Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ljp]

Hi all,
I’ve been on HRT for two years, had Mirena fitted originally as had a light post meno bleed following using estriol fream for VA, I then started using oestrogel alongside having the Mirena, and gynae suggested estring for vaginal use too.
I was originally on one pump oestrogel, then upped it to two.
After about six months I removed estring as things felt ok (so I thought) and I do worry using HRT....six months later I got horrendous VA problems, and used estring again, which did help a bit, also upped oestrogel to three pumps.   I have since had four Mona Lisa laser treatments, and am still using  estring, VA is a lot better, but need to keep up my regime of estring and emu oil otherwise that horrible feeling of soreness and splitting and irritation comes back, although much less than before.

I have tried, as an experiment, upping my oestrogel to 4 pumps, and within a week, things felt a lot better, however, I really worry about breast cancer and am scared that this is a high dose, even though I’m feeling better.
I therefore mostly use three pumps a day, and still worry.

I do think I might have been progesterone dominant, I used serenity cream for four maybe five years during perimeno, and I think it made things worse. In hindsight, I think maybe removing the estring for six months, plus only using two pumps of oestrogel at that time, and the effects of the Mirena could have all contributed to the onset of the VA ?

I feel that 4 pumps of oestrogel is better, but need reassurance that it’s not too high and wont increase my risk of breast cancer.

My new GP isn’t very helpful, I feel she isn’t very up with latest guidelines and she says things like ‘most women find two years on HRT is enough to see them through’
I thought it’s considered safe to stay on it for life now?

Please....and advice, or thoughts?

[Dotty]

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm on 4 pumps of Oestrogel and it's what the consultant has told me to take. If it's what you need then take it. There are greater risks in life xx

[Ljp]

Thanks Dotty, can I ask how old you are? I'm 53 and almost 4 years post meno.
I wish I had the support of a good gp, so I would feel less scared... this is something I've tried myself, and it's definitely helped things, but would feel better if it was with the blessing of my gp.

Think I may have try saving to see a private meno specialist at some point, as I worry a lot about being on HRT and breast cancer scares, constantly checking myself, and worry if I have breast tender

[Salad]

I agree with Dotty - if your body needs it and you feel better, then I'd say use the four pumps.

Every one is different so do what is right for you. 

[Dotty]

Hi I'm 53 and 3.5 years post meno, so nearly the same as you.

Was hit very hard with severe menopause symptoms last summer after coping for a number of years. Wish I'd gone on hrt much sooner. Took elleste duet conti for 3 months which didn't help at all. Been on Oestrogel and testosterone now for 6 weeks.

[Ljp]

Thank you.
Dotty, what are you using for progesterone?
Testosterone is another area I'd like to find out about, but all this is so hard through a GP
Which consultant do you/have you seen?
Trouble is, I know from when I made enquiries that it can cost over £1000
And I'm still paying for my Mona Lisa treatment from last year 😟

[Dotty]

I use Utrogestan.

Where do you live?  It doesn't cost that much to see a specialist.

[Tinkerbell]

I paid £180 for a private consultant appointment, that was 2 years ago. She offered to prescribe Testim on a private prescription and said she would write to GP and request that he prescribe future tubes.

[Dancinggirl]

Ljp - you will not be progesterone dominant with the Mirena nor will progesterone make your VA worse.  Using a higher dose of Oestrogel along with the EString will help the VA considerably I'm sure.  Don't worry about BC - when you get to 60 and review things then and you may decide to reduce the amount of oestrogen at that stage.  You will need to keep using the local oestrogen for the rest of your life or you will be back to square one.
GPs cannot be expected to be specialists in terms of the menopause or treating VA - you need to lead the way with the treatment and make informed decisions about what is best for you. 2 years of HRT is simply not enough and in fact it is known that 5 years of HRt in our 50s will protect the bones and heart for the longer term.  Stick with what you are doing till at least 60 and then review - do try not to worry. DG x

[Ljp]

Thank you all. I'll stick with what I'm doing, but would like to see someone who could really help, rather than feeling like I'm ducing with my own health when I try discussing with my GP

I live in the Guildford area of Hampshire/Surrey and a while ago I made enquiries at a Clinic in Guildford, but it was expensive.
Initial consult £245
Follow up £165
Didn't include and blood test or scans
Recommended full hormone profile blood test £284
And recommended insulin/glucose tolerance test £199

No prices for scans.... but would easily cost £1000 time it's all added up and prescription to pay for 😟

[Noheroicsplease]

I have the same worries. I've been told to up mine to 4. I hate doing it but i also want to feel well. The consultant looked at me like I was nuts when I said I was worried. She reminded me this is hormone replacement not treatment. And that i wouldn't hesitate if I had to treat a thyroid condition.

It's such a rock and a hard place but I think I need the ostrogen. I'm only 48.

[Ljp]

That's true regarding wouldn't hesitate if it was medication to treat something else.
It's all the previous bad press regarding breast cancer, and the looks from people when I say I'm on HRT, and even the attitude of GP... all make me feel like I'm dicing with death!

What makes it worse for me is even if I could cope without HRT systemically, I know due to my VA I will always need local oestrogen, and it was after six months of using very low dose estriol cream in 2015, that I had a light bleed, which led to hysteroscopy, Mirena recommendation, and then full HRT.

It might not have been connected, but of course it's a concern, that even if I could cope with just vaginal oestrogen, there is a chance I coul have another bleed, then back to square one 😟

[Mary G]

Ljp, I would not worry about BC, it is not oestrogen that causes BC with HRT use, it is the synthetic progesterone component and there is not enough systemic progesterone in a Mirena coil to cause BC.  Those wretched and thankfully discredited studies used old school, oral HRT with conjugated oestrogen and very high doses of synthetic progesterone on women who were much older, had never used HRT and were way past the menopause.  Even then, the extra cases of BC were minimal.  Oestrogen only HRT carries no extra BC risk.

I wonder how many lives have been ruined by those effing studies?

Take as much oestrogen as you need and please don't worry!

[Hurdity]

If you want to read about the risks of breast cancer and HRT as well as lifestyle risks then there is information here on this website:

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/risks.php
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pdf/Understanding%20Risk%20of%20Breast%20Cancer.pdf

Blog by Heather Currie:
http://wwwmenopausematters.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/hrt-and-breast-cancer.html

Magazine article:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20HRT%20-%20What's%20the%20latest.pdf

The causal relationship (if any) between hormones and breast cancer is still not fully understood and is controversial - as there are so many different studies with different populations of women and crucially using different preparations of HRT. Whatever the minutiae of studies demonstrate, any additional risk (from HRT) is very small and needs to be weighed up against quality of life and also balanced with other risks due to alcohol, lack of exercise, alcohol and smoking. To put it bluntly, a fat boozy chain-smoking couch potato puts themselves at much greater risk of all cancers than taking HRT... I understand that it is well established that oestrogen will rapidly promote the growth of any oestrogen positive cancers which happen to develop in the breast  while you are taking HRT - which is why it is always important to be vigilant about one's breasts and attend regular screenings.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Ljp]

Thank you Mary G and Hurdity, I love this forum 😘