hysterectomy and hormones

i am scheduled for my hysterectomy next month... i find myself struggling with the option of hormone replacement therapy. i don't understand what benifit it would be to take hormones for 20 years only to have everything happen then ... rather than not opting to have hormones and getting it all over with now. is there something really bad that would happen if i don't take hormones? i know about the bone density problems but wouldn't calcium take care of that?
i really don't want to have to be on hormones for 20 years but at the same time, if its going to make me worse i suppose i'll do it.
i would love any information anyone can offer on this subject. thank you very much!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by ivy29 i really don't want to have to be on hormones for 20 years...

If you didn't have your ovaries removed, you would have them producing hormones for you until you were age 50-ish, so...why wouldn't you want those same health benefits, delivered via HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) until at least then? HRT provides what removed ovaries used to make. The way I look at it, if hormones weren't essential to a woman's health in the first place, then why (for those who don't have their ovaries removed) would the body make them until menopause?

You are still young and your body might benefit from hrt if there is nothing medical preventing you from using it. I am in my 50's and still taking it, just can't deal with the symptoms. I do take a very low dose, the vivelle patch which is bio-identical estrogen like what ovaries made.

I would read and research and then discuss with your doctor. You can take a very low dose and see how you do.

Here is a link from the Mayo clinic on hrt benefits:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hor...herapy/WO00046


I hope this helps some.

s

thanks for the thoughts and the links... i might try the hrt maybe in a very low dose...
part of what worries me is that every single time my dr has put me on any hormones in the past such as bc pills or shots, it has not worked well at all with my body.
but then too, i didn't realize there were patches and lower dose hrt so that might be an alternative for me since i have trouble remembering to take a pill at the same time every day.
thanks for the info though i really appreciate it!