Menopause at 45. Now 48 and want to try HRT

I agree with k1 reply if you can stick with the alternative do so sage leaf is also good for hot flushes I believe. at the moment I take a product called menapace there is 3 or 4 different ones original, night one and one for hot flushes I think it will be trial and error but dont forget they will take two/three weeks to kick in. I also take evening primrose oil 1000g strength and I use essential oils again there are different ones. I dont know if you have a holland and barrett where you are or go to any herbal shop and they will advise you. I personally would not take hrt but that is my preference some it may suit itts what suits you and your body best my love. I hope you find something that helps you oh just a tip if you find something that suits in the herbal shop go on to amazon it works out cheaper I even get my menapace from there 

hi patra.  I was really interested in your answer here especially about soy.  What affect did it have on you.  I was taking a menopause supplement with soy isoflavone and seemed to give me terrible low mood. wonder if this happened to you?  just stopped taking them thinking it might be the soy.  I have ordered maca and hoping that helps.  I was given HRT which I tried for a few days (made it to three days but low mood took over similar to affect of menopause supplement).  had you tried soy and how did you feel

Hi. I've been taking menopace night and it seems to have helped with the night sweats. I've been using soya milk for a few years thinking I was keeping my oestrogen levels up. And nuts and seeds and rhubarb which I believe is a form of natural plant oestrogens. I'm still having monthly periods at 57. Tho they are extremely heavy due to a 3cm fibroid and multiple small ones. I'm thinking now that I should use a progesterone cream to 'oppose' it as looloo has suggested. Am I prolonging my periods by using soya? In my mind I'm thinking I'm keeping my body young?? I find it all so confusing. My last blood tests showed my oestrogen levels were high for my age. I didn't start menstruating till I was 15 if that has any bearing. I have palpitations, slight anxiety, bit of weight gain around middle and thinning hair but apart from that I seem to be coping. I have an understanding husband and daughters who let me be if I need time to myself. Why is soya bad? I thought it was a natural plant oestrogen. Anybody help?

The main problem for me is 95% of soya today is GM. It's been bred to be resistant to systemic weedkiller. It is in the plant so it's in anyone who eats it.

If you high already in Estrogen, I see a need to consume estrogenic foods. But opposing the Estrogen with a bio identical progesterone may be something you would like to look into. The ratio of Progesterone to Estrogen is really important. So if your ratio is good, although I'm banking on that as this stage your Progesterone is low, you wouldn't try do anything. But you do have symptoms of elevated Estrogen.

My fingers should have typed I DON'T see a need to consume estrogenic foods if your Estrogen is already high.

Hi metamorphed, my experience with soy has been one of mostly feeling down with lots of hot flashes. I even had to lay off chocolate and caffeine to stop the hot flashes. So as long as I read the labels to keep to make sure it doesn't have any soy in it, my body stays neutral. My doctor was the one who told to stay away from soy products, and she was right. Aside from this she also said that they are mostly GMO, and that medical studies have shown to cause disruption in hormone levels. So, this is why I mention to stay away from soy products. I hope this answers your question. Take care.

yes.  i believe that the soy in the supplement made me feel weird, really low, so you have confirmed it.  didnt need to feel so low along with the rest, so keeping clear of it now.  I had stopped caffeine last year and no sugar and a clean diet, so the soy is another to avoid.  thnks for the reply, its a great help to hear it from someone else.  take care too.

hi maisie,  I was taking menopace original with soy isoflavones and my mood was becoming low and built up anxiety.  I stopped and the moods improved as did the anxiety.  I believe I am high in oestrogen and low in progesterone as the symptoms of high oestrogen I have read are weight gain around middle and anxiety amongst others, which i have. the added soy made it worse and when I tried HRT, I was like a mad woman on the oestrogen only part, so stopped after a few days only. have not taken it again.  It is confusing, you really have to do your homework, but I think that peri means higher oestrogen and lower progesterone and thats why we get all these crazy symptoms.  There is so much oestrogen in everything we have around us like plastics and in creams that we are high in it anyway (i have read loads on this),  so not likeyears ago during this change, our oestogen is high, so progesterone seems to me to be the answer during the peri stage.  if anyone can add to this or can help with this,please let us know.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I will do some more thinking about the soy. I have ordered some Maca after reading about others using it on here. I'll let you know how I feel with it. 

Hi Metamorphosis,

Yes, during this peri time almost all women are Estrogen dominant and women really only need Progesterone. But, it's wise to have your hormone levels checked through saliva for E1, E2, E3, Progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol. This will give you a pretty complete picture of your sex hormones and how your adrenals are functioning because they are very important during this time too to be functioning well. You can balance your hormones through herbs, but some people like the bio-identical Progesterone cream. I use the cream and do take some other supplements.

thanks for replying marli.  i have a test kit for progesterone and oestrogen, so you know where I can get a test kit for all that you mentioned above?  I have ordered Maca, do you know if you can use progesterone cream with this as I am leaning towards using the cream more than anything else.  can i ask what supplements you take along with the cream.   ty

Hi there,

I wrote a great post outlining what I take, But it's being moderated.

I don't understand why, so if it doesn't get posted I'll send you a message through email.

Did you mention trade names? They don't like that. 'Other trade names are available'.

ah no!  I'll keep checking to see if they approved your post   

Hi Maisie. the progesterone part of my hrt is utrogestan tablets. they are only for hrt & a newer "micronised" form of progesterone that is bioidentical/pure; not like the synthetic progesterone in most birth control products. (i researched this a bit myself as apparently the micronised formulas are more effective than synthetic in assisting with peri/meno symptoms) my specialist meno gp also told me utrogestan is a newer purer form (the micronised ones). just for info for you.....xx

Thank you looloo, that's something for me to consider x