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Yay! No more hotflashes!
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justwondering00 posted:
I'm 49 and started menopause in my late 30's. I used hormone replacement, (Prempro, Premarin) until I was around 46. Then I switched to bioidentical hormone cream. I stopped using the cream around 9 or 10 months ago and don't use anything. I don't get any flashes during the day and only sporadic, mild night sweats. I feel pretty good. I'm not in a relationship, so being up for regular sex is not an issue. My question is if I need to continue taking hormone therapy for other things like bone loss, and/or skin aging. I would rather not use anything, as my mom passed away from breast cancer at 36. But I don't want to get old before my time either! Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Yay! No more hotflashes!I'm 49 and started menopause in my late 30's. I used hormone replacement, (Prempro, Premarin) until I was around 46. Then I switched to bioidentical hormone cream. I stopped using the cream around 9 or 10 months ago and don't use anything. I don't get any flashes during the day and only sporadic, mild night sweats. I feel pretty good. I'm not in a relationship, so being up for regular sex is not an issue. My question is if I need to continue taking hormone therapy for other things like bone loss, and/or skin aging. I would rather not use anything, as my mom passed away from breast cancer at 36. But I don't want to get old before my time either! Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!
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Mary Jane Minkin, MD responded:
Dear justwondering00,
Sounds like you are doing well, and that's great. As far as the bone loss issue, keep up with some calcium (aim to get in 1200-1500 mg daily, including from your dairy dietary sources); vitamin D, about 1000 units, and regular weight bearing exercise. If you haven't had a baseline bone density test done, you might want to get one done, just to see where you are, and you can periodically monitor your bones. As far as the official indications for hormonal therapy, they are for relief of hot flashes (and it sounds like you are doing well there); relief of vaginal dryness (and you can always start using vaginal estrogens, if you need to) and the osteoporosis prevention, which we talked about. For skin issues, from dermatology buddies, use a moisturizer regularly, and avoid unnecessary sun exposure, and use a good sun block when you are in the sun.
So keep up the good work,
Mary Jane
Report This| Share this:Yay! No more hotflashes!Dear justwondering00,<br />Sounds like you are doing well, and that's great. As far as the bone loss issue, keep up with some calcium (aim to get in 1200-1500 mg daily, including from your dairy dietary sources); vitamin D, about 1000 units, and regular weight bearing exercise. If you haven't had a baseline bone density test done, you might want to get one done, just to see where you are, and you can periodically monitor your bones. As far as the official indications for hormonal therapy, they are for relief of hot flashes (and it sounds like you are doing well there); relief of vaginal dryness (and you can always start using vaginal estrogens, if you need to) and the osteoporosis prevention, which we talked about. For skin issues, from dermatology buddies, use a moisturizer regularly, and avoid unnecessary sun exposure, and use a good sun block when you are in the sun.<br />So keep up the good work,<br />Mary Jane
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justwondering00 replied to Mary Jane Minkin, MD's response:
Thank you Dr. Minkin. Your response was very helpful!
Report This| Share this:Yay! No more hotflashes!Thank you Dr. Minkin. Your response was very helpful!
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