I have been on HRT (various kinds, now bio-identical) for many years and wanted to know if I have stopped the natural process of menopause. If I stop HRT, will I then start where
I left off. I am 66 years old and started menopause at 42.
- Resources
Q: If you start HRT at first signs of menopause, will you delay menopause?
Answers (1)
4/ 7/09 12:11pm
No, Mari, you have not delayed the onset of menopause. The doses of HRT are quite low in comparison to what your body was producing and act to control symptoms. If you stop HRT now, you should do so very gradually. By 66, most women wouldn't get symptoms back or only very mild ones. Some women, though, never get over hot flashes, so that might be a problem for you. The other thing to consider though is all the long term health prevention estrogen has been doing for your body...we know if you start before your last period or within a few years, you get cardiac protection, lower risk of colon cancer, bone protection and growth, brain benefits, vaginal and bladder health benefits and better overall morbidity and mortality, without a significant increase in the risk of breast cancer. Once you stop the HRT, these benefits go away, so it's an important piece to consider before you decide.
Best of luck,
Sandy
4/20/10 4:31pm
Hi Mari,
I'm glad you found someone to work with. You're right about the Combipatch having a progestin, not progesterone, with the estradiol. I don't use it for that reason. I have found patients get much better results, esp. with sleep and mood, when they are on the bioidentical form of progesterone (Prometrium).
Best regards,
Sandy
4/20/10 4:38pm
Thank you Sandy....much appreciated.
Mari
9/11/10 5:10pm
Hello,
I'm hoping Sandy gets to answer this as I appreciated her help a while ago.
I have been taking prometrium 100mg daily and Vivelle dot 0.5 twice weekly. The past 7-8 days I have been spotting. What I mean by that is when I wipe myself I have just a very little dark brown blood....like the end of a period. Plus I feel like I'm in my period with cramping and tiredness.
I had a pap in April which was fine and I had an ultr-sound this past week which was fine....no signs of anything.
Would appreciate any ideas you may have on why this is happening.
Thanks so much,
Mari
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
By Mari Carrera— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 04/02/09
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hello Sandy,
It's Mari again after a year. We talked by phone last year and I told you I would give you the name of a Doctor in the Philadelphia area, Haddonfield, NJ if I found one who was interested in treating with bio-identical. I did just go to a young man named Dr. Eric B. Grossman at Premier OB/GYN of South Jersey. Phone: 856-772-2300. He is open to discussing whatever you would like to do and will write the prescriptions.
Here is my reservation: I liked him a lot but not sure he totally gets bio-identical. I have been taking Vivelle Dot and Premetrium. He suggested I might want to try a single patch called Combipatch. Of course, that sounds great doing just one thing, but my question is....is the progestin in Combipatch as good as Premetrium. Both estrogens are estridiol but the progestin in the Combipatch is norethindrone acetate.
Again, I come to you for your valued advice as I'm sure you know the difference. Thanks so much in advance for your input on this.
Best,
Mari