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[daisie]

Hi ladies,,can anyone tell me if I'm too old to start hrt,my doctor says I am,I'm 58 ,been prescribed it in the past but never took it,thought I would go on without it ,still not over the menopause yet thought I would be at this age ,but there's no change in me ,I did have a blood test,showing my hormone levels are low x daisie

[Ju Ju]

I have started a trial period of taking Tibolone. I will be 60 next March. I had an uphill struggle to get it prescribed and had to go to a private gynaecologist for recommendations on what to take. She and my GP were very reluctant for me to introduce hormones after a few years of low levels. My age rather than the fact that my sister died of breast cancer was the issue. I had no intention of starting HRT, but the quality of my life has been severely affected since menopause. I have also been told that HRT will not help, so we will see. You have to read all the information and weigh up the pros and cons. Will the benefits outweigh the risks? I don't know, but I suggest you start by talking to your GP and reading all the information on HRT on this site.

[Dancinggirl]

Give it a go daisy.  You're not too old to start HRT - I think they worry about starting after 60.  I have a friend in her 80s still on HRT - she's fab.
Definitely try to get bio-indenticals like Oestrogel and Utrgestan.
Good luck  DG x

[daisie]

Hi d,g ,that's sounds good ,what a good age to be on hrt ,it gives you more confidence to try it when you hear things like that good on her ,doctors down here do not like giving hrt out ,I don't know why, may be they don't know enough about it x daisie

[Hurdity]

How long since your last period daisie and what symptoms are bothering you?
Recent studies have suggested there is a window of opportunity for women to start HRT which is far less risky. This is within 10 years of menopause or under 60 - as Dancinggirl says.
At your age transdermal methods would be most recommended if you are thinking of taking it for a few years - rather than tablet HRT (most of the tablet oestrogen is also bio-identical these days!). I use Estradot patches which are brilliant but it's just a matter of preference. And - I agree re Utrogestan which is micronised progesterone.

Can you go to another dcotor in the practice or failing that ask to be referred to a menopause clinic if there is one near you? Print out the information about risks and benefits from the menu (mostly the green sections to the left).

Alternatively you could send an e-mail to Dr Currie for £15 ( facility on the home page of this site) and take this to your doctor. I did this once when I disagreed with my doctor - and went back ( to a different one) to say I had consulted a specialist etc.

Hope this helps - by the way I am 60 but started at just under 54 - still peri though.

Hurdity x

[daisie]

Hi hurdity,,I'm having a period at the moment can't remember the last time I had one,it seems to be lingering on ,must have been on for about a month now I told the doctor yesterday,could be my hormones are not settled yet ,Iv to go for blood test to see if I'm anemic and another hormone test,will make another appointment to see another doctor there are more male doctors than female here,the only thing I got out of her was I'm too old the cheeky thing ,I thought to myself,Waite till she starts with it bet she goes straight on the hrt,I will ask for patches if they are better for my age thanks hurdity for your post x daisie

[daisie]

I have started a trial period of taking Tibolone. I will be 60 next March. I had an uphill struggle to get it prescribed and had to go to a private gynaecologist for recommendations on what to take. She and my GP were very reluctant for me to introduce hormones after a few years of low levels. My age rather than the fact that my sister died of breast cancer was the issue. I had no intention of starting HRT, but the quality of my life has been severely affected since menopause. I have also been told that HRT will not help, so we will see. You have to read all the information and weigh up the pros and cons. Will the benefits outweigh the risks? I don't know, but I suggest you start by talking to your GP and reading all the information on HRT on this site.

hi juju I have sent you a post ,don't know where it's gone x dasie

[Limpy]

Daisie I thought that if you were aware of the possible issues with HRT you could take it at any age, as long as you were aware of the risks.

I started HRT at 54, I am now 55 and aware of the risks, but my quality of life NOW is what I want to preserve.

[Hurdity]

daisie - if you can't remember when you last had a period, and it's longer than a year and you are 58 and not on HRT or the pill (or the Mirena) - you must get that checked out as it counts as post-menopausal bleeding and investigation should be fast tracked. Irrespective of whether you have blood tests you should be referred for a scan within two weeks if this bleeding has happened after more than a year without any.

Even if you are still bleeding reguarly I would say the reason for your still having periods should also be investigated - it may be you have a polyp or a fibroid for example.

You may just be one of the few unlucky ( or some would say lucky as you still  have oestrogen!) late ones who still have a cycle.

Your doctor whould have checked out all of this if you told her about the bleeding.

Please go back and ask to be referred straight away - especially if you haven't bled for loinger than a year.

You can discuss about HRT once this has been sorted.

Take care and keep us posted

Hurdity x

[Taz2]

I agree with Hurdity - if you can't remember when you last had a period you must get this checked out as soon as possible. Any bleeding after a year without a period needs to be investigated.

Let us know how you get on.

Taz x

[daisie]

Hi limply,hurdity and taz thanks for your post,Iv not gone a year without not bleeding ,I was spotting for quite some time but not actually had a proper period,Iv been and had biopsys and hysteroscopies at least twice ,at the hospital had a polyp removed twice got a fibroid but they left that in ,saying they usually clear up after the menopause ,all the test came back ok ,think my progesterone could be lower than the estrogen,so there's not enough to balance things out ,Iv not been taking anything to deal with the problem,but I need to go back to doctors and get it sorted out will keep you posted x daisie

[Hurdity]

Good idea to go back to the docs anyway daisie. When did you last have an investigation or procedure (eg scan, hysterosocopy and biopsy) re the polyps and fibroid? If it's longer than a year I would still go back soon and have further investigations. You still need to know why you are still bleeding/spotting and ideally be offered treatment. Hopefully they will get you sorted as it must be somewhat inconvenient for you!

Hurdity  x

[daisie]

Hi hurdity,was about 2 and half years ago now,I'll be making appointment next week to see doctor will keep you up dated thanks for getting back to me x daisie