Advice on using HRT please: What are the pros & cons?

Thanks for that info , what are you doing at the moment ? Why are the dr putting you on hrt do you have osteoporosis?
I went into menopause in my early 60 and haven't had any problems ,my bones are fine but i have osteoarthritis and have had that for years .
The only real concern is why after a steroid shot in my back was i starting to bleed ? I am currently on estrogen cream twice a week to try and correct it .

The doctor 's did not suggest bhrt for me in fact my PCP, endocrinologist
and a gynecologist with whom I consulted all said no wit reasons like I was
too old, etc. I had one my research and knew what I wanted so I found a
functional medicine provider.
I have osteoporosis and have been taking meds for years.

As a 52 year old woman who was born intersex hrt saves my life every day.

As long as it is being prescribed by your gynecologist or endocrinologist it is perfectly safe.

My endocrinologist is at mayo Jacksonville is amazing and checks my hormone levels every 90 days.

I take injections of estrogen once per week.

Additionally, I use 1 gram vaginal estrodial daily, and—

Progesterone every night before bed.
*progesterone is incredible in aiding sleep.

Don’t be afraid…you will be ok. Live your best life EVERY DAY!

I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Hello! I have been on HRT for over a year now. I’m 55 years old & started menopause when I was 48. It’s been quite a struggle for me. Are you supposed to bleed…I don’t spot like doctor said I could. I need to wear a pad & not a light one since the bleeding is inconsistent. I don’t feel well as soon as I take progesterone for the 15 days prescribed & will bleed for about 5-7 days. My stomach will also give me issues. Doctor has adjusted estradiol to 3.75 & still I bleed. Other than that I feel ok the rest of the month. Does anyone have a similar situation or any advice. I want to have the other benefits but do not want to have bleeding or my stomach give me issues. Menopause wasn’t too tough on me with hot flashes or any other issues. Then I went on HRT & I’ve had these issues I didn’t miss when I was menstruating. It’s a bummer!

One menopausal symptom that oddly does not have "symptoms" is osteoporosis. That would be fractures. Not all osteoporosis is caused by menopause but it is more often than not. You might want to consult a menopause specialist and do your own research concerning what women can experience during menopause. You may already be up to date on that. Have you had a dexa scan?

Does anyone know of a doctor in Wisconsin that will prescribe HRT to someone that is 57 and experiencing ALL menopause symptoms? My mood, energy, focus are all in chaos and it is really difficult to work. My general doctor and ob/gyn will not prescribe anything more than estriol vaginal cream 1 mg / twice a week that is safe for the rest of my life.

I have read many of the same risks for HRT, but I was on a very low dose of estradiol until 55 and it was soo great and really worked. I prefer quality of life and want to make my own decisions on my body. Any suggestions on doctors or clinics that provide HRT (estrogene and progesterone) would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Julie

Any luck finding a functional medicine practice?

Hello, @julie189! I don't live in Wisconsin, but like you, I wanted to get more aggressive with hormone treatment than my primary care doctor offered. It's so hard to know there are options out there but you don't have access to them with your current doctor!

Since you're looking for someone, I wanted to share the advice my doc told me when I decided to pursue other hormone options, because I found it really helpful. She wanted me to make sure they 1) took a full medical/health history and family history, including asking for imaging from my mammograms or pelvic ultrasounds (I have fibroids), and 2) performed comprehensive bloodwork and discussed the results of my bloodwork before offering any treatments. There are so many hormone clinics popping up that it's vital to make sure you find someone who is going to consider your whole health -- and your ongoing health -- before offering treatment options.

As for finding someone, have you asked around with other friends? I was surprised by how many of my friends were being treated -- a wealth of information and recommendations once I finally asked! And like @gravity3 mentioned, looking for a functional medicine doctor is a great idea!

Finding a local doctor willing to prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be a significant challenge, with many of us searching for two to four years without success. Consequently, a growing number of women are turning to online, female-owned hormone practices.

These online platforms typically require blood tests and some form of consultation. While most do not accept insurance, their services are generally reasonably priced, especially considering that HRT is a long-term treatment. Some of these listed don't take insurance. I've noted the ones that do.

If you can find a Functional Medicine doctor who accepts your insurance, that's an excellent option. However, in some states, functional doctors operate on a membership model and can be twice as expensive as concierge services, making cost a critical factor for long-term HRT.

Here are some of the most popular online resources for HRT, though many more options exist:

https://www.joinmidi.com/bioidentical-hormone-therapy (Takes insurance, but not federal health insurance)
https://www.myalloy.com/drconsult
https://bywinona.com/
https://start.evernow.com/g-membership-2 (Evernow states they accept insurance)
https://www.defymedical.com/
https://gennev.com/ (Gennev also states they accept insurance)
https://joiandblokes.com/shop/women/hormone-health/hrt/

I am still wondering if you have had a dexa scan. Would you be willing to share?