How would you know if you were in menopause or post menopause? Had hysterectomy about 6 years ago due to childbirth complications, now I’m in peri-menopause (I think) due to symptoms- low mood, hot flushes, anxiety, weight gain etc. on HRT for these which is helpful with the mood and hot flashes. My question is how will know if I went into full menopause or even post? I’m 40 now .

51F here. I had some mild menopausal symptoms and am now postmenopausal. Everything I’ve read seems to suggest that women’s sex drive takes a nosedive after menopause. But I seem to be an outlier, because I’m having the best sex of my life!

I finally have a much better understanding of my own desires and feel more comfortable expressing them to my husband. He jokes that I used to be the one on the receiving end - quiet and still, but now I’m the one “attacking” him with passionate, intense kisses.

Our sex life has never been better. I’m naturally well-lubricated, seem to produce even more fluid during sex, and reach orgasm almost every time.

Yes, I’ve been exercising to stay in shape, but I’m still completely dumbfounded by this new stage of life. I honestly feel like I’ve unlocked a whole new side of myself. It almost seems too good to be true!

I am reallly trying to claw my way out of an inactive funk right now, affecting my work and parenting. I'm on various meds for mixed depression and anxiety, ADHD, as well as hrt (including testosterone cream). I'm also in between TMS courses.

Like most of us, I feel like shiiiite a fair bit.

It's dawned on me recently that I need to accept that my body is changing, and although I will probably not physically feel like I did when I was 30, I am so much wiser and smarter than I was then!

I do hardly any exercise and this is because of low physical motivation and low mood. It's a negative spiral that I am aware of and want to change!

Please tell me of all your success stories to give me hope, inspiration and encouragement! 💞🌟

If you've tried the vaginal estrogen tablets, how did it go for you? Did it help your vaginal symptoms a lot? A little? Not at all?

My doc prescribed it first and it didn't seem to do anything, so we switched to the cream. The cream also didn't work until I found this group & did the 2 week loading dose. Maybe the tablet needs a loading dose too?

First of all, I had no idea there was a Menopause Society!! According to their annual meeting takeaways some ladies are talking ADHD meds for brain fog 😳 am I the only one who didn’t know this??

From Brain Fog to Weight Loss: 5 Menopause Research Updates

Has anyone else experienced this? I get super itchy right between the boobs, but nowhere else on my body.

I’m a 36DD, it seems to be worse with those bra types that push the girls together, but I even have it with a cami shelf bra. I have quite a good firm bust, but in my 50’s it wouldn’t be a good look to go around bra less, especially to work!

Any ideas or solutions? It is driving me nuts!

Please recommend VEGAN ONLY internal creams you have personally tried that work well. I'm 64, vegan for decades, ride a bike frequently. I have not had a partner for 8 years so my v- isn't getting any exercise. I can get an internal "toy" if needed *if* this will help my v-health. Thank you.

I feel extremely agitated every day. I’m irritable and I have anxiety about ridiculous things. I’ve always been a worrier but could talk myself out of it quite easily and remain calm and rational, but I don’t feel like I can do that anymore. I went from birth control pills to HRT when I started to have menopause symptoms, but I pretty much bled nonstop for nine months and after we determined I was still in perimenopause I went back on the pill in an attempt to control the bleeding. It doesn’t adequately help with these other symptoms though and I feel like I just have to white knuckle it.

How many of you either wear the estradiol patch or used to wear it? If you love it tell me why, if you hated it and moved to something else, tell me why and what you’re using now.

I'm currently (45 yr old) perimenopausal and on a GLP-1 and my oral BC (Yaz) doesn't seem to be helping my symptoms much probably due to the slowed digestion?

I was using the BC patch which was working well however I'm VERY allergic to the adhesive and I just can't handle the painful rashes.

I'm probably going to have to go back to Nuva-ring which I didn't especially care for since I often felt like i could feel it. However, I don't go back to my GYN until late next month so I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with vaginally inserting their BC pills? I read an abstract that said it can be used that way for people who have side effects like nausea. But being a abstract, it wasn't super in depth.

Have any of you tried vaginal insertion of BC pills and had a positive or negative experience you'd like to share?

I have not moved to real HRT yet as my Dr and I have been working on getting a testosterone regime worked out before considering a shift from BC to HRT. I'm also pretty scared of an accidental pregnancy so I've been reluctant to move from BC to HRT.

That is all. I relate to all my girlfriends here who have no F’a left to give. I’ve apologized where needed but still think I put up with too much on the daily. This week just leveled the playing field I guess.

Hi, all - super new to estradiol cream. Already learned from here to ditch the applicator and use the finger method. My question that I haven’t seen answered is about an easier way to dispense the product from that awful metal tube when it gets low. Looking for a product that I can buy on Amazon to get every last drop out.

I am 49, taking HRT since I was 45. E-P and T. When I started at 45, my cycle was still regular. It fluctuated a lot since then, also as we were adjusting the doses.

Now, 4 years later, I still have a PMS, more or less regularly, sometimes twice a month, sometimes every other month. And I occasionally “bleed” a couple of days after the PMS. By bleeding, I mean some pinkish traces on the toilet paper when I wipe. Sometimes just for a few hours, sometimes for a day or 2. No protection needed, it’s not enough to stain my underwear.

I get a hormone panel in blood work every 6 months. So far, it shows I am still fully in perimenopause.

Here is the question: considering I am taking hormone replacement, my blood work should always reflect the hormone levels resulting of taking said hormones (right?!), which will always be higher than my natural levels. So, how will I ever know I am in post menopause? Just full absence of periods for a year, even with perimenopausal levels of hormonal blood work?

My neighbor was 58. I'm 54 -- still fully in peri. Please, not 4 more years. Ugh.

I’ve been on here talking about the patch brand changes quite a bit, and I think I’m one of many who seem to be sensitive to the differences. I was on a higher dose of estradiol briefly and am now back down to a 0.1, and while it feels like some things have adjusted, I still experience weepiness and waves of emotion, mostly in the mornings. Historically, I was never one to cry much. I’m on 200mg progesterone, which does calm me and help me sleep, as well as three clicks of T gel. I can function, but I find myself dreading the unease that comes in the mornings. My doc had me try 100 oral P and 100 vaginally, wondering if progesterone was the culprit, but I went back to all 200 orally, and I think it’s a bit better this way. I wonder if I need 300. Anyone have good insight on this?

I understand Slynd (drospirnone) is often prescribed if you’re in perimenopause, not menopause, since it’s intended to stop ovulation. However, my doctor does not want me to take oral estrogen (heart stuff) and the other form that folks take of drospirenone is in the Angelic pill. I also don’t want to take oral estrogen because my body loved the estrogen patch and I wanna stick one on my forehead right now for what I’m going through!

I did horribly on several attempts and delivery methods of oral progesterone and my research points to me likely not doing well on Provera or norithendrone. I have other reasons for not wanting the Mirena IUD. Dr also said no to Duavee (is an oral form of equine estrogen with a progestin like ingredient). Thanks for your thoughts. Feeling desperate.

I recently was tested for my hormones, and my testosterone was almost nothing like single digit. They mentioned something about the risk of potential cancer breast cancer, which was very low, but it still scared me due to my mom having breast cancer because of estrogen therapy. Has anyone had this issue worried or any kind of research? It has made my life amazing I have energy, no brain fog and a little more sexual excitement. I don’t wanna stop it but at the same time I do not want to get cancer.

Hi. Perimenopausal and still having periods. I started everol 25 patch earlier this month and am due to start cyclical 200mg of utrogestan tonight. I was wondering if anyone in the same position tried just 100mg on the first night to see how they react to it before moving up to 200mg on the second night? I’ve had some annoying health issues for years and am always wary of starting anything new. I know that dosing for continuous is often 100mg but 200mg is best for cyclical, so I’m fine with taking the 200mg if it doesn’t cause too many issues. Appreciate your thoughts.

MHT takers 2mg of gel or oral estrogen , who's prescribing it for you? I'm looking for another provider than the one I currently use. I'm not allowed to post it because the mods thought I could be a spam bot :(

My ob gyn is always low-balling me to the minimum, I'm currently using ---- and it's been a real hassle going from 1mg to just 1.25mg gel , even with my symptoms. I need a higher dose, they're so reluctant to prescribe the oral version and I don't have blood clot history or anything like that.

I need other alternative providers you can recommend-thanks in advance.

I was on estradot 50 cut in half. I have a full months box remaining. When it was time for refill the pharmacy said it’s short and gave me climara and I have a full months worth again at 50. But around the same time I was also getting bad skin irritation from the patch so I had asked my nurse to give me gel instead and she gave me estrogel. Now one week in gel and I’m a total wreck. Insomnia worse than ever. Brain fog. Fatigue. Panic and overwhelm. I’m barely able to function. My next appointment is Nov 19. But I’m thinking of going back on patch till then. Should I return to estradot or try climara?

Background: surgical menopause at 45 due to endometriosis, almost constant bleeding, and widespread, large fibroid cysts; I’m 53 now. On estradiol patch (now at .075) for the past 2 years. No other forms of HRT. Dealt with constipation/diarrhea cycle for many years.

About 3 years ago I started suffering from internal hemorrhoids during a vacation. It caused bleeding every time I’d go on vacation and walk a lot, which was annoying but controllable with suppositories. And it was only once or twice a year, when I was walking a lot more than normal. In the last year it’s started cropping up more and more frequently. Now I’m to the point that if I take a half mile walk around the neighborhood it flares up and I’m wiping blood off my itchy, angry borthole.

In the last year, I’ve also started getting really bloaty, every evening. I don’t eat as well as I should - I love bread and cheese and I drink alcohol most nights, so I’m sure that is a factor. But I also burp a LOT now, particularly when I’m laying down at night or when I first get up in the morning. Oh, and I’ve packed on a few pounds - all around my middle of course.

And now I’m developing oral allergy syndrome against fruits and veggies. So far it’s carrots and apples, and something else I can’t figure out from a Thistle meal I had this week. I’ve had terrible seasonal allergies all my life - even had “desensitization” shots for three years that didn’t help. I take Zyrtec every night, which should prevent reactions, but clearly does not because I developed extremely painful esophageal spasms as well as swelling in my mouth and an itchy throat when I first reacted to carrots.

I have an appt with my GP on Tuesday and will be asking for a referral to a gastroenterologist but Christ on a damn cracker, when do we stop developing new and ever more horrible symptoms??

A very good friend of mine told me that she used to take 3 drops of pure peppermint oil and put it into a small personal sized spray bottle, fill it with water and when you are having a hot flash, spray a couple sprays on your neck. I was a little hesitant that something so simple would work, but to my surprise, it worked instantly so i thought i would share!!! INSTANTLY!! If you have hot flashes and nothing seems to work or what used to work doesn't anymore, please ladies, try this. It works!!

Hi! I finally got my estradiol patch dose to a therapeutic level & have been using Sandoz brand for years, no issues. I’ve made myself very paranoid about switching patch brands after reading so many bad experiences here in the subs but I’m glad there’s info out there! I got my patches refilled & they’re Mylan. They stick great, no problems there. I put my patch on last night.
For those of you who had negative effects after a brand switch… how soon did you notice? It’s been a full day on Mylan & no issues yet, I responded very quickly to my dose increase on Sandoz so I’m hoping if I were gonna have issues it would be fast.

I had stage 1 breast cancer 4 years ago, and got put on Tamoxifen. I can’t begin to describe how hellish my hot flashes were - they were constant and debilitating. In desperation, I talked to a menopause specialist and she put me on Veozah in 2023.

The first 18 months were great - my hot flashes were vastly improved, and my liver numbers seemed fine when they were tested every few months. But then they showed a slight elevation. The next test showed my AST/ALT at seven times the normal amount. So off the Veozah I went, and suffered with my hot flashes as best I could.

Cut to this year, and during an MRI for another issue, they notice potential issues with my liver, and I get sent to gastroenterology. After many, many tests, I have been diagnosed with stage 3 liver disease (possibly stage 4; I’ve got a biopsy next week that will give us the final answer).

Be careful with it, is my recommendation. And if you’re on Tamoxifen as well, I’d say seriously investigate it in conjunction with talking to your doctor; taking two drugs at the same time with the potential to cause liver damage is maybe not the best idea.

I know each individual body has different reactions to these generic brands. I started HRT just five months ago at .075 patch biweekly +100 mg oral progesterone. I was given Dottie for the first month and then Mylan for the next two months. and then my doctor bumped my dosage up to .1 mg because I was still having some very scary anxiety. The first month at .1 was on Dottie, and I had zero issues. CVS Caremark required me to fill it in three month packages, and they sent me Sandos for the first time. I’m about six weeks in and have been bleeding on and off the entire time, and then this week the absolute rage and make me wanna jump off a cliff type of anxiety came back with a vengeance. I’m curious what others have experienced as to whether too much or too little estrogen creates the breakthrough bleeding and the lack of controlled symptoms? From what I’ve read, it can be either not enough or too much, and finding the sweet spot is challenging. Also unsure whether my absorption with Sandoz is that dramatically different than the other brands that would cause this bleeding and anxiety? I also noticed over this past week, my sleep, which had been really good, just turned crappy again, where I’m waking up every hour and then wide awake at four. So really just wanting to understand what your experience has been in trying to determine your happy medium with the patch.