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[Meg0909]

I'm a new member. I had a total hysterectomy 15 years ago and have been on HRT oestrogen only (Evorel patches) ever since.  I have tried to wean myself off by slowly cutting the patches, until I got down to a tiny slither of a 25mg patch - I'm sure I wasn't getting any oestrogen by this time and it was purely psychological to think I was still getting just a very small amount. But once I had achieved this I felt like absolute shit !!  I have now gone back to 25mg and after reading all the more recent research into oestrogen only HRT & the newer & current NICE guidelines to GP's to stop trying to make women come of HRT and let us make our own decisions, I have decided my quality of life is more important than the constant nagging by GP's every time a have an appointment even for something totally unrelated. I am seriously considering increasing the does back to 50mg.  My point is - the symptoms of no HRT are so debilitating to me I don't think I will ever be able to cope without oestrogen, and am prepared to trade the extremely low risk of breast cancer for a decent quality of life.  Maybe in another few years I will have another attempt at weaning myself off, but for now I simply want to make the most of life today. Are there any other long-term HRT users out there & can anyone beat my 15 years? I would love to hear from you.  X

[Annie0710]

Yes I'm 19 years on oestrogen hrt after my hysterectomy at 32.

I've never been off it but tried different variations and night sweats came back along with other symptoms so I'm hopefully a hrt-Lifer !

[cubagirl]

20 + years post hysterectomy & GP is happy to let me stay on half an Everol 25 patch. I still get odd flush, but not as debilitating as not being on HRT at all.

[Meg0909]

It's great to know there are other long time HRT users out there, & very reassuring to hear there are GP's who are fine about it too.  One of my other concerns was my age - I started the Evorel oestrogen age 48 and am now 63.  As I understand it the risks become slightly raised over 60, but is there a limit to how old we can be before we think about attempting to stop. I would be quite happy to stay on it for life.

[cubagirl]

I was informed by gynecologist of similar Trey. 

[Meg0909]

Thanks for that, I will look into it.  Update - I just been back to my regular GP who reassured me I am really low risk ie. I use transdermal (patch), no history of breast cancer, oestrogen only (as far as I know it's the progesterone which is linked to the breast cancer risk), and only on a low dose. But seeing as I am feeling so low we have decided to give Estradot 37.5mg patch a go and see if that helps. 

[Annie0710]

Have you considered testosterone added in ?

I feel so much better since I've been using it.  Improved wellbeing definitely helps with the libido too

[Meg0909]

Hi Annie - yes I have considered testosterone but only mentioned it in passing to GP but they don't take it seriously and totally dismiss it, saying they don't prescribe testosterone for women in the U.K.  .??

[Annie0710]

My gp got advice from the gynae dept who prescribed it for me

[Taz2]

Hi Meg - I think it depends on age re testosterone. My menopause clinic would prescribe it for women who needed it as long as they were under 50 i.e. mostly surgical menopause ladies. My GP can't prescribe it (she says) but has advised I might benefit by seeing a private consultant who could prescribe it. Others on here have had good results - not amazing maybe but certainly a return of energy to some degree.

I'm the same age as you and have been on HRT - almost continuously - for eleven years. I am currently on Evorel 50, following a hysterectomy three years ago - but was only "allowed" this after my gynae contacted my GP ( who had refused to prescribe it as I had reached 60) to say that I needed full HRT in order to stop further pelvic organ prolapse. My GP has said that she wants me on half dose by the end of this year with a view to stopping by this time next year. We are currently in negotiations...    Your GP sounds as if he has listened to you. Oestrogen only HRT is thought to be much safer re breast cancer.

Taz x 

[Hurdity]

Hi Meg0909

  from me too.

I am not quite as long as you but 10 years on transdermal HRT and now 64 and no sign of stopping! You are quids in by being on oestrogen only - there really is no reason to stop. Women with a uterus will be more likely to stop due to the progestogen effects - and especially those who maintain a cycle as I do so bleeding in your 60's is no fun!

Re cardiovascular disease - as Trey says there is no thought to be a "window of opportunity" for starting HRT within 10 years of menopause and under 60 - so not being over 60 per se nor how long you take it for - notwithstanding the data from the large flawed study which is always quoted when risks are mentioned (eg breast cancer).

Here is some info on this website about the window of op:

https://menopausematters.co.uk/newsitem.php?recordID=167/Heart-and-stroke-risk-after-stopping-HRT
https://menopausematters.co.uk/risks.php
https://menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20HRT%20-%20What's%20the%20latest.pdf

Oh dear Taz- I hope your negotiations are successful - what is the reason given for your stopping? My official GP told me I should have come off at 60 but I don't go to her any more, as the other female GPs are quite happy. Amazing that there is such an individual difference even within a practice!

Hurdity x

[Meg0909]

Hi All, thanks for all your comments & great advise. All other GPs at my surgery say the same thing Taz, they want me to decrease it and be hrt free asap cos I've been on it for so long.  But my regular GP understands my history of hormone induced depression, I've told him it's either keeping me on hrt or being committed to the 'funny farm' cos I will have a breakdown.  I'm sure if I had been around in Victorian times I would have been in an asylum once I hit the menopause, it's only Hrt that's kept me sane. Update is that I changed from Evorel 25 and tried Estradot 37.5 but felt dreadful so am back on Evorel & have now increased dose and feeling sooooo much better. Libido could definitely do with improvement so am going to ask my wonderful GP (the one that listens) if he would consider Testosterone. But what do I ask for and will he be able to prescribe it or would I need to go private or could I self administer from the internet ? 

[Annie0710]

Tell gp about this website.  My gp was hesitant so emailed a gynae at the hospital who replied okaying testosterone gel

Read NICE guidelines about testosterone and quote that part to gp

[Hurdity]

In your position Meg0909 I would want to get back to using oestrogen 50 mcg and be settled on this before introducing testosterone. This is usually the recommendation of the gyanes who prescribe this (T that is).

Not a good idea to self-medicate so hopefully you will be able to get a prescription eventually. I had to go privately for mine (just once!) and have yet to test out the NHS but will try when I start to get low on sachets!

The NICE Guidelines make provision for GPs to consider prescribing testosterone to women but it is off licence and even some gynaecologists will not prescribe it due to lack of appropriate products for women nor long term trials - although many women are now using it.

I use Testogel pea-sized blob) but Testim is similar. Tostran is double the concentration so less easy to get a very small dose - if that's what you would be using -but handy for women using slightly larger doses.

I started a thread Testosterone here we go in private lives section which may give you some info.

Hurdity x

[Meg0909]

Thanks for this Hurdity.  I went to the GP today and there had been a meeting at the surgery to inform GPs that - in line with NICE guidelines - they must point out the risks involved to their women patients but not try to force them off HRT but let us make our own decision. He explained the risks of womb & ovarian cancer - so I reminded him I didn't actually have a womb or any ovaries !!  Oops - I think he had forgotten (but then I can't expect him to remember all his patient's history).  I also pointed out this only applied to people taking combined hrt and I am on oestrogen only. So after ruling out those risks he advised me there was a slight risk of deep vein thrombosis, so again I pointed out that applied to orally administered hrt not transdermal, and I am on patches.  With that he had to admit there was no risk whatsoever for me !!  I have been in contact with Dr. Heather Currie who has given me very reassuring advise, and I have decided to increase to Evorel 50 rather than try to introduce testosterone at this stage.  I am already feeling loads better, like someone has switched the light on and I've come out of a thick brain fog. So I'm going to stop worrying, stick with Evorel 50 and stay happy.  😀👍