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Menopause with no hormone treatment?

By September 24, 2008 - 9:24am
 
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Has anyone gone through menopause 5 years ago or longer and done it completely without any hormonal help at all?

I am in my second year of menopause after about five years of perimenopause. I have not used hormones of any kind and seem to have gotten through at least the physical effects (hot flashes, etc) without tearing my hair out.

But I have noticed other changes -- in my skin, my hair, and my libido -- that bother me, and I know that our hormones affect all these things. I'm now wondering if my decision (almost by default; I just didn't have an extraordinarily tough transition) to go hormone-free was made in haste, and if I should reconsider.

Does anyone have the experience of 5 or 10 years post-menopause without hormones? Are you happy with your decision?

Add a Comment68 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I would try natural remedies. HRT is made from pregnant horse urine. They torture the mare then when the foal is born it goes straight to slaughter! Look Up Premarin Mares:)

April 25, 2017 - 3:30am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I live in South Africa, 45 years of age and went into menopause at the age of 31 after my third child. I've tried using progesterone cream once but it increased the pigmentation in my face and didn't make much of a difference otherwise. I stopped it and decided not to use any type of hormonal replacement. I lead a fairly healthy lifestyle with no smoking or drinking of alcohol. I eat healthy foods only and exercise regularly. I am very weight conscious and have managed to keep my weight steady. I do however find that I have little sex drive and experience vaginal dryness, I have the mood swings and lately been very depressed which is totally opposite to my nature as I consider myself to be an optimist. I just wish there was some way of reversing all these negative menopausal symptoms without any HRT, of which I am against. I believe in natural remedies.

June 19, 2015 - 2:31am

Go to ZRT laboratories and order a saliva teat instead of a blood test. Much more accurate.. Saved my life!!

February 12, 2013 - 8:57pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I turned 54 in Nov 2011. I had my last period in Dec 2011, and hot flashes began in Jan 2012. I can deal w/ the hot flashes. For the last 3 months I wake up after 3-4 hours sleep, and I cannot go back to sleep. It is debilitating. My doc prescribed Silenor because he said it helps with interrupted sleep. It seems to work periodically; I have an awful 5-7 nights, then a few nights of good rest. I am now trying Amberen (today is day 1) and getting off the Silenor. Concerned about mixing too many drugs and supplements. If someone has a solid relief for interrupted sleep, please share!

August 6, 2012 - 7:54pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

My doctor prescribed progesterone and I sleep great !!

July 1, 2018 - 9:27pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

You should try melatonin, or valerian root. Either one should give you a good night sleep.

May 10, 2018 - 8:31am

Hi All,
I noticed this site and would like to post my story and see if anyone can advise. I am 34 and have had 15 years of infertility, suffered ovarian cysts over this time period, the most recent was september 2011 also they took away my tubes as they were severely damaged which may of been due to my appendix bursting at age 4. Anyway, long story short.. I have finally accepted I will never be a mother and want to get my life in order starting with my ongoing main problem of vaginal dryness which has got progressivley worse over the last 3 years and is causing very big problems in my relationship, I used to have a problem being too wet now its the opposite and its driving me mad and the soreness is so uncomfortable, my fiance thinks I dont find him sexually attractive and this is not the case, my mind is thinking completely the opposite to what my body is doing. This along with foul moods, depression, tiredness and terrible headaches, and now thining hair and my skin in poor condition. I have been for blood tests last week to see if its connected to thyroid gland, bloods were normal and told no action to take. My Dr said she thinks its psychological because of what ive been through but this I dont feel is true. Ive also had bloods done to test FSH levels and told im nowhere near menopause, but I have nearly all the symptoms except I dont have the hot flushes. I dont know what else to do, so I purchased from Holland and Barrett the Flash Fighters as advised by the assistant and started it yesterday, as ive tried everything else and the dr wont give me anything as she said it is not hormonal as my periods are still regular and bloods normal. I am sorry if im not on the right site, I just need help and advice and want to feel like my old self again xx

May 19, 2012 - 1:52pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

What a great site! I had a LAVH a year ago and have been on 0.25 estrogen patch for about 9 months. I am 50 and have always been very athletic and in good shape. I too, have gained about 10 lbs. lots of bloating ,breast discomfort and pms symptoms. I hate the way hormones make me feel and have tried to go off them a few times, always to begin again in about a week. It's really a no win situation. Now, I've gone off Hrt once again to see if I can drop some weight. I definitely don't have the bloating, etc. which makes me feel miserable. My doctor says to wait about a month to really see if I can handle not taking HRT. I am taking lots of supplements and soy, plus 20 mg. prozac, which helps with my mood. Still dealing with the hot flashes but would rather deal with these than feel and look like a bloated cow!

January 26, 2012 - 12:14pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am 47 and have already gone through menopause.
Hot flashes, mood swings. All natural, no drugs, or herbal remedies.
After my last period though my sex drive dived.
I have to use lubricants now, but my sex drive was not what it used to be.

November 14, 2010 - 12:16am

It does help, thank you!

August 24, 2010 - 3:07pm
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