HRT Safety

This is fantastic information, thank you! Your results look very encouraging. I was not aware of the NA Society, so will leverage that source to help find a provider.

I'm just turning 62 and had a dexa in December, 2024 which showed Spine -2.9 (Osteoporosis) /Total Hip -1.8/Femoral Neck -1.8 T-Scores (osteopenia) . Unfortunately one week later I fainted, fell and experienced a compression fracture in T12. January, 2025 I had a Echolight scan which showed Spine -2.2 (Osteopenia)/Femur -2.5/Right-2.9 (Osteoporosis). Fragility scores are in the green zone. I know you can't really compare these types of scans 1:1, but it's a bit confusing.

I've taken Vitamin D for years and have now added K2 and Magneium. I'm working hard to get more calcium through diet. I'm very nervous about the drug therapies and believe HRT could also help with sleep and couple other post menopause issues I experience.

Hoping I can find a provider in the Minneapolis area that is open to this approach. I'm looking forward to hearing your updates! Thanks again!

I am in the exact same position, avoiding medicines at all cost. My endocrinologist is not happy about that as she does not believe in any alternative medicine. I told her if my bones start to really decrease then I will consider meds. I have been holding at worst -2.2 after hormone replacement treatment, My forearm is -4 which it has been for the past 20 years. I don’t even know if most doctors measure the forearm, My doctor is going off of that one score. I pray every day that I remain steadfast in my numbers and they continue to at least stay the same if not improve. As I have mentioned before on this site, my doctor wanted me to go on Prolia 15 years ago!!!! I can’t imagine where I would be today if I did that. My numbers are better now than they were then as far as the DEXA, but I did supplements and exercise, etc., and the HRT.

@nme1985 Thanks for sharing your experience. Your numbers look great to me. Your story is encouraging around the benefits of HRT. Yes, I think you made a good decision in not taking Prolia. It sounds like a scary high risk medication and who would want to be on it for life at your younger age! It sure wouldn't be my drug of choice if I ever need to take an OP medication!

I have had 3 DEXA bone scans and 2 REMS Echolight scans over a 5 year period. DEXAS are covered by our medical plan, but I have to pay for private Echolight scans. My blood lab tests are mostly ordered by my PCP covered by our medical plan. If my PCP won't order them, the naturopath physician does this in which case I have to pay the lab but have some limited private benefit coverage. My PCP wouldn't order the CTX or vitamin D. The CTX is vital to know my rate of bone turnover and later to see if my interventions -- HRT, supplements, diet, exercise etc. -- are working to lower the bone turnover rate. My understanding is that the CTX can come down before the bone density score improves on the DEXA, which shows the interventions are working and success in stopping further bone loss progression if bone turnover is low enough.

I forgot to mention I am using the Estradiol patch with micronized Progesterone. I am experiencing no side effects except improved sleep and mild calming effect. The naturopath recommended a Coronary Artery Scan. With a score of zero she said my risk on HRT was minimal and arteries would be quite receptive to Estrogen still. She checked my cholesterol, A1c, triglycerides etc., ordered another CTX, vitamin D and recommended a Lipo A test.

@kshea2 I'm so sorry to hear about your fall and fracture. I hope you are not suffering a lot of pain. This is a stark reminder of how fragile and vulnerable we are often without knowing. Your REMS Echolight scores are interesting. The difference in your spine T score compared to DEXA is similar to my initial Echolite spine score compared to DEXA. Mine was .5 lower than the dexa and yours .6. My femur neck T score however was the same as the dexa score at -2.6. My second Echolite 10-months later showed my femur neck at -2.3. When I was initially diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2019 with spine T score -2.8, I took calcium and vitamin D for the next 4 years but still rapidly lost bone to a level of -3.5. However I was taking high dose prednisone during 2019/20 for a year for an autoimmune condition. I began many other supplements and diet changes, including increased calcium from food sources, increased protein, K2 Collagen...suggested by Keith McCormick in December of 2023. I find the nutritional and supplement counseling another benefit of the N.A. Menopause Society naturopath. I provided her records of all my DEXAS, Echolight, CBC lab tests, including urine calcium, CTX, vitamin D etc. My blood tests were mostly fine, including vitamin D, calcium and urine calcium. My CTX was at 670 which the naturopath and osteoporosis doctors surprisingly said was okay (Lab test shows 100 to 1000 is acceptable) However Keith McCormick says this number is too high and should ideally be below 400. So it will be interesting to see the result of my follow-up CTX next week. I have heard that HRT can reduce the rate of bone turnover (confirmed also on chat GPT). I consulted with an internal medicine doctor specializing in osteoporosis in May of 2024. She recommended Evenity. I said I would like to hold off to see if I could stop the progression of bone loss first and consulted with the naturopath in July of 2024.

@debbie1956 hello, can I ask what the dosage is on ur estradiol patch? Your post is very encouraging. I was on Tymlos for 2 years and had great gains in my spine but my rheumatologist wanted me to begin Evenity to continue building bone after that. I was hesitant but my cardiologist suggested BHRT as I was lacking in hormones and said it could stabilize my bones as well. I have an appt with my integrative doc in April and will have bloods drawn to see if the hormones are working. I had a clear calcium scan done a couple years ago so my cardiologist felt confident BHRT would be fine. I’m on 0.025 Estradiol patch, I’m also taking progesterone by mouth and testosterone creme. The only thing I notice is a stubborn bit of weight gain especially in my stomach. I’d like to get a Rems echolight but need to find one in my area. Praying the hormone replacement is working. I’m 73 and had a total hysterectomy when I was 38 so therein the severe osteoporosis. Thanks for sharing. Rose