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[Moomoo437]

Hello,
This is my first post - thankyou for allowing me to join.
Brief history - Premature Ovarian failure at 17yrs. On HRT since, I’m 52 now.
My doctor suggested I might think about coming off HRT now because of the potential dangers. So, I reduced my HRT by half in January
She said I would be better on patches, but they are currently unavailable.
I take Kliovance, a mix of progesterone and oestrogen.
Since reducing, I have suffered a myriad of symptoms from insomnia, anxiety, stomach issues, aching vagina (don’t know how else to describe), headaches, muscle weakness....all sorts.
To be honest, I’ve had enough....has anyone else had issues coming off HRT? Or reducing it.
I have just decided today to start taking it as normal again, in the hopes of reducing some of the symptoms.
Any advice or story sharing would be very gratefully received
Thanks
Sam

[Joaniepat]

Hello,
This is my first post - thankyou for allowing me to join.
Brief history - Premature Ovarian failure at 17yrs. On HRT since, I’m 52 now.
My doctor suggested I might think about coming off HRT now because of the potential dangers. So, I reduced my HRT by half in January
She said I would be better on patches, but they are currently unavailable.
I take Kliovance, a mix of progesterone and oestrogen.
Since reducing, I have suffered a myriad of symptoms from insomnia, anxiety, stomach issues, aching vagina (don’t know how else to describe), headaches, muscle weakness....all sorts.
To be honest, I’ve had enough....has anyone else had issues coming off HRT? Or reducing it.
I have just decided today to start taking it as normal again, in the hopes of reducing some of the symptoms.
Any advice or story sharing would be very gratefully received
Thanks
Sam

Hello Moomoo437, welcome to the forum!

As you are so young, I simply cannot understand why your doctor wants you to stop HRT. At 52 you are at the age where many women are only just starting. Obviously she has not considered the dangers of you NOT taking it and the adverse effects this will have on your general health, especially bones and joints, heart, genitourinary tract, brain and mental health, to name a few.

I cannot comment on the product you use as I only use oestrogen, but someone else on here will have more knowledge. Transdermal is considered safer than oral, and there are other options besides patches.

JP x

[sheila99]

I agree with jp. I didn't start it til I was 57 so there's no reason to stop because of your age. There used to be a recommendation to stop at 60  but now there is no age limit. As you still have symptoms personally I would continue with it. You might consider a patch or gel though as they are safer than oral.

[shrosphirelass]

I didn't start until 56 either and am now 58 and no one has mentioned coming of it, infact when I was given it initially the menopause specialist said if it was low dose she would be happy to prescribe in indefinately. The fact that you have symptoms seems to suggest that you need the estrogen.

BTW I am on evorel conti patches and I got my prescription yesterday so this type of HRT is available, don't know about other patches.

[Tynkabelle]

Hi Moomoo437

Thought I would share how your history is similar to mine, although we differ in terms of HRT products.

I collapsed with ovarian teratoma/cancer of the ovaries when I was 14 years old, had 2.5 years of chemo, went on the pill, not for contraception but for some hormones, They nearly gave me HRT but felt sorry for me being so young so opted to using the pill and that worked till my 30s when I started getting full on menopause symptoms - had been getting them for a few years but didn’t understand what it was. The Dr did some tests for almost a year and then decided that yes I am in the menopause and prescribed HRT - she put me on a 15 year plan to take me to the age of 50 and then I was to then start a 5 year plan to take me to the age of 55 as this 2nd plan would coincide with roughly when a female would start the menopause and after the age of 55 to reassess continuing or finding a natural way to ease symptoms if they still continue - I am now 53 going on 54 so one more year till I finish the 2nd plan and the way things currently are foresee they will keep me on it, unless I see if I can stop, although it will be a gentle reduction in what I am taking - pill every other day for a couple of months and monitor symptoms.

I have had various HRT pills over the years, but settled on one for over 12 years, until the past month when they couldn’t get it and put me on Femoston that didn’t work, posts in this forum about that experience!
Managed to get a few months stock of my old HRT (Cyclo Progynova 2mg) so I am happy for a few months.

I have changed Drs over the years and it is pretty obvious they are not experts on HRT and especially how to manage giving to me who was so young - I stump them!  Every time I go for a repeat prescription I get “the look” as in I am not old enough to be taking it and then there is tapping on the computer to read my notes, haha!
Had some telling me to stop and others saying to stay on it ... I challenge them when they tell me to stop using it as they are not able to provide a concrete answer, just give me the ... could cause cancer, well I have already had that a few times now!

So all I can advise you is how do you feel -  if your symptoms are manageable to stop then try it, if not then go back to taking what worked for you and try to stop when you are a little older - as you saw by other posts, there are ladies who are older than us and are only just starting the HRT route - I read in a post somewhere where there are ladies in their 70s taking it, so don’t be pushed by your Dr - you decide.

Yes there are side effects of taking it and even more so in terms of damage for long term users like you and me - you are informed of the “what if” and then compare against being able to live your life as symptom free as possible

I want to stop in the next year or so and will do my best to try alternative therapies, however if they don’t work then will go back and take HRT again, knowing especially after reading this forum that it is ok to stay on it till a later age.

Not sure if anything I have said has helped at all, but wanted to share as you are the 1st person I have come across as being a long time user of it 👍

All the best xx
 

[Moomoo437]

Thanks so much to you all for your responses. It’s just so helpful to know there are other ladies out there with similar issues. A problem shared is a problem halved!
All the best
Xx

[Kay21]

I agree with jp. I didn't start it til I was 57 so there's no reason to stop because of your age. There used to be a recommendation to stop at 60  but now there is no age limit. As you still have symptoms personally I would continue with it. You might consider a patch or gel though as they are safer than oral.
I’m about to start on it at 58. I’m having a major wobble tonight. I just do not know what to do.