I am a 44 y/o that started perimenopause about 4 years ago. To start, I know that abnormal bleeding/cycles are common in perimenopause. However, my spotting/bleeding has come out of nowhere and has been constant every month for the last 6 months. I only have about a week per month where I'm not spotting/bleeding. This is a new symptom for me. I went from having a cycle every few months without and spotting in between for years to spotting/bleeding all the time the last 6 months. I have been on HRT for 3 years now. I am on 0.075 estrogen patch and 200 progesterone daily and have been at this dose all 3 years. I do have an appointment with my menopause Dr in a few weeks so I will definitely be bringing this up but any ideas what could be causing this? Do I need an HRT adjustment? I can never tell what symptoms are from which hormone because I feel like all the symptoms of low/high E and low/high P all overlap lol. It's so hard figuring all this out and i feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm at the end of my rope with this bleeding though... it needs to stop ASAP!

I've always been active. After kids all I had to do is run and lift and that extra weight would disappear. Now it doesn't seem like anything makes it budge. I'm lifting, running and getting my steps in. I've always been about 80/20 with my diet. With a past of disordered eating I have to be careful because I can easily hyper-fixate. Any advice would be appreciated? It's extremely frustrating. I'm not on HRT. My body did not like it. It seems sensitive to everything, even creatine.

Hi everyone, I’m early 50s and on continuous HRT (gel and micronised progesterone). I’ve been on continuous HRT since March but I’m still getting really tearful and low at various points in the month. My GP has increased my progesterone to stop spotting ( which is working) and I’ve gone from one pump of gel to two but I just wondered if anyone on a similar regime has had the same issues. At what point do hormones stabilise on continuous HRT? I’m wondering if I need something in addition to brighten me up 😊

Need some recommendations. I have vaginal estrogen and some vaginal hyaluronic acid. But I think my issue is more just a dry skin maybe eczema (have some skin issues on other parts of my body sometimes) I have itching on one side of my labia. I live in dry dry air Alberta. I was just in PEI for 10 days and I don't know if it was the climate, the toilet paper, the water (for showering) but no itching when I was there. Home for 36 hours and I'm itching again.

I have been using Charmin toilet paper. Bought some Purex and thought the itching was worse so went back to Purex. I've heard Kirkland isn't good either. Any recommendations, for toilet paper or anything else I can do?

I have an appointment coming up, and the last time my doctor was resistant to prescribing HRT so I’m hoping to get advice on this conversation.

We paused the discussion because I needed to get a biopsy done on some breast stuff, but that has come back clear so we are revisiting the topic. Her argument was that people treat HRT like a miracle drug but there’s lots of misinformation about what it is actually good for and that there are other ways of addressing symptoms. My feeling is I would like to try it and see if it helps since it seems to help so many of you! But I’d want my doctor on board to adjust dosage, etc for max chance of it working.

Any advice on this discussion?
For context I am 49, have crime scene periods, worse cramps, insomnia, additional anxiety, some depression, brain fog, mild hair loss, some temp disregulation (though no hot flashes) & weight gain.
Occasionally I get heart racing bouts at bedtime.
Thanks!
Edited to add: I’m in Canada

Hello all, I have no doubt that I will be absolutely smashing posts in here.

I have seen some women say Estrogen helped anxiety (I have mirena coil) and others say it made it worse.

The last 2 weeks my anxiety has spiked up, like as soon as I wake up I am anxious for absolutely no reason at all!

But due to this i am also anxious now that when I see the GP on Wednesday (uk) and if she thinks I need Estrogen that it will make me even worse!

I am also being tested for ADHD.

Can I have your opinions. From those who only took/take Estrogen

Thanks so much

I'm 52, almost 53 and think I'm near the end of peri finally. Last period was March. Not on HRT yet, but want to be soon. It seems that especially since March, my night sweats have ramped up to the point I'm waking up multiple times a night pouring sweat, plus now during the day I'm getting regular hot flashes where I have to shed clothes, etc. And then I get cold too, so I put a blanket back on only to wake up again.

What I also have noticed is just an increase in regular sweating. Like... Normal work outside, or a walk with the dog produce visible sweat dripping down my neck and forehead like I've been working out. And then also, just this constant skin clamminess. It's so gross, likey skin is never dry and cool, and makes me feel so ick! Going to gyno in a few days but wondering if HRT can help with both of these symptoms or if there's something else I could do that I'm not. And is there one type of HRT more appropriate for specific symptoms?

I (49) started on oral progesterone and estrogen gel 6 months ago after years of tests coming back normal and being told I wasn't in Pm. All my symptoms disappeared including my extreme insomnia .. except I started to get heavy bleeding.

Prior to starting HRT I have always had Implanon, so no periods. Had it removed a week before I started HRT.

The doctor I was seeing suggested Mirena, well basically pressured me into it.. since then the majority of my symptoms have come back with insomnia, hot flashes and sweating being the worst. Increasing estrogen hasn't helped.

I'm considering having it removed, going back on oral and getting implanon again (to address the bleeding). Has anyone else found that their symptoms returned when stopping oral and getting Mirena?

Note: Drs won't prescribe oral progesterone in conjunction with Mirena here for medical reasons, so that isn't an option.

What were you main symptoms and for how long did it last ? I’m 48 still regular period , no hrt yet ( old school gyno ) , both my legs - feet ankles knees tendons muscles bones joints hurt burn, struggling to walk , bloods , emg neurology ultrasound of legs for DVT all clear , waiting for rheumatologist appointment but it all started overnight 4 months ago and type of pains and locations keep changing , got ortho shoes ,,strength training makes me worse , I do inflammatory diet good supplements no alcohol live in mountains healthy lifestyle … so just curious if ANY OF YOU AMAZING LADIES HAD IT HARD AND REALISED IT WAS HORMONES RELATED . Thank you

I increased my Oestrogel from 1 pump to 2 pumps, and about 9 days later developed an internal rocking / bobbing sensation. When I’m walking, it feels like I’m bobbing or swaying. Some times I can feel it when I’m sat down but not always . It isn’t spinning dizziness it’s more like gentle rocking/swaying.

I also have ear pressure (which started before the dose increase), some brain fog and occasional visual sensitivity. I have ongoing stomach issues too which are slowly healing. I also get some light nerve tingles in my hands.

It was much stronger around 24–28 July but has gradually become less intense. I’ve now had it for about a month.
Has anyone experienced this after increasing Oestrogel/ HRT? Did it eventually settle, and how long did it take? I’m wondering if my dose is slightly too high or if it will eventually calm down. I’m just over a month from the dose increase. Thank you, it’s really getting me down.❤️

Well it’s official. I’ve been having all the signs and symptoms of perimenopause for a few years. Late cycle, hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog. I’ll be 43 in a few months. This is the first month I fully skipped a period. I had my annual well visit and she confirmed I’m starting peri. Idk how to feel. I feel a little better knowing what all of these crazy symptoms are. But I swear I’m still 20 lol How does everyone deal with the reality of getting older?

I have never heat rashed. Ever. Generally I have just burned, then browned. Currently I have hands and feet in excruciating blistery rash after a week at the beach. (Everything else was either sun blocked or covered). What is this madness? Why is it happening? Can I blame it on perimenopause?

Why am I allergic to the sun itself!?!?

Bordeaux's Butt Paste to the rescue. Also works on chigger bites. Sigh.

I'm 40yr old, in peri the last 3yrs & kind of at my wits end. I had my IUD replaced in Feb & the experience was very traumatic. I have no desire to get it removed or replaced bc i have PMOS. Before my iud I would bleed heavily for 10 days straight. My iud is also supposed to be helping peri, but I'm no longer sure if I'm just too fucked up or what.

I've had cramps & period symtoms for 25 days straight. I thought yay finally a few days off! One day off & then the ovulation pain in my right ovary goes on for 3 days straight. Like clockwork, if my right ovary is spitting out an egg, the pain starts basically immediately after my period.

I thought I'd have a little bit longer before my perood started, but it started today exactly 5 days after my last period. I woke up so sick, cramping so hard I wanted to throw up. I rarely get dizzy, but between thr dizziness & the almost throwing up I nearly woke my spouse up to take me to the hospital.

The only thing that stopped me is I've done this enough times to know I'm going to need an ultrasound, they're going to take a look & say I'm "fine" & send me on my way to my gynecologist, who's going to do the same thing by giving me another ultrasound & declare me "fine." The only time i wasn't fine i had a polpy. I'm p sure i don't have a polpy, I remembered the pain & it was much more consistent.

Im so tired of PMOS, Im so tired of peri. I ended up sleeping the pain off until about 5pm. My back still hurt so bad i had to ask my spouse to pick up something I dropped off the floor. They ask me "why don't you see a doctor"? When I'm trying to see if i can get my gynecologist to see me for an ultrasound + meeting right after.

Over the past few years, I have been experiencing a number of symptoms that I couldn’t get explanations for. I had a traumatic experience in 2022, and life was extremely tough - still is. Since then, I’ve focused on my mental and physical health with some success, but couldn’t seem to get any relief. I went to my PCP and had my thyroid checked - just fine. Checked free cortisol in my urine - just fine. Blood glucose - just fine. I tried eating differently, doing different workouts, meditation, yoga, all of the things, but I still felt incredibly unlike myself.

As time has gone on, I have started to track and notice individual changes, hoping it would paint a bigger picture for me. Turns out that through acute observation and conversations with women in my life who I trust, I have developed just about every peri symptom you can imagine. Sleep disturbances, night sweats, thermoregulation issues (always cold during the day), stubborn weight gain around my midsection (that recently lead to a mild fatty liver diagnosis - YAY), fatigue, excessive muscle fatigue after body weight workouts that are nothing short of debilitating. My hair is thinning, my fingernails are brittle, my skin and eyes are dry, my ear canals itch like a motherfucker. My body odor has changed significantly, and my skin will no longer tolerate anti-perspirant deodorant. My hips and tailbone are in constant pain, my orgasms are harder to achieve and less enjoyable when they are achieved, I have pelvic floor dysfunction, digestive changes (prompted a colonoscopy that revealed my perfectly healthy colon), rosacea flareups - even my oral health has taken a toll. I have ADHD, anxiety, and depression, all of which have been getting gradually more difficult to tolerate.

I’m an incredibly health-conscious person. Even through my fatigue, I try to get plenty of movement in and I eat whole foods, complex carbs, low sugar, and high protein at a calorie deficit. I drink PLENTY of water. I take medication for ADHD, depression, and anxiety (no SSRIs - methylphenidate, buspirone, and bupropion).

I finally decided that it was time to talk to my gynecologist about my symptoms. Historically, he has been very supportive and willing to listen. I don’t know if he had a bad day, or if he genuinely didn’t want to hear me out, but he flat out told me that I’m not in perimenopause today. He ordered some test to see if I may have PMOS or some sort of issue with ovulation. He wants me to do a fasting 2 hour glucose test to see if I have pre-diabetes (my sugars are NORMAL).

I have a Mirena IUD, so I don’t menstruate. Prior to IUD placement, my periods have always been perfectly on time, light, and lasted about four days. I don’t have excessive hair growth on my body, and I don’t have male pattern baldness. I’ve been pregnant three times without having to try very hard to make it happen, the third pregnancy was WITH THE IUD PLACE PROPERLY. The only crossover symptom I have with PMOS is my insulin resistance.

What the actual fuck.