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Im 53 and refuse to take HRT due to cancer risks however i don't know how higher dosages of estrogen and progesterone will help with depression and anxiety. Perhaps you need an antidepressant or anxiety medication also. This is a trying time for us women. Im an empty nester, retired, married, mother, grandma and find it all very overwhelming and such a difference in the life i use to have when younger. Its suppose to be easier but im not so sure. I just wish I could get the urge back to want sex with my husband. Its been gone since I went into and out of menopause. I would talk to your doctor and see what he suggests.

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thank you for replying. I went this route because my doctor told me she would rather me do the hormonal therapy than take an antidepressant. I go back to her on Tuesday because I can't stand it any more. My sex drive is fine, when I feel good about myself. My husband's sex drive at 52 has not diminished at all, so I am always fearful that mine will drop off while his stays consistent.

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Well thats my problem. I have lost all my drive. His remains pretty close to the same or a little less. Because of this im feeling depressed alot but have been on anti-depressants twice when 2 of my family members died both times so opt not to go back on them. Im glad your seeing the doctor-they will know whats best for you.
I am surprised your doctor would rather you take HRT than a antidepressant. I know of no antidepressants causing cancer where you read and hear all the time how dangerous HRT is for you. I myself would much rather take the antidepressant any day of the week. My parents both died of cancer and my mom also had breast cancer when i was young although she did not die of that cancer so the risks are there and i opt to not take something that can increase my chances. I have gone thru menopause naturally taking nothing. I have been post now for several yrs. Other than the lack of sex drive I have no other symptoms. This is just causing problems in our marriage . I have talked to my family doctor and gyn and neither have an answer. They just sit there and look at you and say "oh" and don't seem to have a clue how to help. I am hearing most don't have more than an hour of training in this field at all. Thats ridiculous.
Hope you get the answers and help you are looking for cause I sure haven't. Its pathetic they have viagra for men and nothing for women!

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I think my dr did the therapy because it is a natural sustance instead of a synthetic pill. Anyway, I was thinking, how about some progesterone for your sex drive? I don't know too much medically, but from what I read the progesterone revives your sex drive.

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I think a few yrs ago they tried that and i developed spotting. Thats one thing i don't want is having something similiar to a period again-no thx lol!

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isn't that the truth. I have been very happy with the estrogen and progesterone that I have been on, but something has changed and I don't want to be anxious and worried about every little thing. that's why I started taking medicine in the first place. No one understands being in the 50's except another 50's woman.

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Hi. I am 52 and been on HRT for 12 months (oestrogen only as l already have the Mirena coil which supplies progesterone locally to womb )
My problem is similar to yours cougarone, only for the last 3 months l weep uncontrollably at NOTHING and when l'm least expecting it!I then get deep feelings of despair and worthlessness which last till this 'dip' is over then l'm back to my normal bubbly optomistic self. As someone who's known for being stable and level-headed, I HATE not being in control and crying like a baby...the worst is not knowing when its going to happen...its really affecting my confidence too....The Dr. thinks l'm depressed but l'm NOT depressed as l wouldn't bounce back the way l do after the episode is over would l???...l swear its hormonal changes the way it sweeps over me, just like being on a rollercoaster!..My GP is ready to retire and admits he's not 'up to speed' with hormone replacement therapy, so apart from taking more bloods to check my levels l've made an appt with another doc whos been recommended to me in the same practice...l've been off work for 6 weeks now because l can't deal with the public in case l burst out crying again!(as l do every other day it seems...)
Please believe me cougar, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!...
(It's Poo eh!?)

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Thanks for writing, I am so glad to hear that other women are going thru the same sorts of things. I went to my dr on Tuesday. She kept me on the Lo-e and progesterone, but she thought it could be depression. why is it depression seems to be the cure for whatever you ask is wrong with you? anyway, she put me on prozac and we are trying that for a month. I did not want to go on any depression medicine, but she said the hormones I am taking would not take the depression away. I really don't feel depressed, just anxious and suspicious of everything. Is that depression? I thought I was taking the hormones so I would have to take an antidepressant, but here I am taking all of it. Sometimes I think drs just throw everything at you and hope something sticks and works. I am sorry about the crying for you. I don't have that so much, I can cry at any time, but more suspicious of everything and anyone and anxious that doom is coming on me in some form. I know that doesn't make sense, but that's the feeling. Next breath, I am just fine, feeling good and everything is hunky dory.

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Hiya. Been back to docs today, burst out crying (quel suprise!... after thinking what a good morning l'd had...) Anyway he was a young dynamic guy and really listened to me while l was laughing and crying my way through the consultation!... I too was given Prozac for a month previously, and after a long chat we decided to continue with that as he did say it COULD help with my symptoms and asked if l wanted to increase the Premarin(hrt) to 1.25 dose for a short time to see if any change..... he did fully explain the contraindications of this, which l understand he has to do, but l told him l'd consider Arsenic if if made me feel 'normal' again!...so thats where l'm at the mo....l'll let you know how it goes...
PLEEZE GOD..MAKE IT GO AWAY!!!! (Told him l'm coming back with Bo*l**ks next time, which made him laugh and he said he didn't blame me!

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P.S...when l have these 'dips' l too feel utterly anxious and feel l can't cope evn with daily activities...a molehill definately beciomes a mountain till its over....It WILL get better for all of us.and the sooner the better eh!

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what does the Premarin do? Have you seen any difference in yourself the month you have taken Prozac? My doctor said it would take about a month to really work. I hope it takes a couple of days. I can't stand this anxiousness.

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i am 39yr and have been married for 4 years without any issue.my doctor told me i need to undergo laporoscopy. and i dont think i need it.

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Oh my Goodness!..Since upping my dosage of Premarin to 1.25 (from 0.625) l am back to being me again for the first time in MONTHS!!!! I cannot believe the chage this has made to my confidence! Have had no crying or anxiety attacks for over a week and l feel blooming great!..I'm not saying this is the answer for everyone, and l know there are risks involved with HRT, but for me the benefits are outweighing the risks as l feel l can now lift my head walking down the street instead of avoiding eye-contact incase l start weeping (yes, l was THAT sensitive!)
I also started taking the natural supplement 5-HTP recommended by a lady in Holland and Barrett which works on the seratonin levels (the 'feel-good' factor)similar to Prozac but WITHOUT the drowsy hang-over effect...from the first night l slept peacefully, and woke up feeling totally refreshed and ready to face the day....Again l'm not saying this is for everyone, but there is plenty of info on the web about this supplement so please look it up...the Prozac made me feel quite nauseous if l'm honest, so l replaced it with the 5-HTP after researching as much as possible from the web. To be honest l'm not sure whether its the HRT or 5-HTP or the combination of both thats working for me....all l know is l feel damn good!
l will review the situation in 3 months and if alls well, perhaps try reduced dose of HRT again?...
But so far so good!...Hope this has been useful....Let me know how you get on x

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Hello,I'm very new to all this, my first year of being 50 is coming around to a close, and I'm feeling every bit confused as I try and cope with peri-menopause, or perhaps it is menopause.
Just glad to see I'm not alone in the feelings, thoughts, and mood swings.
I appreciate all of your input, and would like to ask if anyone gets sick on "premarin", my doctor gave it to me months ago, I took it for two days, and got nauseous , and stopped taking it. Now I just deal with hot flashes, and minor mood swings, nothing major, I just feel easily angered and more verbal than usual. Telling myself that menopause is the source of my "wierd self" these days helps me cope, and finding forums like this absolutely helps. Thank you to all for your threads, I appreciate your input, advice and hope someday than each of us gets past this "winding road" in our journey of life.

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rs78154- Don't worry- you will get thru this. I went thru it with absolutely no HRT or anything -just like the pioneer women lol, and I made it just fine along with hot flashes and insomnia. Like I said, I don't have much sex drive left anymore but hey! I'll take it and be happy im not dealing with more. Its not the end of the world and Im healthy as an ox and doing absolutely great at nearly 54 now! Good luck to you and all!

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