I'm worrying about my future. I've had bloodwork done and confirmed my fears – I'm beginning the menopause journey as I enter my thirties. Emotionally, this has been devastating but now I'm beginning to wonder what to expect in my forties, fifties and beyond.

Because HRT isn't recommended for women who've experienced blood clots, it isn't a safe option for me. But how safe is it to go so many decades without my proper hormones? Right now, I'm in misery with abdominal and joint pain that started abruptly around the time my cycle first shortened. I'm very concerned about my back, not only because of the sudden pain, but also because I have a congenital weakness in my lumbar spine for which I began surgical treatment at age 20. I know osteoporosis is one of the risks of going without HRT...is there a safer option or am I overly worried about the HRT/blood clot link?

I don't see why you would be at any greater risk than any other woman of your age who is still ovulating every month if you used HRT.
I think you have to weigh up the risks vs benefits of HRT given that starting menopause at such a young age could cause you so many problems in the future.
Look at this way-if you were still producing normal amounts of hormones naturally, you wouldn't be able to stop them.
So if you replace what is naturally missing with HRT while you are so young why would your risk be any higher?

HRT is usually given to women whose bodies are naturally going through a normal change at a more advanced age. Their bodies don't need the hormones any more and in the normal scheme of things their own hormones fade away. Indeed once the worst is over most women are advised to come off the HRT and let their bodies settle naturally into the change. Therefore the risks for those women are measured against women in the same age group who are not using hormones.

I don't know all the facts about your blood clot risk but you have a lot of living to do yet and it's about quality of life isn't it?
The risks for heart disease and osteoporosis could be of more concern for you in the future than the slight risk of a blood clot. I assume you have already suffered one? Do you know what the cause was? Are there blood thinning drugs you could take whilst on HRT to minimise the risk?
Its very tricky! I myself cannot really suggest a safer option given how young you are. Maybe someone else will be along with some experience of your dilemma.

Your body is supposed to have those hormones for a long time to come yet. Is it possible for you to have some counselling to help you to come to a sensible decision?
I really hope you can work things out.

janet c

Thank you. I'm tempted to go with HRT – my mother's been on it since her menopause with no ill effect – but everything I read is filled with warnings that HRT is dangerous, especially for someone who has experienced blood clots. At the same time, osteoporosis, which runs in my family, is a big worry for me. I expect in the end I will opt for hormones not only because I don't want to deal with the possible complications, but also because on a psychological level I think I'd feel more 'normal' with the usual hormones present.

I've avoided taking birth control pills since a clot was discovered in one of my legs, and to see it show up on the list of medical concerns with HRT was uncomfortable but not surprising. I'm not too concerned about a re-occurrence, but it's there in the back of my mind. I think I'll discuss the risks and possible preventative treatment more with my doctor. That's likely safer - not to mention better for my sanity - than me rummaging around the internet, reading every doom and gloom article on hormone replacement!

Dear Bouncy,

I think that BHRT is definitely different than regular HRT and feel that it is extremely beneficial particularly for you at such a young age! I, however, would see someone who specializes in BHRT and get their opinion because you will find that "regular" doctors haven't done the research and are simply going on their opinions which are not always current! As Janet suggested, your quality of life is extremely important and you've got a lot of living to do!


Best Wishes,

TJ

Go on BHRT immediately. You are not too young. I started having mild symptoms in my early 30s and had sleep problems in my late 20s. My early 30s were totally ruined by my skin problems and PMS. At 34 I went on the pill to control my cycles and suppress my ovaries thinking I was doing myself a favor, since I was "too young" to go on bioidenticals. I was going to avoid the whole thing untill I was like 45. Last August I started waking up at night having to pee which is not that big a deal, at least the hot flashes didn't start up again. (I had terrible sleep problems and mild hot flashes when I was 33) Then my hair started falling out and I started getting fat. I stopped having the energy to go anywhere or do anything and noticed I was looking, well, old. When you are 30 you don't think these things can happen to you, and may even think that if they do it's "not such a big deal" because "people are supposed to age". The depression, weight gain, fatigue, and general anxiety problems that perimenopause causes, in my opinion are really not to be messed with. Not feeling good is dangerous. If you don't get help you will gradually feel worse and worse and your whole quality of life will be affected because of it. The last 5 years of my life were totally wasted on the pill. I never was able to lose the small amount of weight it caused and in general I felt tired, anxious and generally weird the whole time I was on it. Sure my cycles were suppressed and I was "symptom free" but I was also so depressed that I regularly considered suicide and even became a drinker last spring. I never drank regularly in my life and last spring drank 15 bottles of wine over about a 2 month period. Now I'm 38 ... all I can think is why did I do this to myself? I got my BHRT prescription last week and there is no comparison... I feel like I did in my 20s. People at work this last week all stared at me trying to figure out what I had done. I think it made some people a little mad, that one day I was bloated and the next day my skin looked all glowy. Don't waste your 30s. I regret how I handled my hormonal problems. If I could go back and do it all again I would have gone on a low dose combo at 30-31.... your quality of life will affect all the decisions you make and everything that happens to you.

Well said! It is a frightening experience for some of us!

TJ