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Menopause support: Introduce yourself and connect
Menopause | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
Hello everyone, my name is Ellie. I am 64, going through post-menopause. The symptoms seemed to have come on so suddenly, mild before but full force now. My OBY/GYN wanted to put me on Estrace cream (Estradil) last year, but I was concerned as my sister had some negative reaction to it. My girlfriend is 7 yrs older than me, and she is on a low dose, 1x week. I'm not sure what to do. I get concerned about the side effects and risks as outlined on the websites. My mother at age 86 got breast cancer and the physician told her she was on estrogen too long and believed it may have contributed to it; we really don't know what contributed to it especially at that age, does not run in the family. I know there are other options out there and I understand FDA just removed the black box warning on HRT but I'm not sure what to do.
Replies to "Hello everyone, my name is Ellie. I am 64, going through post-menopause. The symptoms seemed to..."
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@ellieg
You are asking some of the same questions I asked over the years. I know many people were concerned about the hormonal replacement effect and the possibility of an increased risk of breast cancer. I had to determine the risks versus the benefits. Seeing I had surgically induce menopause at 40 due to total hysterectomy, I took HRT. The benefits and ability to function influenced my decision. Without HRT, hot flashes affected my quality of life.
I developed breast cancer in my early 60s, years after stopping HRT. No mention of HRT being a reason. There are so many things that put you at a higher risk of breast cancer, it is hard to pinpoint a specific reason I developed it.
After breast cancer, Gyn did not recommend Estradil cream for vaginal atrophy (another symptom of menopause) due to estrogen. But two years ago, research showed that Estradil did not increase your chance of breast cancer or recurrence, and started Estradil cream.
Just because your sister had side effects does not mean you will. The only way to know is to try. Your concerns and questions will lead to a good discussion with your GYN provider.
What type of symptoms are you having?