Print

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

[Keep On Swimming]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering how you reply to people who say that HRT is really dangerous (actually, I don't know if I'm on HRT... my gyne says I'm not: she just gave me Estradiol gel and I'm on a progesterone-only pill - would we call that HRT at home?).

I live in France and HRT is not used as much over here and I'd like to be able to say, well, actually it's not as dangerous as you think but I don't have the info/stats.

To be honest, I'd have steered clear of it too but my symptoms are now affecting my quality of life and I have no choice. I was back at the Dr today because I'm exhausted from not sleeping (night sweats, insomnia, nausea, night time and morning anxiety, etc. etc.) so she gave me Xanax and told me to take half a tablet for a few days to get some sleep. I really don't want to but I desperately need a full night's sleep.

I hope the gel starts to work soon on these darn night sweats! But, it's only been 4 days so I have to be patient!

Thanks for reading!

[Flossieteacake]

 I guess you could point out the original study was done on a small group of women who were given the old style HRT and started at an older age. We now have different HRT and studies have shown it can help protect our bones. This is vital to avoid osteoporosis.

It is so infuriating that study was picked up by the media and circulated so widely. It has caused so much damage and scared so many people.

Here is some more information.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780820/

[Perinowpost]

Same as Flossieteacake said. I would say that’s the old school stuff not the new generation hrt which is good for you, and preventative in so many age related health concerns. They just need educating that’s all x

[Ayesha]

A 2018 article in the Irish Independent 'French Women don't Do Menopause', makes very interesting reading.

https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/french-women-dont-do-menopause-is-this-really-the-case-36910479.html

[Keep On Swimming]

Thanks for your replies and links!

I wonder which French ladies were interviewed because very few of my friends here are on HRT!

[suziq99]

I’d question your gynes knowledge.   
HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Are Estradiol  & progesterone not hormones ?

BTW, I sympathize, I’m in Spain & most GP’s don’t believe in it. I had to go to a private Gyne.

And I’d reply as Flossieteacake said.. It’s old news.

[CLKD]

Why does any1 else need to know  .........

I would say 'prove it'.  "Show me Peer Reviewed Research from the last 3 years B4 you try to tell me that HRT is dangerous!  After all, we are made up of hormones."

[Ayesha]

We all know the catastrophic effects symptoms of the menopause can cause, but it doesn't seem to have much of an effect when it comes to how it affects French women.

https://mysecondspring.ie/blog/france-the-land-that-menopause-forgot

I promise, no more links 

[CLKD]

 

......... who always look so chic. 

[Keep On Swimming]

Honestly, it's because it's taboo over here! Women don't talk about it.

I'm toying with the idea of setting up a menopause support group. I said to my gyne the other day "Right, there are posters in your waiting room for breast feeding/pregnancy support groups but where are the workshops etc. for pre/menopause?" She was really taken aback. She said "But I'M your menopause support". I said "No offence, but I see you for 15 minutes a year..."

[Perinowpost]

Well done Keeponswimming x

[Ayesha]

It was a taboo subject until recently in the UK but not any longer, It is widely discussed and we now see adverts on TV about treatments for vaginal dryness, which affects so many women from peri-menopause to menopause.
If this had been the case when I was first diagnosed with Vaginal Atrophy and I saw those adverts, I would have known what was happening to my body and not being in complete ignorance when I visited the doctor in agony from a condition I had never heard of.

Education is everything and I can only assume from what you say and what I have read, that some French women must be suffering in very painful silence.

 

 

[CLKD]

Could you get a few copies of "Me and My Menopause Vagina" to hand round ;-)   available on Amazon.