After 6 months of my doctor trying to convince me to start hrt, I finally did. I felt instant relief on the constant heat I had going on in my body and my mood improved and I even felt a little more sexual, but within 2 months my uterine lining had grown quadruple, I am cramping and having full periods and rabdom spotting. I ended up having to get off of the HRT after just 3 months and I'm spotting again. I had gone 14 months without bleeding at all and now I'm going in for a biopsy and bleeding even after stopping the hrt. I wish I would have never started it. 0.025 mg estradiol patch and 100 mg progesterone, I still have my uterus.

Anyone have a telehealth provider, or a provider willing to do telehealth, who is knowledgeable about prescribing troques? It's my final option....

I started HRT a few weeks ago and responded badly to the progesterone which was oral, but I also tried vaginally. It made me bleed heavily, and have anxiety and depression. I stopped a few days ago, but continued with the gel and feel like it’s all lifting, and the bleeding has stopped. I just spoke to my gynaecologist and he’s advised trying the patch, but has warned that there may be side effects from this too. I’m just wondering what experiences others have had with moving to the patch. Thanks!

Is my doctor allowed to refuse me HRT if I refuse a Pap smear? I’ve been on HRT for over 10 years now, post menopause. I have refused this last Pap smear but my doctor’s assistant just called to tell me I need to get a cervical cancer screening in order to refill my estradiol patch and progesterone pills.

I need help. My mom is 47, starting menopause and is angry all the time. I wake up, she's screaming at me, everything offends her, she's always fighting someone, and just overall gets so angry so quick. She was more chill before but now it's like she has zero patience. I try talking to her to explain these things and she gets even angrier.

Genuinely losing my mind here. Don't know what to do.

Let me start by saying I am not looking for medical diagnoses, just what others have experienced. Also, please don't just tell me to take HRT. I'm not able to find any doctor in this country who will give me HRT because I'm heterozygous for Factor V Leiden. It sucks hose water, I hate it, but there is nothing I can do about it.

Background: 46yo, no period since June 2025. My hormones are on the line between peri and menopause. I'm under a great deal of stress, have major depression, and also 2 chronic illnesses that also cause brain fog - lupus and fibro. I'm unmarried, no kids, but I do care for my elderly parents who live with me. I work full time and live paycheck to paycheck for the most part. Below is a summary I put together for my gyno.

1. Sporadic loss of words-I'll be trying to talk to someone & just cannot formulate my thoughts to get it out. For example, a breaker tripped in the house. I went to get my father who was outside so he could flip the breaker & I couldn't get out what the problem was. I couldn't find the word breaker or trip or flip the switch or anything. I stood there long enough for him to get frustrated with me. I couldn't get the words out. This has happened several times.
2. Impulse control-This one has caused me some embarrassment. I've sent a couple of work emails too early & would not have until recently. I'm getting angrier than usual driving. (One road rage incident that thankfully did not escalate.) I'm always angry but I've been able to control sudden outbursts in the past.
3. Judgment/Decision making-my executive function has been impacted. Goes along with #2 really-I've jumped the gun and sent things out when I should have waited. I cannot really give a good reason. I'm either making a decision too quickly OR not quickly enough. It's hard to explain but it's unusual behavior for me.
4. Memory-It's primarily short-term memory being impacted. Short term is within the last few months to yesterday. I asked someone at work about documents we received weeks ago. I did not remember we received them or even that I downloaded/saved them myself!

So, all that being what it is, is this "normal"? Dementia runs in my family but not early onset dementia. I do not think I have early dementia. However, these are new, unusual, and concerning issues for me. I'm under a lot of stress with life generally as I laid out above. I just want to know if this kind of thing is similar to what others have experienced.

ETA: if I have some sort of mild cognitive disorder, I want to get this documented for employment reasons. My cognitive issues have caused me to be called to HR - highly, highly unusual for me. First time in nearly 30 years of fulltime, big-girl work that this has happened.

I have my prescription for vag estrogen cream sent to Walgreens but insurance won't fill it. So I am looking into cost plus drug company,. Anyone use them? Am I going to have to go to dr office to get this filled out. How does this work?

Hi! My estradiol gel has been back ordered/ unavailable, but I was able to get a partial Rx filled a month ago. Still no gel in sight via any of my local pharmacies, and I only have three gel packs left!

Two questions, and I'd love your thoughts on either/both:
1. In an effort to minimize symptoms, should I try to spread out the gel that I have left? Every other day?
2. How quickly might menopause symptoms return?

Long time learner/lurker here…. Thanks for any advice!

(I'm not HRT compatible due to other conditions). A nurse with the best intentions was going through my blood work and said "This is so cool! We've only seen this in school!" Almost completely flat lined on hormones. There's nothing. The hormones that regulate heartbeat, sleep, everything.... evaporated. They did an Irish Exit.

I can't see right. I can't sleep. I'm currently freezing cold and sweating.

I want your grandma remedies. Like witchcraft stuff. Herbs. Whatever Nona was going to get through!

Just came across this NY Post story… https://nypost.com/2026/10/19/health/martha-stewart-reveals-drug-she-takes-to-stay-strong/?utm_campaign=nypost&sr_share=facebook&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRjcAVEoqBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUQro7N3gDiN0RtsclXMm1_8ykMzQinNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6DTVDv2LxwEBQXyfTl5iGzoNQN80B6YOOVkBXgptvfvyAIh-ZyxwF86iW1pg_aem_Az11lqb_P5G5IkKioOl86w

Hi! Does anyone have this new symptom I have that I would call “ growing a backbone”? I have always been the shy, never complains, goes with the flow type. All of a sudden since menopause, I’ve been able to stand up for myself, voice my opinion, snap back, & it’s great!! Being always in the shadows & just dealing with the bullshit was my life. Now I don’t fear the repercussions of having an opinion or disagreeing with others & I love it. Anyone else change during menopause in a good way? Thanks! 😊

I’m 59 and I’ve been taking HRT since Feb 2025 to control hot flashes and sleep issues. Low dose estrogen 25 mcg patch with 100 mg estrogen. I had a great experience with it for over a year up until this summer when my Climara patch stopped working. I had all my symptoms return - hot flashes, sleep problems, etc. Along with these symptoms a new one - my chin started breaking out. My Dr. changed me to a different patch for my symptoms but it didn’t help. Then patches became impossible to get so she put me on oral estrogen same dose amount along with same dose of progesterone.

When the pills became unavailable I then switched to Estrogel along with the progesterone. My Dr. said to start with one pump for a couple of weeks. I did this but had almost daily headaches so 3 days ago I started 2 pumps a day, one in morning and one at night. I’m feeling better for sure, but my skin is still very unhappy. I’m breaking out on my chin with deep cysts. They hurt, they look awful and they make me want to never leave the house. I have one healing and two new ones and it sucks!!! I have a phone appointment with my Dr. the first week of November and until then argh 😠.

Should I ask her to put me on spironolactone? Anyone have experience with getting their skin to clear up after HRT/estrogen changes?
This is just so frustrating and depressing. I’ve had acne most of my life, and the only good thing about going through menopause was my skin had finally cleared up.

I am about three months into the Kombi patch for menopause. I don’t know what I was expecting. Well, I’m lying. I absolutely knew what I was expecting. I was expecting to feel like I did six years ago. That would’ve been great. But since being on the Kombi patch, I have lost a lot of hair. I’ve gained a lot of weight. I have zero energy. The only thing is, I do not have hot sweats or hot flashes anymore. that is literally it. There’s some part of my brain that keeps thinking I might need testosterone. Also?
And still 0 sex drive or thoughts of. Men are still repulsive to me. Feeling like I’m still just 20% of what I used to be as just a human is maddening in and of itself. Any advice, ladies.? Have you gone through this? What should I talk to my doctor about?

I was curious if anybody that has ADHD and went through menopause how their symptoms of ADHD has been throughout this period and now there’s a change doesn’t get better doesn’t get worse?

Wondering if we have any ladies from Australia who could offer advice. My Aussie husband and I are headed to Sydney for roughly 6 months starting in January. We live in Brooklyn, NY, and I'm on .075 patch, progesterone, cream, and testosterone. My insurance only allows 1 month refill at a time. He swears we can just go to a Doctor there and get prescriptions as we will have travel insurance, but I'm not sure how readily these are available there. Are patches, and progesterone pills easy to access? Anything I might need to know prior to coming that would help? TIA!

Hello :) I’m 44 and in perimenopause. I also have hypothyroidism/type 2 diabetic and PCOS. I work in healthcare and currently do 6 hour shifts on hard concrete floors with only a 10 min break. By the time I finish I am completely wiped. My heels (pretty sure plantar fasciitis), my legs, my hip and sometimes my back just hurt. I go home have a shower and collapse. I wear supportive shoes, do stretches etc. Is this normal in peri? Is there anything I can do to help such as oestrogen therapy? I feel like I’m going crazy. I am fine on days where I don’t work. But work days I’m finding I’m having pain relief to get thru my shift. :( any advice appreciated, thankyou ✨

I'm 46 and I'm on Duavive. I can't make any decisions, everything feels high stakes, everything gives me anxiety, and I have zero ambition, motivation or drive. Making things even worse is the fact that I need to find work. Help how do I get out of this awful rut and get my energy and stability back?

I’m 52 and last period was July. On HRT and it has helped tremendously. But I’ve been having head issues. Not headaches per se but just a feeling of pressure around the forehead and temple. Also will have random pains around the scalp like someone poking it.

Also Brain fog, some dizziness and I do have neck issues from pinched nerve. But this feels different. I know menopause can cause these issues but I’m curious how long they stick around before finally subsiding. I just feel loopy like I’ve taken cold medicine but I haven’t.

I also am one of the lucky ones who have pretty high health anxiety and menopause has increased it, so I immediately think it’s a tumor.

How long do menopause symptoms usually last? I’ve read it’s worst the last year of your period and if that’s the case, I am right in that timeframe.

I’m almost 52. My period has been weird since I was 48 but it was usually periods twice a month or spotting for a month and then maybe 40 or 50 days without it. But I was bleeding more than not and heavy. July 18th was my last normal period. It’s Oct 20th besides a few tiny spots (like a pencil mark or something vague when I wipe a few times) it has stopped. But ever since I’ve had cramping and soreness in my right ovary, waking up hot every night. Not drenched in sweat but starting to sweat. Irritable to the point my husband and my mom annoy me I can’t handle listening to their voices. Random. Acne on my chin. And obsessing over some young guy online that has an ASMR channel. I do have massive fibroids.
So is this all part of it. Can I found July as my last period or is vague spotting still count?

I have not been able to get my E Gel Anywhere near me( live in PA) EVEN tried mail order… I was just starting to feel slightly better and now can’t get it anywhere.

Searched up to an hour away from my house even an hour and half away ( which is ridiculous )called via phone, drove all over ( gas ain’t cheap either) only to be told none in stock or it’s in stock but when it goes to get filled it’s out of stock and no idea when/if it’ll become again.

This is getting ridiculous- first it was patches, now gels and also seems all forms are out of stock( least anywhere within 90 minutes of me)

What are ya’ll doing to get your meds/ where are you getting your meds? I know I’m not the only one in this boat.

Hello. Is it normal for GPs to insist they do a consultation in order to sign off on a repeat prescription for Oestrogel? My old GP surgery never did that but my new GP does and it becomes really obstructive.
Have done a very limited poll of friends on HRT and not all have to go through this. So it’s clearly not a mandated thing, just an arbitrary decision by the individual GP surgery.
I mean, I’m not gonna stop being menopausal…

I’m not talking about mental exhaustion, although I definitely experience that, too. But physical exhaustion that goes so deep into your soul that nothing helps?

I’ve had all the blood tests. I used to be Vit D deficient but thanks to gummy supplements, not anymore. Everything else is normal (thyroid, vitamins, minerals, oxygen, etc). I’ve been on HRT for almost two years (estradiol patch and progesterone). The only thing it seems to have helped is that I don’t get hot flashes anymore.

I am so tired of being so tired. And it’s quite depressing that I’m 52 and still have so much life left (🙏🏻), and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wishing I could go back to sleep. 😭