Help finding HRT over 10 years post menopause

Posted by mwallj @mwallj, Jun 5 1:48pm

Looking for any leads to find prescriber for HRT. My sister with Osteoporosis has been to 3 doctors and Midi and all refused. She is 64, 14 years post menopause. Many people have said Midi will do this, but they refused, saying they are required to follow the guidelines, which are no prescribing HRT more than 10 years post menopause. Location is Pittsburgh or Cleveland.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

samclembeau | @samclembeau | Jun 5 6:20pm

I had a gynecologist prescribe mine. I am 77 and never took anything before.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jun 5 11:50pm

Have her look for a functional medicine provider.

jozer | @jozer | Jun 6 8:15am

I asked my gyne also; absolutely not was her reply! Mom had both breast and ovarian cancers (BRAC negative however).

Michael Lavacot | @michaellavacot | Jun 6 9:17am

Here is a provider locator for certified HRT doctors: https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx

I discuss HRT a bit in this video that might be helpful (start 29:43)

Please note that I am not a licensed medical professional, and the information presented in the video is for general educational purposes only. The content is shared based on my research and understanding as a patient living with osteoporosis. It is essential to consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical advice.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jun 6 10:31am

In reply to @jozer "I asked my gyne also; absolutely not was her reply! Mom had both breast and ovarian..." + (show)

@jozer

May I ask how old you are? I ask because at 78 I consider myself to be in quality of life over quantity of life mode. I went into spontaneous early menopause at 38....just like a faucet turned off and never turned on again. I didn't have a clue about osteoporosis risks due to loss of hormones nor how menopause would effect other important parts of my life especially loss of libido. Decades later came osteopenia the docs advice for dealing with it..... don't fall. I just went on with my life and about 12 years ago began drug treatment for Osteoporosis. When the information began to break about the flawed women's health initiative study I began to wake up. I was pissed that I had lost so much because doctor's were using that study to deny women hrt/bhrt rather than look at the whole picture. So at 77 I found a functional medicine provider who was delighted to start me on bhrt with testosterone. It is important that I mention that my mother died of ovarian cancer at 48. I was never tested but I felt confident in my choice to start bhrt . I desperately wanted my libido back and wanted any other positives that came along with it.
My path is not for everyone. I had to explore how I might feel if I did develop breast cancer that Might repeat Might be related to use of bhrt. The actuarial tables speculate that the average age of death for someone like me is 84. I am a devout pragmatic when it comes to my own death. I have no desire to live until 85 or 90 let alone 100 (ghastly thought). So I dove in and am very happy. I'm having better sex than I did in my 20s or 30s. I don't have urine incontinence or senile purpura any more. For me this is quality of life. It is obviously not for everyone. Just offering my story if it is helpful in any way. Good luck in your decision making.

laren3 | @laren3 | Jun 6 10:51am

That's so cool! Best to you!

jozer | @jozer | Jun 7 7:24am

In reply to @gravity3 "@jozer May I ask how old you are? I ask because at 78 I consider myself..." + (show)

@gravity3 I am 68...love your posts; always helpful. I also am pissed; why can't women get the health care they need??? Since the prime period of bone loss is 5-7 years after menopause (could be 10% plus) why are we clinically ignoring this? How about a DEXA (cheap test with insurance) like we get mammograms? Why in the world do we wait until the magical age of 65 for our first DEXA? 50% of women over 50 have low bone density with perhaps 30% full blown osteoporosis. That's an awful lot of women (sorry gentlemen! I know you get osteo also) experiencing poor bone health and we are not testing? That's like malpractice in my opinion; where is the simple lecture from a PCP or gyne about how to watch our bone health at menopause, make sure you get nutrition for bone health, exercise for bone health. Would have been nice to have that information (which the medical profession knew) 15 years ago. "Don't fall" is not medical advice. Love your attitude; (and the positives for you of HRT!) I will be asking about HRT in a lot more detail next time I see the gyne (coming up).

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jun 7 8:04am

In reply to @jozer "@gravity3 I am 68...love your posts; always helpful. I also am pissed; why can't women get..." + (show)

@jozer

I'm in complete agreement with you.

cliffdweller | @cliffdweller | Jun 7 4:59pm

In reply to @jozer "@gravity3 I am 68...love your posts; always helpful. I also am pissed; why can't women get..." + (show)

@jozer

I am angry about this too! Learning now that most most loss occurs in the year before and year after last menstrual period; recent JAMA article:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2849851
One thing I’ve read for women past 60 or longer than 10 years since last period who want to go on HRT is to that a Coronary Calcium scan can help determine your true risk instead of just based on age. I will find and post a podcast interview from Menopause expert Dr. Lauren Stricher.