Last spring I visited my family practice physician. She is a woman of Goddess age and I asked her if she was taking anything for Menopause symptoms. When she told me that she was on HRT, I Mentioned that I was considering titrating off my bioidentical estrogen, since I’d been on it nearly three years.
Research suggests that a woman can take hormones for 3-5 years with no increase in side effects like cancer, stroke, or blood clots. Bioidentical hormones might be safer, but we don’t know that for sure. So my goal had been three years of hormones and then au naturel.
“I tried to go off this month,” my MD shared. “But I was dripping on my patients and it is just too hot with summer right around the corner. So I’m going to wait.” Feeling that to be prudent, I decided that I’d wait also. Summer is enough of a trial for the thermically challenged without tempting fate!
This month I went back for my annual checkup and broached the subject again. Had my MD (we’ll call her Dr. A) decreased or discontinued her HRT (hormone replacement therapy)? She had not.
I proposed that she and I try to decrease and ultimately discontinue our hormone therapy together. “It’ll be fun,” I told her. “It might be fun,” she mused with a small frown.
Furthermore, we agreed to keep track on a daily basis of any symptoms or signs of withdrawal from estrogen addiction and to post our progress right here on Menopause Goddess Blog.
So, starting one week from today, two real Menopausal women, an MD and an RN, will attempt the terrifying, amazing feat of weaning ourselves from pill and patch. Evel Knievel, eat your heart out.
Like the Cowardly Lion as he prepares to storm the witch’s castle to rescue Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I have just one favor to ask our sister goddesses before we run this gauntlet. Talk us out of it! (Just kidding. Sort of. No really.)
Lastly, if you’ve already performed this heroic act of derring-do? Tell us how it went for you. We’ll take all the preparation, encouragement, and ideas we can get! And chocolate. Please send chocolate.
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Buck it up girlie and just do it. We will be glad to have you on board.
I was forced to go off more than a year ago, when I developed an allergy to the adhesive in my HRT patch. Tried the other brand, also allergic. Due to HBP, I’ve been off oral meds for some time. I’ve been a bit bitchy and hot flashing for over a year, but surviving just fine!! (I take a sleeping pill, which helps. And I frequently open the doors at work and try to get some air.) But surviving better than I would have thought!! We are all gonna have to suck it up and deal w/ it at some point. This is what I tell these women in their 70’s who still want their estrogen. “”NO more”. You can do it! It’s the natural progression. You still need to exercise and take Calcium, Magnesium and Vit D for your bones, etc. But no more hormones. And the body doesn’t know or care if they are “bioidentical” or not. I’m the new menopausal nazi. And I live it every day. Other than my mild dementia, I am highly functional and productive, and pretty popular, in spite of being a wicked old witch. We were not meant to take estrogen and progesterone into our elder years. But we canstill live long productive comfortable lives. Suck it up, girls. we are in our 50’s or 60’s, not our youth.
A.
After a complete hysterectomy 8 yrs. ago, I’ve been on reg. estrogen and in the past couple of yrs. added progesterone cream. (I have a naturalpathic and western MD) I have been weaning off of both for the past couple of yrs. from 1.0 and down to .025 for the estrogen. I haven’t been able to tell much difference being on the full dose or the tiny bit I’m on now. I have “waves” of more hotflashes at different times of the year but regardless of the dose I’ve still had them. It appears that my headaches (chronic) get better when I lower the dose. I’m debating if I should go off completely now. My western MD said since I have no ovaries there was no test we could do to see if my hormones were balanced. My naturalpath disagreed and has done several syliva based hormone/cortisol tests. Last fall I was in a good range and shortly after I lowered the dose on both again. I’m just wondering if I won’t do BETTER w/o them. Way back at 19 when I got married and was put on the pill is when I first started to get chronic daily headaches–coincidence? I don’t think so (I’m now 55). So, maybe because you are going off, it is a “sign” that I should too.
I met the wonderful women at Emerita and am now using Pro-Gest. It’s a cream I place on the inside of my wrists. Now in my 14th year of menopause symptoms this is the one and only thing I have tried. I can say my hot flashes are cut in half everyday…in fact I’m rather chilly! A first! Also…kicking the covers off at night is less as well…which hubby appreciates. This has been given the nickname at home as the ‘magic sauce’. I have not reviewed this with my OBGYN but I will at my next appt.
ANNIE, I LOVE YOU COMMENTS, ALL YOU GALS, GO GIRLS!!!! ALOHA RAE
I wasn’t going to chime in on this because I weaned myself off HRT in 2008 and, it took about a month to get them out of my system. At least that’s how long it took for the hourly hotflashes that suck the life out of me to come back. Tried everything — soy/black cohosh/accupunture/no wine or chocolate (that was the worst!) Recently though (as in 2 weeks ago) a friend told me about Andrew Lessman’s “Women’s Wellness” vitamins and for the past 2 weeks my hotflashes have been significantly reduced (only 3 all day yesterday!) Feel a bit less foggy too. His products are really good quality and part of his profit (really) goes to help some good organizations (more on his website.)
I highly recommend them if you haven’t heard of him or tried them already. He sells on HSN.com and his own website — check both to see which is offering the best deal at the time.
I wish you both good luck with the transition and, one thing you can say for us menopausal goddesses, we’re red-hot mamas!!! Woo hoo!
Thanks for all the great comments, Goddesses. I am trying to suck it up. Today, I cut my .025 patch in half – don’t forget to send that chocolate!
Has anyone noticed a increase in their dry skin and vaginal dryness since stopped HRT?
i am on primulut n and another one and i am nearly 45 and i am suffering bad sweats after i have a shower/during the day. i am on ovest cream as my body juices around the vagina are so dry/sex is hard.
any one have any ideas. i thought the sweats was premenapause b ut the blood tests the gyno did show no menapause.
I met the wonderful women at Emerita and am now using Pro-Gest. It’s a cream I place on the inside of my wrists. Now in my 14th year of menopause symptoms this is the one and only thing I have tried. I can say my hot flashes are cut in half everyday…in fact I’m rather chilly! A first! Also…kicking the covers off at night is less as well…which hubby appreciates. This has been given the nickname at home as the ‘magic sauce’. I have not reviewed this with my OBGYN but I will at my next appt.
I’ve been on the patch for 1 month and am generally pleased with no hot flashes, nicer skin, better sleep and nicer mood. I have been cutting patch so I only use 75% of it and considering cutting it in half. Has anyone tried this?
I started cutting my low dose patch in half 3 months ago – it is working great. I have the occasional warm flash (it IS summertime) but mostly feel fine – sleeping well etc. I’ll probably continue with half patch for a few more months and then stop it altogether. Good luck!
After taking HRT for 23 years after having a full hysterectomy at age 26 my new doctor decided the risks now outweigh the benefits and cut me off cold turkey. Its been about 1 month, things were going along just fine, a few flashes here and there, nothing too bothersome and then wham – migraine headaches – nine days in a row. Doc won’t put me back on HRT but now wants to treat the headaches with another pill. I can live with the risks of HRT but not with a headache everyday – a real disruption of my life – work, fun, etc. Anyone else have these horrible symptons and how long do they last. At my wits end right now.
Had a complete hysterectomy at age 35. Slowly took myself off HRT by taking premain every other day for 2 months. Have been off for about 4 months. Hot flashes during the day are not so bad. Having the most trouble sleeping because extremely hot one minute and cold the next,constantly putting covers on and thowing them off. I am tired alot because can’t sleep, but am not willing to go back on HRT I’m going to stick it out.
Hi Joyce,
I’m with you re: the HRT. Check out my blog on this ‘cool’ new fan – My Breeze that works for promoting sleep by interrupting the nighttime hot flashes. The manufacturer made it for his wife, who also couldn’t sleep – he sent me a prototype to try – and I am completely hooked. Here’ s my blog post for more info: https://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2010/05/03/nighttime-hot-flashes-don’t-have-to-disrupt-sleep-any-longer/
Good luck, my dear. I’m rooting for you (and for me).
Lynette
Hello Girls, I’m thinking about getting off HRT, because i have gained 20 pounds in 5 years. I work out but the weight still doesn’t come off. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago and have been on HRT every scene. Tell me girls how should i do this. Should i quit cold turkey or take it slow. Two of my sisters have had a hysterectomy and they take nothing and they do just fine. I’m just worried what a witch i will be without the HRT. HELP ME OUT GIRLS.
Well, fair Goddesses in distress, I started bio-identical progesterone replacement only in 1992, because I had migraines from a head injury. Then, I read up a great deal on bio-identical hormones during peri-menopause, and my doc added estrogen to the mix in 2003. The estrogen really got rid of the hot flashes and other symptoms. anecdotal evidence from docs who prescribe bio-identical hormones supports lesser incidences of stroke, cancer and heart attacks the HRT used by most establishment brainwashed by big pharma docs. Now after using bio-identical hormones for nearly 8 years, I’ve begun to titrate my dose down and am doing that very slowly. My original dose of .6 ml/da. is now at .3 or .4 ml/da depending on the day. I take .3 on one day and .4 the next in order to get my body used to less. I plan on doing this for another month and then trying to titrate the dose to a .3ml every day until I feel comfortable with that. My main symptom is feeling tense on the .3ml days. Hopefully that will stop, so I can proceed to lessen the dose. I’d like to be totally off or on a very low dose within 6 months. I tried cold turkeying it, and that didn’t work. I’ve heard there is danger in varying estrogen dosage. Any suggestions? What’s in Andrew Lessman’s Woman’s Vitamins that makes them different from every other vitamin?
I have just found your site whilst looking in utter desperation for some help. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago & have been on hrt since, tried several until Dr eventually settled on implants. I am now stopping those & using hrt gel to try & come off hormones altogether. I am feeling absolutely dreadful, I have no energy & ache all over, I feel as if I am dragging myself through life. I didn’t know I could feel this awful. I am so confused about what I should be taking to help wean myself of this awful drug. Please please any help or advice you can give me would be gratefully accepted .Kerry
I’m 60 and have been on HRT for 18 years. My doctor says I really need to get off. I’m on a .0375 patch and a natural projestrone. I tried last week to cut the patch in half to start weaning off, but have been getting a migraine headache every other day and sometimes daily. I also feel sad, ornery, and basicly miserable. After a week and a half, I went back to my whole patch today. I can’t stand the pain. Any ideas on how to go about this process without feeling like you want to commit suicide?
I Not only had hot flushes day and night and severely disrupted sleep, I also had palpitations, mood swings and this horrible sensation of ‘something coursing through my veins’. My GP started me on low dose Prempak-c – 9 days later all symptoms gone. This gave me back monthly bleeds but I didn’t mind these as it was a small price to pay to feel human again. However, the Prempak then started to give me very sore breast and a feeling like I had been kicked in the uterus. I swapped to continuous no bleed Premique which sorted things out. However, two years on from this, I decided to stop cold turkey as cutting down just threw my system into confusion and I was getting period like pains. Now into week four and slowly going downhill again. Quite bad night flashes – not exactly soaking the sheets but enough to wake be at least half dozen times a night. The other symptoms have also started to kick in again. Am taking Evening Primrose and some menopausal mix from the health food shop, plus am trying Serenity Cream. I really would like to try and stick it out as I’m not happy about continuing conguated oestrogen long term. Some days I am more up beat, but on others I feel very down. I know it’s supposed to be a natural transition, but why does it have to drag on so long? I’ve had no real period for over 4 years now. Just keeping on trucking and keeping my fingers crossed.
I will be 60in a couple of months and have been on hrt patches (estradiol) for 20 years after a hysterectomy.I feel great on them healthy and full of energy, but I sometimes think it’s time to come off them. I have tried once before but straight away started with terrible flushes and panics. I realized I had forgotten to put my patch on and it must have been about 2 weeks with no effects at all so I thought right this is the time to stop but now 6 weeks on I’m having hot flushes all the time and nights sweats and tierd. Don’t know whether to persivere or go back on them and probably wean off them as i’ve just read, or just take them anyway after all this time.
I’m 56 years young and have been on premarin and prometrium for five years. My doctor will no longer refill my script because of the risks associated with taking the HRT after 5 years. He asked me to consider stopping and that we could work together to find a reasonable and safer alternative to HRT. I haven’t a clue what that might be, but he’s the doc, so I’m interested to learn his plan. I figured I’d give it a go, so I began cutting down the dose and taking it every 2nd days for two months. Now I’ve been completely off for almost 4 weeks and I feel pretty lousy 24/7. Vaginal dryness is gonna make me crazy and my skin and hair are suddenly very dry, as well, which is the opposite of how things used to be. I’ve had a headache for days and I feel completely disinterested in life. Can cry at anything and my face has 5 zits on my wrinkes!? No, I am not happy with my decision to give up the HRT.
My neurologist put me on HRT (Angelique) and a beta blocker for migraines, 10 years ago. My new GP is adamant against such a long use of HRT and persuaded me to cut the dose in half in February. Within 5 days i had a migraine and had one every 3 days for 2 weeks. I went back on full dosage of HRT. I tried cutting it again in May with the same result. Am now determined to stay on HRT and beta blockers forever. I cant live with migraines. I think its a personal thing and effects everyone in different ways. I suggest gung-ho’ chuck it in the loo and join the club’ attitudes as irresponsible and lack of understand that every woman is unique and needs to make her own choice.
I am 65 years old and have been on HRT since I went into menapause at 47 years old. I am now on the lowest dosage and have cut that in half and am now having headaches every day and my sense of well being is gone. I’m going back to the dose I was at (lowest dose). I want a good quality of life. What is the point of living longer off HRT if every day is hell.
hi there. I can see these posts go back two years but I thought I would add some experience here. I was on HRT for 8 years. As an athlete I was/am very fit and all the good things doctors tell you to be. I wouldn’t dream of being parted from my HRT. then one day I had a minor knee operation which turned into a major health problem (still in the process) because it was discovered that I had extensive blood clotting in the lungs. Im now on warfarin and face a 6 months recovery period. They are putting it down to the HRT/operation combo. Needless to say I stopped the HRT instantly and in fact found this page because I google how long it took to leave the system. I would advise taking care with the drug. I was very lucky to discover the problem in time. I went from jogging in the morning to flat on my back in emergency for 6 hours that night pinned to the bed with tubes and needles. ps and I was on a very light dose of HRT – Premia 2.5.
Wow, Keryn, what a scary cautionary tale. I remember when I was a junior in nursing school – 21 years old. They brought in a girl my age with a stroke! From birth control pills (Hormone therapy for a different reason – same stuff, same side effects.) I had been on birth control pills for 3 years – I stopped them right away. I agree, we have to take care with these hormone therapies. Just curious, how long were you on HRT in total? I know that the percentage of such side effects is noted to be small, but the incidence is 100% if it happens to you – and all the reassuring statistics in the world won’t change that. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope that your recovery is complete and without incident. Keep us posted!
I had a hysterectomy in 2003 (on my 49th birthday no less). My doc wanted me to cut back so I started. In August I took 1/2 tablet every day without too many hot flushes. I took 1/2 pill every other day in September. My last half tablet was Sept 30. Since October 28 I have had hot flushes every hour on the hour. The almost full bottle of Estratest HS is luring me back but I am determined to resist!
I have been on hHRT since my hysterectomy in 2007 at age 49, I was put on estratest HS. I decided I wanted to go off HRT because of health risk, and facial hair was getting horrible! I cut back what I thought was slow, about 6 weeks, all seemed to be going well to start with then I started having hot flashes every hour on the hour as mentioned above. I couldn’t take it and the dr. then put me on Estrace (does not have the testrostone), hot flashes subsided and facial hair has slowed alot! I am not trying to take myself of this slowly, 1st month-1/2 every other day and full pill other days, 2nd month-1/2 pill daily, 3rd month- 1/2 pill every other day, 4th month-1/2 pill twice a week, that is where I am now, some hot flashes, 4 or 5 a day and a least 2 at night, not great but can deal with it. My energy level is low and I am usually a very active person, have to really push myself to do things. My weight is slowly going up even with really working on it most of the time, when I first started going off the estratest I was able to drop about 15 pounds in 3 months, have since put 5 back on and would like to now drop about 15 more and having trouble getting on track to do that. Is the low energy something that will I have to deal with forever or will this get better and my body adjusts???
I had a hysterectomy when I was 39. I was put on premarin as soon as I got out of the hospital and have changed several times while trying to get the right dose. I was not a nice person. I am now 55 and went to see my General doctor for a sinus infection. He diganoised me with high blood pressure. He looked at the medications that I was taking and immediately told me I would have to come off my premarin. I told the doc that I was not a very nice person off the HRT’s and my OB wanted me to stay on them because I have osteopeina. But he said he would talk with my OB and wanted me to start weaning off the premarin within a 6 wk period. 6-5-4-3-2-1. My family was very upset about me coming off my HRT because as I said I was not a vey nice person afterward but I did it and have started having hot flashes again between 4 and 10 in the morning. A little irritable but not too bad. Now that I have been off of them for 3 weeks I am having the hot flashes more often and pretty severe. Moods have been a little glummy especially since it is the winter months. I’m trying to figure out how long they are going to last. My general doctor said not long but I am already over it. I am going to try and stay off the HRT’s. I do have a annual next month with my OB – we’ll see what he has to say. Wish me luck.
We are all wishing you luck! Keep us posted, girlfriend!
I have been on bio identical estradiol since 2007 and after water retention weight gain and gall bladder issues I decided to switch to progestrone and the estrogen creme from the health food store. It has only been a week but I feel better weight is dropping off and my anxiety is way better. I wish I would have done this years ago.
Thanks for sharing, Annamarie. This is how we really gain wisdom – from hearing what works from our Menopause Goddess sisters.
I am 63 years old and had a hysterectomy at age 43, the same age as my mom which I thought was interesting. Anyway, I have been on Premarin since the surgery. I managed to get my dosage down to half in the past 6 months and decided to try and get off completely. Things were going great for three weeks and I thought I was one of the “lucky few” but now the headaches are back and hot flashes all the time, day and night. I wonder how long I have to continue like this as I would like to succeed with this goal but I am also not a very happy camper right now. Please help.
Hi Monique, I took a whole year to get off my estradiol patch and I was already on a very low dose. I literally had cut it into a tiny little wedge there at the end. (A liliputian dose I’m sure.) I still use natural Progesterone cream, which is wonderful. 2 reputable brands are Natural Woman and Emerita. If I were you, I’d slow the process down even more – maybe increase a little til the worst symptoms are relieved, then titrate down again. Good luck! Keep us posted.
I wish you lots of luck Monique, As you have read in all the earlier comments. Coming off HRT’s is a mess. I’m having hot flashes and night sweats about every hour now. I don’t think I can take it any more. I am going to try something. Any ideas from anyone.
Thanks everyone for all your advice and helpful hints. As I am wintering in Florida and my doctor is in Canada and I have had so much trouble with this entire process, I have decided to go back on the pills. I will make another attempt during the summer while I have my doctors help
and support. This is not an easy thing to do but I will get there eventually!
hi all
have been on hrt on and off since my hysterectomy due to cancerous cells back in 2004 .. my problems are the flushes but find the mood swings the worst .
been on cilest this time for approx 6 month and i cant believe the change in my body i have literally ballooned and the cellulite of which i had hardly any before is awful . so ive decided to take things into my own hands after finding doctors with conflicting advice and conflicting suggestions to improve things ive been doing my own research and yes again lots of conflicting ideas but heres where im up to .
for the first 10 days i took a tablet every other day instead of daily and apart from not feeling as bloated cant honestly say there was any noticeable difference .
from the 11th day i have been taking a tablet every 2 days again no noticeable difference apart from feeling a little less heavy & bloated
im now on day 16 took tab yesterday and today im feeling a bit low & tired but dont know if its related .
ive also ordered after reading up online a good multi vitamin / mineral formulation some boron and some dong quai ive also considered the natural progesterone cream and been reading the benefits of it as proposed by DR Lee who i had never heard of before but is a specialist in this area ..
i have a holiday to the sun in 9 days and while im really looking forward to the break im scared of the dreaded hormones turning me into a lethargic moaning wreck 🙁 .. will update before i go
good luck ladies & any tips would be much appreciated x
Hi Debs,
Sorry for what you are going through – it truly sucks. I am a huge fan of the natural progesterone cream and still use it. I found it helped with insomnia and hot flashes. As for mood, St. John’s Wort has worked for a number of the goddesses. Hope this helps.
All my best,
Lynette
hi lynette ,thanks for the message im still cutting down ..on one tab every 4 days now started taking a good multi vit , starflower oil and vit c not feeling too bad at moment ..fingers crossed x
OK, I am rooting for you, girlfriend.
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to know about the progesterone cream and St.John’s Wort for hot flashes and mood swings. Where and what brand of progesterone and how affective has this been. My general doctor started me on estrapate 0.625 and it did not do any good, so my OB ask me to do 1 and 1/2, this works but I still have some night flashes with the exception of the last couple of days and I have noticed more during the day since the weather is changing. So I am so tried of all this and my OB said I would probably always have them. That was something I did not want to hear. I have gained more weight and I don’t like that at all. I would really like to stop having them or at least be able to go natural to see if that might help. Thanks for all the help.
Brenda, While it is certainly possible that you’d have night flashes always, from talking to hundreds of women, most of us had a bad couple of years, and then it got a lot better. Unless s/he is psychic, I’m not sure how good that prediction is. As for progesterone cream – 2 good brands are Emerita’s Pro-Gest and Natural Woman brand. Both are USP grade. Many of our goddesses, including yours truly, have found these helpful. As for St. JOhn’s Wort? Not sure that any brand per se is better or worse. Anyone? Most of our goddesses just got theirs at their local drug store – varying brands.
Thanks for the helpful comments – read to decide whether to come off Premique as doc scared me to death today and wants me to cease taking them. Am trying reduced intake of thyroxine first to see if that helps. Oh the joys of getting older (I am 59).
It’s all such a delicate balance, isn’t it? And all those hormones are interconnected. I now know more about my endocrine system than I ever wanted to – and I’m a nurse! Take it slow and easy – don’t forget the chocolate.
I’ve just stopped taking my HRT it’s taken me about 6 week started by taking 1 every other day for a week then 1 every 2 days then 1 every 3 days until I got to 1 every 5 days then stopped altogether have had no problems up to now touch wood , good luck x
That is just wonderful, Debra! So happy for you! Stay cool.
I’ve been on HRT for almost 30 years. I have both ovaries, but no uterus and no cervix.
On a very strict low carb diet plan for 3 years with no weight loss. Two weeks ago, I stopped my HRT.
Here’s the thing: Our bodies are a WHOLE. Western medicine doesn’t look at it that way, but who can afford to go to a homeopath? I called to make an appointment with a local, and was quoted $345 for the first hour.
All our hormones work together, and it’s supposed to be a symphony, but I think mine is now a cacophony. Even my blood sugar doesn’t know what to do. After eating a low carb meal, it plummets, putting me to sleep.
There are so many complicated moving parts here.
Sigh, yes there are so many moving parts… Sadly, because insurance doesn’t cover a lot of holistic or complementary treatments even when provided by an MD, then we have to pay out of pocket. Which can be prohibitive, as you found out. Not sure if this will help or not, but my weight has been creeping up again, I am on a diet called Fast Metabolism Diet and losing weight, feeling much better. You basically cut out dairy, wheat, corn,and soy. (Not so coincidentally, 4 of the top food allergens.) Also, no sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. You eat real food, 5 times a day. You are not hungry, but supposedly the combining of certain foods help reset your body. I am in the 3rd week, have lost 9.5 pounds and all my cravings. The only downside is food prep, since no processed food, but a lot can be done ahead of time and frozen if need be. I’ll blog about this after the experience so keep tuned. The book is available on Amazon, and there is a mobile app as well that helps. Let me know.
Three weeks in on my Estradiol cessation. My blood pressure has dropped 20 points, and my blood sugar numbers have stabilized.
No weight loss.
I rarely sweat (despite living in Las Vegas), but I just get hot while sleeping. Can’t really call it night sweats, just discomfort. Actually, my feet are sweating more and getting clammy.
Have you checked out the Night Bliss fan? http://www.mybreeze.net – it’s really cool – and cooling. Invented by a man for his “hot” menopausal wife. That might help. They have a 30 day free trial, so it is worth looking into.
I went into instant surgical menopause last year after bio/lavh. I decided to go without hrt and am very happy with my choice. The hot flashes at night were a little rough until I learned to put my pillows in the freezer during the day and go to bed with an ice pack. Lots of water and lots of walking helped greatly too. I no longer have any symptoms.
Sometimes I wonder if hrt just prolongs the agony. I’ m not a scientist, but it seems that menopause symptoms is caused by CHANGES in estrogen levels, not by low estrogen. If low estrogen caused hot flashes then men and children would have them all the time. It’s the up/down bouncing around of estrogen levels that triggers all sorts of things. Wouldn’t hrt just add fuel to the fire and drag things out?
The other reason I didn’t go with hrt is that some of the products such as Premarin are made from the urine of pregnant mares (PREgnant MARe urINe). These mares are subjected to horrible cruelty. They are impregnated, confined unright in stalls without being given room to lie down or move. Their movement is limited because they are catheterized and have bags to collect the urine strapped to them. Then they aren’t given enough water so the urine is more concentrated. There they stand for 6 months. When they foal the colt is either butchered or will be added to the “pee line”. This goes on year after year until the mares are wrecked and sent to slaughter.
I’m no fan of horses, but I can’t see doing this in order to make myself more comfortable. Menopause isn’t a life-threatening condition.
So so true, Andrea. There is natural progesterone that is made from wild yams, no cruelty involved and very effective. As long as symptoms are manageable, I totally agree with you. However, I have met women who have had such severe insomnia that they were completely worn out and women who were so depressed their life was adversely affected, as well as other severe symptoms. In their cases, bioidentical hormones can be a lifesaver. And interestingly, after a few years of HRT, many women are able to to titrate off with no appreciable problem (I’m one of them.) And yes, some women have just as severe symptoms when trying to get off HRT. So the only thing we can say is that every woman is different and will go through her transition differently. I’m so glad yours was manageable. (I actually met a woman who had NO, I repeat NO symptoms at all – just sailed through her Menopause with nary a hot flash. Alas, so far it is only one.) Thanks for your perspective. AND I would add that mild discomfort is not a good reason to go on HRT. Often a fan or ice packs or cooling clothing is enough to get one through.