HRT

@lauracbaker @celia16 @gravity3 could it be that your doctors have been reluctant to put you on HRT because of family history of breast or gynaecological cancer?

I have refused HRT - even though my doctors have been only too happy to prescribe it - because of history of cancers (including breast cancer) in my family.

@rashida actually, no; I was never offered HRT, even though no significant cancers in my family lines. Maybe I didn't complain or have the right symptoms? When I ASKED, my GYN gave me Premarin. I was 45 (in the 90s); then, after the big scary studies came out in the 2000s, Docs recoiled; my Doc refused my script unless I had yearly mammograms. I had to find another Doc (a D.O.) who was more reasonable. The med community just doesn't have a good handle on women's hormone needs. After many yrs of parroting those flawed and conflicting studies, Docs have now simmered down about it. The risks are extremely LOW. (And nobody ever offered me progesterone, which is proving to be a great help to me. For good sleep and calmer moods.) Each body is different; I say: do your own research.

Dr. Barbara Taylor (Menopause Taylor) has a YouTube channel, podcast with hundreds of episodes, and more. I have benefited very much from her guidance.

@rashida

My age has been the issue. More misunderstanding about women's bodies. Much more credible research needed. But most of the research money.......if there is any left after the purge....... goes to men's health research.

For those with Allergic Contact Dermatitis like I have the vaginal estrogen creams caused irritation. I've been using Estring, a silicone ring you manually insert into the vagina providing 3 months of targeted time released estrogen. I've been using it about 4 years now. It helped within 3 months but took about 6 months for my total healing. I had been on oral hormones until age 63 , the gyno wouldn't prescribe anymore and the decline in my vaginal health began. Estring has been a miracle in restoring my vaginal health. It rebuilt my vaginally walls which were thinning and stopped the burning and itching. Your natural secretions resume and these secretions are important in flushing out the vaginal to eliminate odor. Intercourse is once again pleasurable.
It is expensive even with a Medicare PX plan, but I plan to it for the rest of my life.

/

@kisu
Thanks so much for providing the links to the first 3 excellent resources!
I'd like to read the 4th resource as well but don't see it when clicking on the link. Can you help? Thank you!

@tillymack It’s possible the article has been moved, archived, or removed from the site of Lancaster General Health.
I don't remember when I first posted this. There are many more updated articles, books, podcasts now.
As far as my recommendations for seeing a gynecologist or urologist, I think it just luck now. Just keep trying. My primary female doctor handles all my hormones now...estradiol patch, vaginal estrogen and testosterone as well as thyroid hormones.