hormone therapy. Women at menopause have what is for them a normal level of hormones at that time of life, and nothing needs to be "replaced" -so that language is even out of favor. -an MD mom.

And this is a shame, because you can feel better even with mild symptoms. Why suffer through menopause?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, most women are not on HRT. Long term use has been proven to cause breast cancer, blood clots/MIs/strokes. If you have a hysterectomy with ovaries removed prior to menopause, then HRT may be necessary to lessen the initial shock of instant menopause, but even then it should be closely monitored by a physician. Once natural menopause would have occurred , the HRT should be tapered off.

This is just not true.

Please explain how this is untrue.

I survived without HRT. I still have sleep issues and find an occasional CBD gummy will do the trick.

No, it is a thing of the past unless you have severe symptoms. In fact, the whole idea of it being "replacement" therapy sounds like it is a deficit, so it is now referred to as HT- hormone therapy. Women at menopause have what is for them a normal level of hormones at that time of life, and nothing needs to be "replaced" -so that language is even out of favor. -an MD mom.

Hot flashes aren't that bad. Eating less sugar helps prevent the apple belly.

No. There are health risks.