Has anyone gone through menopause 5 years ago or longer and done it completely without any HRT?

I am in my second year of menopause after about five years of perimenopause. I have not used hormones of any kind and seem to have gotten through at least the physical effects (hot flashes, etc) without tearing my hair out.

But I have noticed other changes -- in my skin, my hair, and my libido -- that bother me, and I know that our hormones affect all these things. I'm now wondering if my decision (almost by default; I just didn't have an extraordinarily tough transition) to go hormone-free was made in haste, and if I should reconsider.

Does anyone have the experience of 5 or 10 years post-menopause without hormones? Are you happy with your decision?

Menopause started creeping up on me 11 years ago. During my first year, my doctor tried to put me on HRT; however, I had adverse reactions, even to soy-based "natural" therapy. Well, needless to say, I've endured years of hot flashes (and they can be as funny as unsettling), gradual weight gain (went from 110 to 150 lbs), chronic insomnia, decreased Libido and what we thought was a thyroid issue (but nothing panned out, in spite of the swollen gland).

So, I became a distance runner at around age 50. I'd rather than than take meds, any day. The most annoying issue has been persistent weight and not being able to shed it

Here's a great article about a natural approach to Menopause - www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/menopause/a-...ernative-to-hrt.html

The best way to beat a hot flash is naturally. Hot flashes have a lot to do with the low levels of estrogen in your body, but other factors can cause your temperature control to go out of whack. Studies show that medication is not always helpful. Instead of estrogen therapy, look at less drastic measures first, partly because estrogen therapy is not known to be safe for women with a history of breast cancer—but also because you should always begin with the least aggressive approach to treating your menopausal symptoms.




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hot flashes
fiber foods
skin cream