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[Emma1308b]

Hello I’m new to posting however have been a lurker for a few years now. I have never had an issue with hormones when younger, I was on Marvelon for 13 years and then came off and took no precautions and had no pregnancy- it was one of those if it happens it does and if it doesn’t so be it. I then got pregnant at 39  years old and had my son a week before my 40th birthday. After this it spiralled downhill and I became peri menopausal with the occasional night sweat, anxiety, mood swings, PMT, extreme tiredness and  brain fog. At 42 I could bear it no longer and went on HRT, evorel and Elleste before settling on femiston 2/10. I am now 48 and thinking of trying to cut down. HRT is working really well for me all symptoms gone but I wonder how you know when you no longer need the higher dose. My breast are getting more and more tender during the month and occasionally there is no bleed at all. When there is a bleed sometimes it’s light and hardly there and other times it’s heavy for three days then gone. I’m trying to use HRT for the minimum time necessary and was thinking of going to 1/5. Thanks in advance.

[Uptick]

Hi, you're probably perimenopausal (right age) hence the erratic periods. Decreasing HRT dose when your own ovaries are having ups and downs is not going to make any difference, because oestrogen levels can skyrocket and cause tender breasts. On the other hand you can try the lower dose and see what happens, each woman is different! Good luck!

[Emma1308b]

Thank you for your response. I guess I knew exactly what I was doing when I went on them, my young female doctor was adamant I should start with a medium dose due to age and needs but my last app was with an older woman who said I might want to think of coming off it as it was risky - I have T1 diabetes. Well I didn’t want to change size or come off but now I’m worried she is right and I have to come off sometime and I’ve been on it 6 years. I’ll maybe try taking these every other day for a couple of months and if that goes ok I’ll ask for a lower dose.

[Uptick]

T1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, did she say HRT can make it worse?

[Emma1308b]

The HRT has been a god send, I have three autoimmune conditions including the T1 diabetes. We discussed the issues around this but unfortunately there are a lot of alternative natural products that interfere with my thyroxine or insulin regime. My post is more about wanting to know when the menopause is done because the HRT can mask this and how do you know when it’s time to cut down or come off. I have been cutting down for 3 weeks and have developed anxiety, low mood and apathy again. Going to persevere to see if my body can adjust if not will ramp it back up again. It just the not knowing when the time is right to stop

[CLKD]

Without stopping I don't think that you will find out.

I would suggest that personally, if you feel well, I wouldn't want to know.  You have a young child to keep up with  .  I would also suggest a in depth consultation with a diabetes specialist - if you are stable, why alter the regime? 

You may find that if you drop the dosage but feel the need to restart, that your body doesn't react favourably.  If it ain't broke etc.?

If it's simply to find out where you are you may be inviting more problems. 

Do read the threads about bladder issues and vaginal atrophy ;-).  Let us know how you get on?

[KarineT]

I believe HRT must mask what the natural hormones are doing in the body.  That's probably why some women are afraid to come off it.

[CLKD]

What we forget is that it is hormone replacement ;-) in order to cope with symptoms on a daily basis.  Quality of Life?

[Baby]

If you are happy with how you feel DO NOT alter anything. X

[Brit66]

I believe HRT must mask what the natural hormones are doing in the body.  That's probably why some women are afraid to come off it.

Well, it replaces the hormones that are missing in the body and that make life so difficult for so many women. Personally, I choose quality of life and long term health rather than have to deal with unpleasant and debilitating symptoms. That's where the fear is for me

[KarineT]

If you have debilitating symptoms that are interfering with your life then I can understand why you would want to alleviate them with HRT if you think that's the only thing that works.  Some of the oestrogen is lost but it doesn't disappear completely. I believe that the body still produces it but it doesn't come from the ovaries and this why periods stops.  At some point the body has to adjust itself naturally to a lower level of oestrogen.

[CLKD]

Where else would oestrogen be produced    I'm completely lost now .......... 

It is thought that even after ovaries are removed that there may be a small piece still attached, enough to produce oestrogen.

[KarineT]

Ovaries are the primary source of oestrogen but I have somewhere that it's not just the ovaries that produce it.  Having said that there's no way that he oestrogen will be completely gone and I truly believe that the body eventually adjusts itself.

[CLKD]

Tnx.  I can't remember where either  .  I have taken my body for granted, until it flares up  .  I often wish that people were see-through so we would know instantly when something went wrong 

[Brit66]

If you have debilitating symptoms that are interfering with your life then I can understand why you would want to alleviate them with HRT if you think that's the only thing that works.  Some of the oestrogen is lost but it doesn't disappear completely. I believe that the body still produces it but it doesn't come from the ovaries and this why periods stops.  At some point the body has to adjust itself naturally to a lower level of oestrogen.

Well true, the body adjusts by aging and deteriorating.  So thats why hrt is so effective in reversing issues such as vaginal atrophy, why it can protect against heart disease and osteoporosis etc.