Hi Minty60
![welcomemm :welcomemm:](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/welcomemm.gif)
There are several women on here who have not started HRT until they have reached 60 or more.
However your doc should ideally not really have given you tablets if you are starting at this age and 8 years since menopause. The British Menopause Society recommend that if started in women over 60, "lower doses should be started, preferably with a transdermal estradiol preparation". This is to minimise any additional risk of cardio-vascular events, or stroke. This means either patches or gel - maybe combi patches or patch or gel with separate progestogen.
The only combi patch available at the moment is Evorel conti and you could start with half a patch and see how you got on? Alternatively you could try an oestrogen only patch (they start at low dose 25 mcg) with separate progestogen - Provera or Utrogestan.
You are right to want to come off the ADs - after all you should not have been given them instead of HRT if your low mood only came on since menopause and is hormonal in origin rather than due to life events.
In your position I would go back to the doc and ask for patches ( after deciding which type you want to try) and as you start your new HRT start immediately to taper off the ADs.
The other thing is that both ADs and tablet HRT can drepess libido so patches would be better from this point of view. Low dose oestrogen may not improve your libido but at least if you stop the ADs and don't take tablets - you are giving yourself the best chance!
As CLKD says - if sex is painful and you are without oestrogen then you have vaginal atrophy and whatever else you do not dpo re the HRT you need to use either Vagifem or estriol cream ( Ovestin or the generic). Here are the treatements:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/local.php This can be used in addition to systemic HRT and is recommended as the best treatment to specifically target this area.
Jaypo - 55 - too old for HRT
![Shocked :o](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/shocked.gif)
. Absolute nonsense you have been told as others have on here have also been told at times... I started HRT when I was just under 54 and many women are still having periods at this age! More to the point is length of time since menopause but also benefits are thought to exceed the risks if aged under 60!
Hurdity x