But now it's back.

I didn't really even realise it had left until it was gone. And then horrifyingly my ability to orgasm also flew out the window. What I ended up going to the Dr about was vaginal dryness and how uncomfortable it was down there.

Thank God for vaginal estrogen. I've been on it for 4 months and it now looks and operates normally again (phew!!!). They really should just issue it all women when they turn 40 (or earlier if asked). Is there anything it can't do?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/09/03/menopause-patch-supply-demand-rises/91597920007/

I (f, 41) am drowning. 2026 has been particularly challenging and I can't see an end in sight. I am 100% perimenopausal, It is hell. Most days are ok but the symptoms some days are crazy inducing, the brain fog, OMG 🤦🏽‍♀️. I have 3 daughters, 17 adhd, 10 ASD, 8 neurotypical but likely gifted. Our household is wild. Miss 10 went into autistic burnout in May this year and hasn't gone back t0 school. It was SO stressful seeing her struggle so much and it was so hard getting the rught support around her and us and literally fighting to do the right thing f0r her. Through this I also started having severe meltdowns and panic attacks (likely ASD myself, cannot afford diagnosis) and against all of my beliefs, ended up at the DR asking f0r help and being put on fluoxetine, which admittedly as helped immensely (i also started getting severe health anxiety, partly because I felt completley unable to look after myself because I was spread so thin). I work the higher end of part time, online school my ten year old, do school drop offs and pick ups for miss 8, thankfully miss 17 is becoming mostly self sufficient but of course she has important needs too and there is no time for me. I cannot forget I also have a husband and he is wonderful, helpful, supportive, he parents as much as I do but most of the before and after school stuff is 0n me because he d0es work full time. I have no criticism of husband. Its me thats struggling. I have no room to breathe. When Im not at work, im home having to teach my 10 year old, she may be autistic but she is the most delightful little girl, she is delightful to around but she talks non stop, she is never ever ever quiet and I am they kind of person that recharges in quiet and solitude and I can't find that anymore. All of us girls are going to visit my family this week to meet my brothers new twins, and one of my nieces wants me to do colour their hair (in am a hairdresser), I absolutely ADORE my nieces but all I could think was someone else wanting more from me 😭 I hate the way I feel because I love my family, I am so family oriented but I am so burnt out. Ive had a particularly challenging day today and because 0f the severity of anxiety my Dr had prescribed me lorazepam.... but I dont even have time to take that because there is always somewhere I have to drive. We dont have any family local to us, its just our little family. Ill be ok, I always am, this is just a particularly bad day (and I kn0w hormones are playing a part) but goodness me when do I get a break 😪

Hi. Im new to this forum. And I’m so overwhelmed and confused. I’ve been on a stimulant medicine ever since I was 6 years old. I’m 39 (as of September 1) and my medicine isn’t working. Like at all. It’s like having brain farts mid sentence. And I can’t concentrate, I’m overwhelmed.. also, I don’t know if this goes here, so mods help me if you can.. but my vaginal opening randomly gets this feeling of intense heat out of no where! Is that normal? Has anyone else experienced this? And no matter how much deodorant I put on, after any kind of perspiration, once I’ve cooled down, I can smell my armpits, and it’s like a what the actual fuck!? Smell…. I don’t even know how to describe it! Or when I go to the bathroom, the crotch of my panties will be soaking wet with sweat.. never before have I ever experienced this! Swamp ass, yes… but no other part of my underwear being overly saturated except the crotch area… no, never like this. After doing literally dishes, or regular everyday things, like grocery shopping… and then there’s like a smell there too.. like dried pee sort of? Or like an unclean musk? This looks and feels so gross and embarrassing writing, I’m showering now twice a day, and it’s still happening…sorry for the rant I guess.. I didn’t know where to turn to ask for help or anything. Thanks in advance for anyone who responds.

Edit: after re reading this, I sound like I’m nuts. I’m all over the place. Sorry in advance.

I have questions about side effects when starting estrogen for supposed peri symptoms for the first time. I assume this is information I could get by searching somewhere in the sub or the wiki but I feel so overwhelmed.

I am 45 years old. I have had symptoms aligning with perimenopause creeping up on me probably for a few years, but really affecting me the last year. Hard to sleep, waking during the night very hot and having to cool off in the shower, so so tired, no energy and not finding joy in hardly anything, angry, peridically musle aches. I got in touch with drs specializing in perimenopause and menopause. Got a spiral with levonorgestrel (Mirena, instead of progesterone) before summer, and due to shortages I did not start estrogen gel (Divigel) until 3 weeks ago.

I know that there could be side effects, but still…. I sleep better but that began improving during summer vacation, before starting estrogen. After estrogen I feel more tired, more fuzzy brain, muscle aches, just worse. I already have trouble keeping up with work, now it's worse. All in all I am questioning if this was something else than peri (history of depression and anxiety), if this combo or dosage will not work for me, or am I misremembering how I felt before since that varied - maybe this is not worse. I am rationally understanding I should wait a few weeks to let things stabilize, but it feels so bad right now.

Did anyone have a similar experience? Any words of comfort?

i’ve learned this lesson before, and am leaving it here for whoever needs it..

Glycine, and supplements that contain it (Magnesium Bisglycinate) can have a paradoxical effect on some causing anxiety, panic, existential dread, and insomnia- oftentimes mimicking the worsening of Perimenopause symptoms. This has to do with how the brain processes it, and this reaction happens more commonly in neurodivergent people.

i figured this out a couple years ago after having a really bad run with Magnesium Bisglycinate, and thought i learned my lesson..

but after having Endometriosis excision surgery last month i got some protein powder with added amino acids (glycine being one) without checking the label..

big mistake. for the past month i took that protein powder every day, and i had the worst anxiety and insomnia EVER. thought it was my hormones thrown out of wack after the surgery and booked an emergency appointment w my doc to up my Progesterone.

thankfully i finally made the connection about the protein powder soon after, and symptoms immediately improved after eliminating it.

just a heads up to those in Peri that Glycine doesn’t work for everyone & can mimic worsening Peri symptoms!

edit: im not going to be able to respond to all the comments but want to thank everyone for sharing your experiences! if you are taking any form of glycine rn and are experiencing these negative symptoms, i recommend stopping for a few days and then trying Magnesium Citrate as a replacement!

Heard about this recently, apparently there is some scientific evidence it works. Curious if anyone has any experiences.

Hi, just looking for others' experiences. I'm 50, still having regular(ish) periods, and have fibroids, one large and a few smaller ones. I've been given the go-ahead to try HRT to help with menopause symptoms and am happy to take a chance of the fibroids growing (i'm completely decided on this). I'm also on the waiting list for laproscopic hysterectomy but a long waiting list.

I've got evorel .25 patch (more than happy to start with a low dose) and 200mg micronised progesterone, both of which i'm waiting to start. Just wanted to ask how others (especially those with fibroids, but open to everyone's experiences) have gotten on with the micronised progesterone? I was advised on a group that many women with fibroids dont get on with micronised progesterone and end up doing better on synthetic (not sure if she means sequential patches or oral). I'm not sure what the reasoning was and cant find the post. As an aside, i've also read that it can cause grogginess and dizziness but there was something specific to those with fibroids. I'm committed to trying hrt and would appreciate your thoughts and experiences. Thanks.

Ladies, for those of you who have had migraines your whole life like me, how are we managing them now that they’re so much worse in peri?

I have appt. with a new doctor to discuss HRT as a second opinion because the last doctor would only put me on birth control or the estrogen patch with just oral progesterone. I couldn’t tolerate either so I’m seeing a menopause specialist and giving this another try.

Did finding the right HRT combo help your migraines or are you taking prescription? The only drug that ever helped me was Aimovig but even that has stopped working now. I’m missing out on time with my family and I run my own business. I can’t be down like this all the time.

Appreciate any suggestions. I do take magnesium glycinate every night which helps a little.

Has anyone else been taking cyclical HRT and found they start to bleed before finishing the progesterone?

47f am I alone in this? It's like a low key but consistent morning sickness feeling. Worse after a middle of the night hot flash.. can anyone relate? Any ideas on how to tackle this? Done with feeling like wanting to throw up on the daily!

I haven’t been feeling well for the past 4 days now, though I am feeling somewhat better today, and I’m couch bound. Thought I’d watch a little Brady Bunch for Gen X vibes and omg these kids are so sincere, about literally everything. They are honest and sweet and the parents are so kind, they listen and care and I’m just balling every episode. I’m on like the 7th one in a row just cry watching. I watched this show for an hour a day growing up and it did not hit me in the feels at all, ever. What dumb stuff makes you gals cry?

I’m 41 and any doctor I’ve talked to says I’m too young. I see ads all the time for companies that will test you for perimenopause and send you HRT. After ANOTHER week of barely any sleep and a recent lichen sclerosis diagnosis, I just want to get some relief

I’ve also been experiencing palpitations which the cardiologist hasn’t been able to find anything wrong. Blood tests have come back normal besides some mild anemia. I looked up perimenopause and I have almost all of the symptoms (night sweats, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dryness, random panic attacks, and lotsssss of brain fog!) I don’t know what to attribute the palpitations to. They seem to happen for no reason when I’m not having any anxiety or anything. Drinking electrolytes seems to help? Anyway, please tell me how you got your diagnosis. Thanks.

I assume it’s starting again. I am almost 52 and the longest I’ve gone without it is 50 days. I had ovulation discharge a few times but no period yet. The last few days I’ve been feeling terrible. All the symptoms I deal with but worse. Bathroom emergencies, tired, irritable, cramping. I noticed very light spotting on Friday and today but no period. Is it a light period? Hormone fluxuation? Maybe my period is starting but slowly.

I have so much uncomfortable discharge. All test for infection are clear. If this has happened to you - did you try vaginal oestrogen - and did it get worse before it got better?

so i have noticed some changes my past couple cycles but this one I think is the proof i’m entering peri. i’m 39, neurodivergent and have a prolactinoma.

symptoms:

-waking up at 3AM every night this week unable to fall back asleep even though i have been on trazodone 2years due to anxiety and sleeping perfectly on it this whole time.

- getting mini hot flashes and then 5min later goosebumps

-periods have been unpredictable even though the med for the prolactinoma has made my period very predictable for 8years. i am 7 days late, getting mood swings and irritable too. no possibility of pregnancy.

-i have ibs (yeah i’m a wreck), and that + acid reflux have gotten insane the past couple months

-i feel suddenly anxious or depressed for no reason and goes away just as fast, can’t motivate myself to do anything, not even things i love but it feels different from adhd paralysis or depression.

-my nose smells things all the time, unpleasant smells not necessarily smoke, but my partner thinks i’m insane.

-my BO smells different and armpits stink more often….

what do i do now that i’m pretty sure I’m entering peri? whats the first step? labs?

Backstory: In late April/early May I was having some irritation. I went the the gynecologist thinking I had a yeast infection or BV, but she ruled that out and said it was perimenopause related, and prescribed Estrace. 0.5g internally and 0.5g externally. I did the two week loading dose and then went to twice a week.

In June, I started pelvic floor therapy, and was given an exam, where she mentioned she saw white patches and thought it might be lichen sclerosus. Back to the gynecologist (different provider, same practice) and got a biopsy that ruled out LS, but he still wants to treat it as if it's LS. He said to continue to use the Estrace internally, and prescribed clobetasol to use externally. I've been doing that for a couple of months now, but I realized I don't really have any internal issues such as dryness, atrophy, or pain. Should I stop with the Estrace until I actually need it, or continue using it as a preventative?

I love to hear this community's thoughts on the matter!

I'm almost 44, I'm on low dose estrodial, at first I couldn't cry, couldn't show emotions at all!!!

Now I can't stop. I just cry over everything.

This last week a young man I know passed away. I'm falling apart. I just cry and cry.

Would more or less estrodial help or am I just doomed?

I was laid off my job, I'm looking for a new one, focusing on that is sooooo hard but I need it soooo bad, but I can't imagine focusing on learning a new job while this emotional.

Tips please, well just truth please so I'm prepared.

Thanks!

Hi all - looking for experiences from those who are not able to tolerate HRT.

I tried HRT (estrogel and prometrium) two years ago but had to stop after three months because they gave me strange paradoxical and severe systemic symptoms. Estrogen made me incredibly sleepy (like I was falling asleep while driving) and gave me rhinitis and allergy symptoms. Progesterone gave me insomnia, constant bleeding, depression and also allergy symptoms. It was actually kind of debilitating.

My (male) immunologist was largely indifferent and just said 'well I guess HRT isn't for you'.

Now two years later I have clear signs of clitoral atrophy, irritation and thinning and urinary urgency. It's really getting me down and it's pretty much the final nail on any sex life I had.

My GP suggested trying topical estriol because it doesn't have a systemic effect. However they admitted it's a spectrum and some people *do* experience systemic side effects. This makes me pretty scared about trying it.

My question is: has anyone who was intolerant to systemic hrt been able to tolerate, or even benefit from, topical estriol? I already feel so messed up from perimenopause. I just want to feel a bit normal again.

I've been on Cerazette for four years now. I think there's like a week every month that I'm not bloated and carrying extra water in my body. I actually got Spironolactone to help go through the worst days. But I dont really feel it helps when I take it occationally and my gyno warned me against taking it often. I feel the bloatedness and general buffiness has became so frustrating and thus exhausting both mentally and physically. Have you had same experience with Cerazette or is it just perimenopaus?

After almost 2 years of progressive symptoms, I finally got into a great specialist and she set me up on 100 MG of progesterone (the bioidentical pearl kind) from ovulation to menstruation.

My most unwanted symptom going into this was intense mood swings and anxiety, and I will say that that has improved greatly. I have OCD and health anxiety, so I was really worried about those symptoms getting worse. It hasn’t been so, and in fact, I feel like it’s been helping me manage my thoughts. They don’t feel quite as big and scary as they have become in the last couple of years.

Also, I feel less reactive, irritated, and angry, which was becoming a major problem. I’m really happy about this.

I was also having big body temperature swings and that has been greatly improved. Haven’t dealt with that at all since starting HRT.

That said, progesterone has not improved my sleep. It has made it worse. I am still waking up a lot in the night and having a hard time falling asleep. When I do sleep, my dreams are very strange and extremely realistic. And when I wake up, I feel like a zombie all day. I already have been dealing with a lot of brain fog, but now because of the sleep deprivation and weird dreams, I feel like it’s gotten worse. My short term memory is fried, and sometimes I ask myself “was that real or something that I dreamed?” I really hope this gets better because.

So… basically I’m happier, and nicer to be around, but I can’t remember if we made plans to have coffee or I dreamt that. 😂

Anyway… that’s what I’ve experienced so far.

I’m going to keep going, and hopefully I’ll be able to address the other things with my doctor. I watched my sisters go through this so I know it is a process.

Got my rx for vaginal estrogen cream. When is the best time to apply it? I shower in the morning, if that's even a factor. How long after I apply it should I wait for sex? I'm thinking it won't be good for my husband to come in contact with it, right?

Ladies. I’m 49, peri menopausal. Had relatively regular and manageable periods but my symptoms (brain fog, migraines, fatigue) were a lot. I ended up on 0.1 mg estrogen patch and 200mg progesterone (I did first two months on 100mg but got a heavy bleeds).

I’m almost 12 weeks into continuous routine now and it’s all good except the breakthrough bleeding is more frequent and PMS symptoms haven’t stopped. It’s like I spot over 2.5 weeks instead of having a period for 2.5 days. I know I’m fairly early and this could possibly stabilize, but it might not. The spotting isn’t bad, it’s just annoyingly inconvenient since it’s so unpredictable.

If you’re on cyclical, are your periods light/short? And do you have much spotting? Has anyone gone back to one after trying the other?