Anyone here been on hormone replacement therapy?

[Daisy and Delilah]

Mary, I'm ashamed because of where Premarin comes from. After taking it for several years, I found out it comes from pregnant mare's urine. Hence, the name.
I read horror stories of how the horses were confined to small stalls so that urine could be collected. It really upset me.

I assume that all the stories were true and there could be worse scenarios than what I described.

[Medusa]

Mary, I'm ashamed because of where Premarin comes from. After taking it for several years, I found out it comes from pregnant mare's urine. Hence, the name.
I read horror stories of how the horses were confined to small stalls so that urine could be collected. It really upset me.

I assume that all the stories were true and there could be worse scenarios than what I described.

I see. Well, I knew it came from horse urine but I didn't know the details. Hey, we do what we have to in order to feel better. You didn't know in the beginning and even if you did, it's becoming increasingly difficult to be socially and politically correct nowadays. There's just too much to keep track of. Don't be ashamed; forgive yourself and forget it. I can't imagine anyone judging you; I know I don't.

[Catty1]

Here's a link to the information on Premarin, including its source.
http://www.project-aware.org/Managin..._Opinion.shtml

Here's news on a synthetic Premarin, posted by a Horse Advocate group!
http://www.equineadvocates.com/cenestin.html

It's called Cenestin, and was approved by the FDA in 1999.

Here's the list of results I got on Google when I did a search on "Cenestin":
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...G=Search&meta=

[robinh]

I had a total hysterectomy in 2001. I went into immediate menopause and for the first six months tried several different types of hormones to control the hot flashes and severe mood swings. My hot flashes were so bad that sweat would run down my body. I'm not ashamed to say that Premarin is the only thing that has helped me. Once we got the dosage regulated, my life has evened out and is so much better.

[Logan]

I'm not much help because I am not taking any hormones at this time. But, I am in menopause, but with very few symptoms so far. Thank goodness!
My primary physician told me that he would like to see me on hormone replacement for at least one year becuase of potential osteoperosis (sp?). So far, my OB/GYN and I have agreed to leave things alone since they are going so smoothly.

God luck to you!

[Pam]

I have pretty much sailed through menopause with only the night sweats. Things would have had to be pretty bad for me to take HRT because of the risk of cancer involved. My OB-GYN suggested them to me years ago and I said no.

[joycenalex]

i'm on estratest, an estrogen/testerostone HRT. i've been on it for a year, mostly faithfully. the hot flashes are much better and it has helped with the libido issues, and since this is a family oriented area, if you want to ask about that, PM me. after alex died, i went into a fair depression, and i stopped taking everything for about 6 weeks, boy did i learn the error of that, so i'm back on all my meds. i'm faithful about my pap/pelvic exam and breast self exam and mamms. if you're on any type of HRT, you have to be faithful about those tests and be aware sometimes ERT will make the mammo more uncomfortable, so take 2 advil, with food about an hour before the test. i'm glad i'm on estratest, and i'm aware of the risks/benefits

[K9karen]

I have pretty much sailed through menopause with only the night sweats. Things would have had to be pretty bad for me to take HRT because of the risk of cancer involved. My OB-GYN suggested them to me years ago and I said no.

Same for me. Compared to my friends, I was blessed not to suffer much except for sweats, and they weren't too bad, altho they seem to go on for a few years. With all my other health problems, I decided to just go with the flow (so to speak).