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[Diamonds and pearls 53]

I haven't posted on here for a long time as have been doing ok on very low dose Femostan which seems to keep me ticking over. At age 66 ( just!) I have now been on hrt for nearly 10 years, with a couple of enforced breaks due to bleeding issues a few years ago.
Scans at the time all proved negative and the GP agreed l should resume low dose hrt which l've been on since. However, l have just seen my GP and she said that after 10 years they prefer women to come off hrt as they are 4 times more likely to get breast cancer after this period. l pointed out that for me the benefits outweighed the risks but it has worried me. Is that statistic actually fact?  I really don't want to come off hrt as l really struggled during the time l was without it, but she said it was just putting off the inevitable!

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Sorry just seen the mis- spelling in the headline previous headline

[jaypo]

Loving the mis spelling 😆
My friend hit menopause at 37,she is now almost 56 & her dr quite happy to let her stay on it,it's all very conflicting advice isn't it? I never went on hrt due to a lot of breast cancer in the family but even the advice on that has changed.All so confusing
I like your name,not a prince fan are you 😊

[Dotty]

Guidelines are now that you can stay on hrt for as long as you need it x

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Dotty, thank you, l said to the GP that l was hoping to stay on it for life but she said that would be extremely unlikely! It was her mention of the breast cancer stars that worried me.

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Jaypo,  yes, very confusing, plus GP was obviously anti hrt. And yes, Prince was the inspiration for my user name :-)

[jaypo]

Do you have a dr at your practice who deals with menopause'there are so many who are ill informed,as you will see the longer you are on this forum.
Loved prince,saw him many many times

[Cassie]

My Gynae says indefinitely! He has ladies in their late 70s and 80s on HRT.

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hmm l think l will see if there is another Doctor at the practice and challenge that comment then. What about the risk of breast cancer being 4 times more likely after you have been on it for 10 years? Does anyone know if that's true?

[Joaniepat]

Hmm l think l will see if there is another Doctor at the practice and challenge that comment then. What about the risk of breast cancer being 4 times more likely after you have been on it for 10 years? Does anyone know if that's true?

When they make these wild statements it is as well to ask them to back it up with evidence. There would be no extra BC risk with transdermal, and probably none with your low dose Femoston. There is no time limit for taking HRT. It is only GPs' lack of training in anything to do with the menopause that leads them to come out with this nonsense. What does she mean by putting off the inevitable? What is inevitable exactly? The return of symptoms if she stops your HRT is probably inevitable, along with a decline in your general health. Grrr!!!

JP x

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Joaniepat, yes l should have asked for evidence but her comment threw me. When l mentioned the Nice guidelines re being able to stay on hrt indefinitely she just brushed it aside and repeated the breast cancer risks when taking it for over 10 years. She did give me another 6 month prescription however so that's something!

[CLKD]

What rubbish.  Go back and tell her that you want a double mastectomy ;-).  If HRT is 'that' dangerous why do NICE allow it?  Prescriptions cost the Surgery!! as well as GPs simply not knowing a) how HRT can ease symptoms and b) how much rubbish they spout 

 

You can stay on it for as long as you like. 

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi CLKD, thankyou! I too feel that prescribing hrt is often money related. Plus many  GPs are woefully ignorant about the menopause in general. I also mentioned l got lots of muscular aches and pains and said l felt l needed a slightly higher dose of hrt rather than less, and asked if l might have a blood test to check hormone levels. She said no, and told me to take over the counter Vit D and also said aches and pains were often a side effect of hrt!

[Countrygirl]

I agree with CLKD that cost comes into it, as I felt my gp really didnt want me to take it and kept pushing anti depressants, but luckily the gynaecologist looked at me and listened and prescribed it and it's now on repeat, but I know if I need to change it in any way I will have a fight on my hands. Yet I saw a locum who upped the strength no problems and told me I shouldn't have to grit my teeth to get through it when there were things that could help make it easier x

I would definitely try to speak to a different dr as I've found all gps have completely different opinions on hrt x

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Countrygirl, it's amazing that where hrt is concerned women seem to be subject to the opinions of different doctors! Also I too have had anti depressants offered as a substitute.I shall see a different Dr next time l think.