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

Posted by love4life @love4life, Feb 20, 2019

Dear friends,

please kindly help me make an informed decision regarding HRT (Hormone replacement therapy for menopause). I am not sure whether I should use it. I am 45 years old, and I lost menstrual cycles. I have no gynaecological problems and no menopausal symptoms. Actually, I feel great.
Three years ago, I had total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid cancer. I also did RAI therapy. Thanks God, I am completely healed (as this type of cancer is curable due to developments in medicine).
I suspect that I lost cycle a bit earlier due to all these problems with thyroid, as I noticed changes in cycle after RAI therapy.

Anyway, I have to make a decision now on whether to use HRT, not due to menopausal symptoms (I do not have them), but in order to preserve my health for the future. I read the Mayo clinic guideliness, but as it happened in 45 for me (last period when I was 44), I am not sure in which age group I belong. Am I prematurely in menopause or not? If "normal" is between 45-55, what is 44? Should I use it until "normal" age for menopause, which is 51, or everything between 45-55 is normal....meaning....I am almost normal:))) LOL.

I found conflicting research and opinions regarding HRT, especially regarding the risk for breast cancer. For instance, on one site I found information that HRT "increases breast cancer risk by about 75%", while everywhere else it says that there is a risk, but it is small. As I am healed from thyroid cancer, I wish to care about my health and not increase the risk for other cancers.

In particular, I would like to understand whether it is possible to care for my health with other medicine or supplements (like vitamin D, calcium, omega 3-6-9 etc.), instead of HRT?

I would like to understand whether I will miss something important for my health if I avoid taking HRT now.

Sorry for such a long post, but I needed to explain in order to present a clear picture. Thank you so much for your advice.

I wish you all great health and happiness!

🙂

P.S. I included links to sources I mentioned in the post, but had to delete them, as the message could not be posted with links.

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Profile picture for lauracbaker
lauracbaker | @lauracbaker | Jul 31 10:36am
In reply to @kisu "Finding a local doctor willing to prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be a significant challenge,..." + (show)
Profile picture for kisu @kisu

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/

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I have found good info on the site called "parlorgames.com"

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kftammany | @kftammany | Aug 1 3:05pm
In reply to @kisu "Finding a local doctor willing to prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be a significant challenge,..." + (show)
Profile picture for kisu @kisu

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/

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Two other resource on line is Midi Health joinmudi.com and Kelly Casperson (just Google her...)

REPLY
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bethieb | @bethieb | Aug 2 1:25pm

Your timing is perfect for HRT. Please find a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (find one on the Menopause Society website). You will probably be prescribed a transdermal estrogen patch and oral progesterone as well as estradiol cream (applied vaginally).
I entered menopause during the time of the WHI hormone scare and now have osteoporosis. If you begin hormones in the proper window of time, your body will not be deprived of the estrogen that, when depleted, can cause bone, heart, and cognitive issues and disease.
I am on estradiol cream but missed the boat on transdermal estrogen. I made sure my daughter went to a proper certified menopause practitioner and now, thankfully, she has the protection that I don't have.
I have to rely on the other supplements you mentioned in addition to Reclast for osteoporosis, exercise including weight training, and supplements like calcium and Vitamin D. However, they can't do what estrogen does.
Also, you might want to follow Mary Alice Haver, Kelly Casperson, and other social media menopause experts. You will get the advice that other practitioners haven't caught onto unfortunately. I have friends who struggle with bladder problems and whose doctors might or might not recommend vaginal estradiol. It's sad that some women suffer with these issues when there's a safe, easy remedy.
Best of everything.

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1 reply
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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 2 2:02pm
In reply to @bethieb "Your timing is perfect for HRT. Please find a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (find one on..." + (show)
Profile picture for bethieb @bethieb

Your timing is perfect for HRT. Please find a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (find one on the Menopause Society website). You will probably be prescribed a transdermal estrogen patch and oral progesterone as well as estradiol cream (applied vaginally).
I entered menopause during the time of the WHI hormone scare and now have osteoporosis. If you begin hormones in the proper window of time, your body will not be deprived of the estrogen that, when depleted, can cause bone, heart, and cognitive issues and disease.
I am on estradiol cream but missed the boat on transdermal estrogen. I made sure my daughter went to a proper certified menopause practitioner and now, thankfully, she has the protection that I don't have.
I have to rely on the other supplements you mentioned in addition to Reclast for osteoporosis, exercise including weight training, and supplements like calcium and Vitamin D. However, they can't do what estrogen does.
Also, you might want to follow Mary Alice Haver, Kelly Casperson, and other social media menopause experts. You will get the advice that other practitioners haven't caught onto unfortunately. I have friends who struggle with bladder problems and whose doctors might or might not recommend vaginal estradiol. It's sad that some women suffer with these issues when there's a safe, easy remedy.
Best of everything.

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And please consider the benefits of testosterone.

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1 reply
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bethieb | @bethieb | Aug 2 3:14pm
In reply to @gravity3 "And please consider the benefits of testosterone." + (show)
Profile picture for gravity3 @gravity3

And please consider the benefits of testosterone.

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100% agree. I can't believe I left that off. Thanks for catching it.

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