I'm 71 and have been on HRT since 41 (that or the mental ward at the time), switched from pill (Premarin) to patch at 55 (less boob swelling and felt 'normal') and then added Estrace (estradiol cream) around 61 years old when prolapse occurred. Cream is hardly absorbed at all after the first week of re-establishing the important cells that line the vag when we are younger. Recent study (Medscape.com) had great panel discussion and it was noted that approx 2 or 3 mgs/Year (that's year) were absorbed!!!! So if the cream can restore my vag lining and strengthen it against the d*** prolapse and improved the moisture/dryness and increase the size of labia - well, no way am I stopping the cream. The patch, also estradiol, is absorbed more for sure but does not metabolize through the liver, thus it does not help my HDL cholesterol as much as the pill, but it also has a lower occurrence of clots and such. I take omega 3 faithfully everyday to keep my blood slick to reduce occurrence of clots hopefully and I stay active. There are approx 41 receptors for estrogen in the body and we have simply outlived our ovaries', etc. chance to mutate and keep producing hormones longer. So, in the meantime, I will help my body by supplementing what it is no longer able to do. I had a hyst at 32, which apparently slows the production of hormones, even though my ovaries remained, so I may have hastened the decline of my estrogen.
So, to make this, whatever it is, shorter, I repeat that my mother is 95 in March, still drives and lives independently and has been on Premarin since about 50 following a hyst. She DID get cancer - carcinoma in situ (which they don't even treat anymore at her age of getting it (85 years old) as it doesn't do much at that age. However, this new non-treatment idea came after she got it so she had a double mastectomy AND went back on Premarin with her oncologists' complete ok and encouragement to do so. Of course it depends on what type of cancer - whether it is responsive to estrogen.
Each of us must weight the pros and cons - family history - children - what age children and what age period began - all weigh in to whether it is risky for you. Also history of clots. I have major varicose veins (surgery done) and never had a clot. I smoked in the far, far distant past - yipes 40 years ago - and that is a risk factor if I were still smoking (probably because smoking constricts distal veins and such).
The only time I went off HRT I got a big prolapse of my bladder and my gyn literally said why in the h--- did you go off and I said because of the 2002 study and she said that study was not on estrogen alone, but prempro and then another study was on estrogen and some say they played with the numbers to get the results they wished. My three gyns are all on HRT.
So life is a risk and for me I need my HRT and my synthroid and I take a baby aspirin every other day, plus my omega 3 (which does change the consistency of the blood). I also take other stuff - D3, Magnesium, etc.
Did anyone ask me to write this?? Gosh, I don't think so. Oh well, attribute it to my age and HRT.
