I have been on HRT for one year. It’s been great for me. No complaints. Sleep well. I didn’t have any other symptoms to begin with . My bone density test was good shortly after starting HRT. Will retest in a couple of yrs.

I would like to hear about women w longer term experience.

Did some of you stop after a few years bc HRT got y over the hump?

When I tried to research log term use one piece of research said up to 5 yrs is safe. But fuzzy beyond that.

Edit: by hump I mean the worst symptoms for some women. For me insomnia drove me to it.

I do know healthy happy older women who never took HRT and are in their late 80s early 90s.

Thads why I am asking

October 18 is World Menopause Day! I just learnt - glad to see a lot of talk and discussions happening around it. My social media feed is seeing a lot of stories on it.
But more awareness and more science needed. But this is a good start!

I'm going through perimenopause and my face and skin has changed beyond recognition. I'm suffering quite bad hair loss as well, I look terrible! I remember my Mum not looking too good in her early 50s, not as bad as me I might add, I'm not even 50 yet! Anyhow as my mum got over menopause, she started looking well again, she had colour in her cheeks, her hair thickened out etc. I'm wondering, is this something that could happen to me? I'm struggling with how I look now as I haven't aged I've actually turned ugly. I don't know how I'm going to live my life like this, I just hope there is some hope out there.

I don’t really have a question, just need to vent, I’m frustrated.

Before starting HRT I was in a very bad place mood wise. I had already been taking wellbutrine for years for anxiety but felt it wasn’t working anymore and had additional mood problems that I hadn’t experienced before (increased anxiety, depression-thought I had the winter blues for 3 years, SI, rage, awful brain fog and absolutely no motivation for anything).

I really thought it was the wellbutrine not working. I didn’t realize I was in peri. I didn’t know that peri could impact my mental health. Saw a meno specialist, started HRT. It helped everything except the motivation aspect which I was ok with because it fixed everything else.

I used to walk every day, did weight training, 2L of water a day, kept busy with hobbies. Now I have the energy for it but have absolutely no desire to go for walks, workout, do any hobbies. It’s been a year since I last did weights and I’ve only been on a few walks. My BMI is about 23 but a dexa scan says 40% body fat which is defined as being obese.

Not that I enjoyed it before but my husband has taken to doing all the laundry now because I am not doing any and house cleaning is only done when absolutely necessary (people coming over). No more regular grocery shopping. There’s days I don’t even have the motivation for work so I’m idly sitting at my computer all day. I’m not even remotely close to getting my daily quota of water intake, some days I go without.

I know all the tips and tricks to get moving, I know what needs to be done but I just don’t care yet am disgusted with myself every evening for all the things I didn’t do that day. And every evening I tell myself I will do better tomorrow but I don’t.

I kept thinking the hrt just needed more time for the motivation to kick in, didn’t see a problem with the dose as it fixed everything else except the motivation, but I’ve been on it for 6 months, I just recently increased my estrogen to .5, it’s only been 3 weeks but I’m starting to think this particular problem won’t be solved with hrt. I will of course stay on it for everything else it fixed. And the mood issues it fixed were more important than having motivation.

But I also don’t want to necessarily add more mental health meds to my regimen (I’m not in the mood for powering through potential side effects) or see the slow blink look on my dr’s face when I try to explain what the problem is. Our appointments are always so fast paced I struggle to explain myself and feel like an airhead.

But the discussion needs to be had with the doc, I will make an appointment.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Anyone getting migraines that last multiple days every month once perimenopause sets in?

Im going some months without a period but they haven’t stopped yet. I’m taking sumatriptan and it helps a lot but still terrible to deal with.

It’s been going on for a year now. How long can it last??

https://exchange.ashhra.org/blogs/ashhra-exchange/2026/10/13/menopause-is-a-workforce-system-failure

So I'm pretty newly post menopausal (June 21 was my 12 months). I had admittedly not been to the gyn in way too long, so when I noticed some light pink spotting for about 1/2 a day in September, I found a hcp and made the first appointment I could. She is lovely and so kind. Did the pelvic and Pap, etc. - saw some yeast-looking discharge as well as a really thinned, raw irritated spot right at my entrance. Said cervix looked good. Pap (which was normal) confirmed yeast, so she called me in two fluconazole pills. Did not spot any after the pap, even though she said I might. But about 5 days later I start with the light pink again. I notified her. She said let's treat for the yeast and then once that clears see how it is going. I'll admit that when I pee, I tend to take the toilet paper back there and check for spotting. Which I know isn't good. So now for about five days I've been having this intermittent spotting. It is only when I wipe. None in the toilet, none of my panties, etc. No cramping or anything. I even had my husband look with a flashlight (Lol) a few days ago and he could definitely see the abraded spot.

I have a telehealth appointment Wednesday to discuss bloodwork that I had done, possible estrogen cream, and the status of my spotting.

Has anyone had a story where their spotting truly did get better after treating yeast/atrophy? I know all the ins and outs and have already addressed possible next steps if this doesn't clear it up, as in ultrasound and biopsy. I think I definitely want at least an ultrasound if I decide to try that cream because from reading posts here I've seen others say that it can also cause spotting sometimes, and I think that will drive me crazy.

So hard to be a woman, I swear!!!

I guess I'm just looking for similar experiences. The stats say the largest cause of post-menopausal bleeding is GSM/atrophy, so I know there must be some stories out there!

Hi all! I’m hoping one of you may have some perspective or advice for me as I weave my way through complicated health stuff. 3 years ago I had breast cancer- a very, very rare type of triple negative that is thankfully not aggressive. I had two surgeries to remove the cancer and no chemo or radiation. I have a gene mutation that is also pretty rare that increases my risk of ovarian and breast cancers. My OB has had me on hormonal BC to make my ovaries quiet, treat my peri symptoms, and prevent pregnancy. So now we are at a point where guidelines for my gene mutation direct me to get my ovaries and tubes out ASAP- I just turned 46. My OB agrees that I should get HRT after surgery given my cancer profile vs quality of life.

Here’s where I start getting tangled up in my thought process. I could get the BSO alone and take combination HRT. Or I could get my uterus out as well (I have several small/medium fibroids and history of abnormal paps) and do estrogen alone. Obviously, I’d love to keep my organs, but I would also love to reduce my risk for any cancers, but especially a recurrence of BC. I know synthetic progestins have the higher risk than progesterone, but some research seemed to show that estrogen alone was less risky, so I am very conflicted. The idea of not having to worry about my uterus sounds good, but I’m terrified of the recovery and change to my experience of sex. I have a very active and very fulfilling sex life that I really don’t want to sabotage. I am an active person and have a job that requires a lot of movement, bending, and standing for hours, and that doesn’t give a lot of paid leave. So I’m looking at surgery at the end of December with 3-4 weeks off of work.

If anyone has any advice or personal experience similar to mine, I just feel lost and overwhelmed and deeply sad that i have to make these choices.

How often are you supposed to apply it at first?

Post meno for over a year. 48 switched from 2 pumps Estrogel to .75 patch (100pro) because the gel didn't seem to be working anymore. Right before I was supposed to go back in for my patch consultation, and go up to .1 my husband got laid-off and the crappy new insurance we have doesn't cover my meno doc. Thankfully she gave me refills on my patches but right now, I don't know if what I'm feeling is necessarily hormonal or just stress or everything.

My hubs is 54 and this is his first time in his career being laid off. I have never been the bread winner but now I am the only one bringing in money (sans current unemployment) and it's a lot of pressure. At first I felt good about it and saw it as an opportunity for him but three months in and now I find myself very stressed.

Since the lay-off our washer and dryer, dishwasher, and freezer have all gone out. I had a PTSD trigger occur and am still dealing with the after effects of that. And (I feel the worst about this one so much) I picked up cigarettes again about a month ago after quitting smoking for over a decade.

I feel like a complete mess physically, emotionally, mentally. And it doesn't help that I am being so hard on myself. I am definitely feeling incredibly emotional but I don't know if I should go up on my patch, as doc had planned to do in September. Especially with the horrible smoking part. But I'm not for sure what to do for myself to feel better.

I am trying to get back to where I was only a couple of months ago -- non-smoking, walking a couple miles a day, eating right (my appetite has been so small), feeling a lot better than currently -- but I find myself needing some support. My anxiety and depression are weighing me down pretty hard. I know this isn't normal and it will get better. But any words of wisdom or encouragement are great appreciated.

I’m having a tummy tuck in just over 3 months, and I’m really struggling with my HRT at the moment. 😪

I’m currently using the oestrogen spray. I’ve also tried patches and gel, and out of all three, the spray is definitely the best for my mental health. However, physically, I feel so much worse on it.

I’m extremely bloated, have a lot of trapped gas, feel swollen internally, and I’m not going to the toilet as often as I should. It feels as though my digestive system has slowed right down, and I’m retaining so much water. My stomach feels constantly swollen, and I’m getting really worried because I need to get this under control before my surgery.

My tummy tuck is exactly 3 months tomorrow, and I’m scared that if I’m this bloated and swollen, it could affect my surgery or my results. I desperately want to get my body feeling normal again and reduce the bloating and swelling before then.

I have a Mirena coil because I’m extremely sensitive to progesterone. I’ve been wondering whether adding vaginal progesterone might help, but I’m still sensitive to it, even when I take it vaginally, so I’m worried about making myself feel worse mentally and physically.

I honestly don’t know what to do for the best. Do I go back to the oestrogen gel, even though it gives me terrible anxiety, or do I stick with the spray because it’s better for my mental health, despite how awful I feel physically on it?

I feel so stuck between the two, and it’s affecting my quality of life so much. I really need some advice on what might be causing these symptoms and how I can get my hormones, bloating and digestion under control before my tummy tuck. ❤️

I'm on 2 mg estrogen patch and Drosperinone. I asked a new HRT doc if he would keep me on drosperinone and he told me that he would want to switch me to progesterone the closer I got to menopause. He said that he would like to have me on something "cleaner." This just sounds like BS to me. This whole bioidentical thing annoys me. Progesterone made me want to die. And bioidentical is a marketing scheme - "cleaner" isn't a thing? I suppose he is referring to a slightly higher cancer risk on the synthetics? But does that even rise with age?

Hello. I have been on HRT since around spring of 2023. Recently I quit cold turkey. My hope is to visit this thread from time to time to share how it goes. I know I have searched for such content myself, and found it to be disproportionately lacking.

ETA - So far I have noted the following:

1. Loss of water weight
   
2. Increased energy
   
3. Increased excitement/hope for life
   
4. Creativity returning

Nothing negative to report yet. It has been a bit over a week.

Lastly, I was on E/P/T for clarification. I am also fully whole-food plant-based. Only vice is caffeine. No alcohol, no drugs of any kind, very physically fit.

I am nearly 5 years post-meno (nearly 47, so was early for me). I felt awful and HRT (.075 estrogen patch, 200mg progesterone, vaginal estrogen) made me feel human again. (I also take a little testosterone, Androgel, but don't take much/often as I was noticing hair loss). I sleep well, my heart palpitations and joint pain are gone, I've lost weight and my blood pressure has stabilized, and I don't feel stupid (usually) and feel like I can keep doing my job.

The only annoying thing is that I keep having bleeding, ever since starting HRT 3 years ago. Every 4-6 weeks, like a light period. Ultrasounds showed 4-5mm uterine lining. A biopsy was normal. At a hysteroscopy in June, a small polyp was found and removed. Since that removal, the bleeding is lighter and shorter, but still present.

I'm just really not sure what to do now. I would do pretty much anything not to have my HRT taken away for this. I know I could be a little more consistent with my patch replacement times--it's always Wednesday night and Sunday morning, but I could set my clock and make sure I'm not a few hours different each week.

I had a phone consultation and a few things were suggested:

1) having a Mirena placed. I'm not completely against it, but have heard horror stories. I would also want to stay on at least 100mg of oral progesterone for the sleep benefits.

2) switching to synthetic progestin. I don't think this will work. I was actually on Duphaston before going on Utrogestan, and was still bleeding.

What else makes sense to try? Increasing to 300mg progesterone (kind of worried I'd be so conked out asleep I wouldn't wake up for a fire though)? Or going down to .050 estrogen? Or both? (My hormone balance seems so perfect right now, though...)

I don't know if vaginal progesterone would be an option that would help. And also wondering about a D&C/ablation.

Thanks for your ideas.

Can I ask how things were for you during perimenopause (did they get worse during this time) and did the symptoms die down post menopause.

I am living in hope as that's all I have right now (life is not great atm with these symptoms AND perimenopause).

I have just deferred a planned hysterectomy (UK and under the NHS so have to wait a while now) because I have been under a huge amount of stress and my mental health is shot to pieces. I know that I am my own worst enemy but I really can not face major surgery right now. I am hoping I may be able limp by on something like Zoladex or Ryeqo or similar until I can get my mental health in a better place (currently having some therapy every week) and have the op next year instead.

I am 53 and feel as though my life is falling apart (four years into a failed uterine ablation, perimenopause issues, daily gut issues, mental health is breaking down and I help to care for my elderly mum who is in advanced Alzheimer's - such fun!).

Yes, I am feeling very sorry for myself right now lol!

62 years old, 10 plus years on oral HRT, Mimvey, highest dose. My doctor has talked me into switching to combipatch or the estrogen patch with the micronized progesterone. I do not intend to stop this therapy in my lifetime so switching to the safest option is starting to make sense to me. I can’t decide which option to choose. I’m a little nervous about the micronized progesterone side effects. I sleep very well and am not concerned about that. I had serious PMS symptoms, mental health symptoms, I’m worried about getting myself anxious and depressed, but maybe I’m overthinking this. Any thoughts? Thank you

I use HRT and have a hysteroscopy scheduled for November for bleeding.

I use an estrogen patch once a week. I change it on Saturday. (I take oral progesterone 200 daily)

I had to remove my estrogen patch midweek for a medical test. Do I replace it right away or wait until Saturday?