When Should Women Consider Stopping Hormone Replacement Therapy?

I have gone through menopause and feel better than ever. I experienced such dark depressions prior to my periods that when I finally stopped having them and the depression never came back I made the decision not to take hormone replacement. It has been at least 9 years since my last period. My gyn keeps wanting me to take Evista, but I really don't want to mess up my mood. I workout regularly with weights, walk and eat right. What is your recommendation?

gwen Harp of GA 6:56AM January 28, 2009

Women have been deceived by the drug companies for too long about hormone replacement. First of all, don't go to any doctor who still prescribes Prempro--that combination of Premarin and progestin is dangerous. A good GYN should be able to test to see if you need supplementation of estrogen, progesterone or testosterone. There are bioidentical forms of progesterone and testosterone available from Solvay Pharm that are available to oppose and balance any extra estrogen product you might need. There is a progesterone cream available in health food shops called Prempro and it does work. Keep asking questions. A good question is, "What doctor in this area knows more about hormones than anybody else?" For me, the answer was a reproductive endocrinologist, even though I was in perimenopause. One way to get a good referral: Call the office of a reproductive endocrinologist and ask whom they refer patients to for regular OB/GYN care. Keep asking...good luck!

Sally in Georgia of GA 2:26PM January 27, 2009