Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) saved my sanity and possibly my life. I’m seriously not being dramatic, it really did. Yet I was initially refused access to it by my specialist. Why?

Donna Groves was the Managing Director of international community engagement consultancy Comacon. For fifteen years she orchestrated Comacon’s growth from a one-woman business into a
large consultancy, before succumbing to mid-life burnout and pivoting her career. Donna is now an author, the podcast host of SHINE and a coach for women executives and business owners in midlife.
Her debut book SHINE exceeded all expectations, and she is now finishing her second book – A Difficult Woman. Donna is passionate about girls and women in sport, wellbeing and supporting women in midlife.

The now-discounted Women’s Health Initiative study in 2002 which incorrectly linked HRT and breast cancer/cardiac arrest caused many women to not seek medical assistance to combat the symptoms of
menopause.

Despite being categorically dismissed as inaccurate, this study is still routinely reported as fact by doctors worldwide, including my specialist. Menopause Specialist and author of ‘The New Menopause’ Dr Mary Claire Haver said, “While the study’s objectives were noble, subsequent media coverage, news disinformation, and medical community misinterpretation of the study’s findings planted anxieties and suspicions about hormone replacement that have persisted to this day.”

Even though HRT helps alleviate some perimenopausal and post-menopausal symptoms, research indicates that it is still not being offered to many women. A Yale University study of more than 500,000 peri and post-menopausal women found that while 60 per cent of women with menopausal symptoms seek medical attention, nearly 75% of them are left untreated. Yale Professor Emeritus Philip M. Sarrel said “Doctors are not helpful, they haven’t had training, and they’re not up to date.”

Perimenopause can last for ten years (or more) and in my experience, the symptoms have escalated the closer I am to menopause. I am now on my third different dose of HRT and in my fourth year of hormone therapy. I am still in perimenopause at 54 but am expecting menopause within the year.

Research suggests that we are most symptomatic in the year before and the year following menopause.

My menopause journey

I initially treated my perimenopausal symptoms with diet, exercise and natural treatments such as Remifemin for hot flushes, magnesium supplements and a multivitamin for perimenopause. I increased anti-inflammatory foods such as broccoli, green leafy vegetables, nuts (especially peanuts and Brazil nuts), legumes, avocados, apples and whole grains. I changed my diet to vegetarian, and I eliminated.

This worked well for the first four years of perimenopause but once the symptoms increased (hot flushes, night sweats, low mood, fatigue, frozen shoulder, joint aches), I decided I needed more assistance.

I had a long discussion with my excellent GP, who contrary to my specialist’s advice, explained that I was a candidate for HRT (despite a bout of thyroid cancer a number of years ago). She did a thorough medical to check where I was at. My initial HRT dose was low and oestrogen-only. Within two weeks I was sleeping better, the night sweats all but disappeared, my frozen shoulder was alleviated and my mood returned to normal. It was a miracle. Over the next two years, the symptoms slowly returned until the hot flushes were so bad I was collapsing at the shopping centre and not trusting myself to lift the heavy weights that are a hallmark of my fitness routine.

My doctor increased my dose to a combined, continuous HRT that included oestrogen and progesterone. While most of my symptoms were alleviated, I entered an extremely low mood, and the resulting depression was really concerning. My doctor immediately changed my HRT dose to a different combined and continuous dose and while it took a couple of months, my mood returned to normal and most other symptoms were reduced. I am still on this dose of HRT now and as I get close to menopause the symptoms are increasing but I am managing them quite well.

The latest medical evidence suggests that we can stay on HRT through our post-menopausal years and at this stage, I don’t plan on stopping. I am grateful for the option and while it’s a personal choice and not for everyone, women deserve doctors who are educated in the latest research on menopause and who can assess the best course of treatment based on their individual circumstances.

I wasn’t initially offered HRT by my obstetrician because of my cancer history and if it wasn’t for my amazing GP, I am terrified of what state I would be in.

Some facts about HRT

• HRT can contain oestrogen, progestogen or both
• Sometimes testosterone can also be prescribed.
• Can be tablets, patches, gel, sprays, vaginal rings, pessaries or cream – I take a tablet form.
• Can be continuous or cyclical (taken at different times)

This article describes Donna’s personal experience and is not intended as medical advice.

Do you have experience with HRT? Share a comment below.