Facebook Pixel
Q: 

Menopause with no hormone treatment?

By September 24, 2008 - 9:24am
 
Rate This

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

Yes! That's what I'm trying to do. Physically I feel good, better than ever energy wise, I just wish I could take something that would help my skin to keep its elasticity a bit more. I have noticed a change there and wonder if HRT's help. It wouldn't be enough of a reason to take all that on again, just wishing for a healhy way to improve the quality of my skin after menapause

Thanks!

August 24, 2010 - 12:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to August)

What i've always taken is with my vitamins is vitamin gelatin, vitamin e , vitamin c, evening primrose and plenty of water, this will help your skin elacticity, other than my other vitamins i take like b,calcium etc.black cohosh for sweats. hope this helps, it works for me.

August 24, 2010 - 1:06pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I tried HRT and was not happy , so i finally came off of them and i feel so much better, just exercise eat well and take your vitamins, believe me it works. Our ancestors went without it so why should we right?

August 24, 2010 - 12:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Is it possible to go through menapause without any hormone replacement at all? When do you know if you need HRT?

July 31, 2010 - 6:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Diane,
Thanks alot I will look into these website. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to get back with me and give me somewhere to start. Yes I had a problem with migraines before but haven't had one as bad as resently that lasted 3days and made me sick and had to go to doctor. I had always had a ruff time with my period but its long story have a bad back as well dont have money to go see all kinds of doc so just take topimax like doctor say. Had complication with surgery and didn't like how it went down. Husband doesn't want me to see my regular gyn anymore so seeing family doctor right now who recommened trying going hormone free and see how I do with that but I know I will have years of not producing hormones and just getting concerned hopefully im just worring to much my husband says I do that but it helped reading hear and you taking the time I will look into each site. Thanks

January 29, 2010 - 9:52am
(reply to Anonymous)

You are so very welcome. After you look into the sites, if you have more questions please let us know.

Going to your regular doctor is fine for a little while, but you need a gynecologist over time, especially with the different symptoms you are dealing with. When you are ready, I would look for another one -- and be sure she or he shares information with you and that you don't feel "pushed" into things. If you try going hormone free to see how you do with that, you can always research hormones later and start them if you feel that you need to. This is not a decision that needs to be made once and for all -- it's a decision that's individual for every woman and can be changed from time to time depending on what she needs. If you think about it like that, maybe it won't be so hard to try a new doctor or another kind of treatment if you need to.

February 1, 2010 - 11:35am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi I'm Anita,
Does anyone have know about going into forced menapause at 30 due to a full hysterectomy. Ive been taken off of .05 estrodial patch due to migrains I already had a problem with them and got another that i could not get rid of. I havn't had any sysmtoms yet but reading here i'm really gettin worried about my future i mean i have my 2 kids so im good there but now i wouldnt have started menopause for around 15 years and if i cant take hormones to help will i grow older before my age lose my interest in relations with my husband now and all these other things i'm reading. I cant keep migrains all the time its miserable but really starting to stress here any suggestions or do you know a web site that would. Thank you in advance.

January 29, 2010 - 7:11am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Flash Fighters from Vitamin World took away my hot flashed. It could work for you. Not a hormone but herbal. I was skeptical, but it really does work to bring you back to normal.

January 30, 2010 - 10:59am
(reply to Anonymous)

Anita,

Welcome to EmpowHER! I really hope we can be of some help to you.

So let me be sure I get this right:
You had a full hysterectomy; so that included both ovaries?
How long ago was that?
And after the hysterectomy, you were put on .05 estrodial patch? Anything else at the same time?
And now you have been taken off that patch due to your headaches; what does your doctor say about trying another form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

There are many different forms of HRT and I'm wondering if another kind would help you without causing the migraines. (Were your migraine headaches before your hysterectomy linked to your cycle?)

One thing you might do is seek out a naturopathic doctor in your area. Naturopathic physicians consider the whole body in their treatment and often have many holistic and natural recommendations for our physical and mental ailments. They do have medical training, though not as much as MDs. There is a find-a-doctor link on this page:

http://www.naturopathic.org/

Hormones do have many, many functions in our bodies and you are smart to explore this issue. They affect our moods, our ability to sleep, our metabolism, the health of our bones, our skin and hair and nails, and many other things. Without hormones, you may also suffer hot flashes for two or three years (have you had any problem since stopping the estrodial?).

If you have not heard of Dr. Christiane Northrup's book, The Wisdom of Menopause, I suggest you find a copy and read the sections about hysterectomy, hormones and hormone supplementation. Her book is available at amazon.com or at her website, which is here:

http://www.drnorthrup.com/

You may also find some answers at womentowomen.com, a website run by naturopathic doctors in Maine with expertise in hormonal areas. Here's their page of FAQs about hysterectomy and hormonal balance:

http://www.womentowomen.com/hysterectomyandalternatives/faq.aspx

Here are some pros and cons of estrogen replacement therapy:

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/kbase/dp/topic/tn9713/dp.htm

There's also a wonderful post-hysterectomy support website that connects women who have had the procedure with one another (for women of all ages, not just older). They have a lot of informative articles on their site as well as forums.

http://www.hystersisters.com/

Here's a specific page where they're talking about post-hysterectomy hormonal support:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/forumdisplay.php?f=111

And if you put "migraines" into the search box, you'll get several responses. Here's one:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/article_97116.htm

Does this information help? Please look at it and let me know. There's a lot you can do to feel better, and that's what we want.

January 29, 2010 - 8:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Diane Porter)

I did replay it says starts out Diane, I know this sound funny never did this before just wanted to besure you seen my post and got my thanks.
Anita

January 29, 2010 - 9:55am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Menopause

Get Email Updates

Menopause Guide

HERWriter Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!