Bente's story

I wish…

…I remain healthy and without worries for many years to come.

Bente Hald (who uses hormone replacement therapy).

I have just celebrated my 66th birthday – I invited my friends and family to the celebration and we all had a lovely day.  I hope to stay healthy and hearty for many years to come. Nobody can master disease and death, and I believe that what must happen will happen. But there is no point in not enjoying life fully until then!

This is one of the reasons why I take a hormone tablet each morning. I have suffered menopausal symptoms and have heard about the complications some women experience in relation to the menopause such as dry mucous membranes and osteoporosis. I don’t want to go through any of that. That’s how I see it. Throughout my life I have tried different types of contraceptives: contraceptive pills, IUD and condoms. I have always chosen the type that was best for me at the time and I have no concerns about this way of ‘controlling’ my body.

I started taking hormone replacement therapy when I was 54. I went directly from regular periods to hormone replacement therapy because my doctor advised me to do so. She thought the time was right, so I took her advice.  She was the one who suggested that I give birth to my children at home, which turned out to be just the right thing for me.

A few years ago I decided to take a pause in my hormone replacement therapy. I suddenly got hot flushes and perspired a lot, so I started the treatment again. Later on my periods became irregular. I was examined by a specialist, who fortunately didn’t find anything wrong with me, and I am now feeling sound and healthy. I have never had any abdominal problems – my two pregnancies were very easy – which is why I really notice when something is not as it used to be.

I don’t talk with my friends and family about my menopause and my hormone replacement therapy. Not because it’s taboo or unpleasant to talk about it, but simply because there are other things which are more fun to talk about.

Socialising and being active are important to me. Opera is my great passion and I travel a lot to see and listen to opera performances. I can’t imagine anything better than a warm summer’s night in the Arena in Verona … Think of something that touches you so much that it brings tears to your eyes, and that’s how I feel about opera. 
 
At the age of 66 I am still working. I will of course have to retire at some point in time, but I hope I won’t have to do so for many years to come. What on earth would I do with all that time at home? It wouldn’t be a problem in the summer, though, because I spend a lot of time in my garden.

When the time comes I will be able to spent more time with my grandchildren. I look forward to that. Perhaps I could also have some pets again, as we had when the children were very young.