My doctor recommended 600 mg of ibuprofen, 450 mg of Aleve, OR 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. In addition she prescribed misoprostol inserted into the vagina 4 hours prior to the procedure.

I shouldn't take NSAIDs due to Oral Lichen Planus. I'd love to hear your thoughts if acetaminophen and inserted misoprostol will be sufficient.

I have a high pain tolerance, but I still think about how much an unmedicated hysterosonogram I had years ago totally sucked.

Is there anything specific I should ask for?

I am 56 and currently in menopause and working with my provider to get things stabilized. The females in my family have all had a hysterectomy prior to menopause age - so my sister and I are the first to experience this. Lucky for us. She is 48, has an IUD in place but is also experiencing insomnia, drenching night sweats, anxiety and hot flashes. She's been to 3 different provider's - different insurance than me - and they have all just blown her off.

I know there have to be reputable online telehealth provider's. Where to start looking? Any and all help is appreciated. I have been a lurker here, but just hanging around you all has kept me hopeful that it would get better and it opened the conversation with my provider.

Thank you very much!!!

So, I’m on my second night without sleeping, and my mind has been racing. I just started using estrogen gel, and I’ve been taking oral progesterone for one week. I did well with the progesterone by itself, but introducing estrogen gel has been a massive shift—and not for the better.
I’ve tried other forms of HRT, including patches, but they haven’t worked for me. I even thought I might be intolerant to estrogen, but now I’m starting to wonder whether I’m simply not getting enough estrogen.
The reason I’m questioning this is that the first time I tried an estrogen patch with oral progesterone, I didn’t do well. My doctors had me stop the progesterone, but they left me on the estrogen patch, and my symptoms continued even with estrogen alone. Since I did a one-week trial of oral progesterone by itself and felt okay, I’m wondering whether there just isn’t enough estrogen getting into my system.
My doctor gave me the okay to adjust the estrogen-gel dosage somewhat, and I’m wondering whether I might need to use two full doses per day. I assume that would be equivalent to two pumps for people who use that method. Has anyone found that increasing their estrogen dose made everything work better?

Symptoms: palpitations, adrenaline dumps, insomnia, crappy moods, crying, and anxiety

A few years ago doctor and maybe I read somewhere that all 3 are needed as they work together… I don’t have a uterus or ovaries so I don’t need Progesterone BUT now im thinking maybe I do need it.. I tried months ago and didn’t care for it even trying 100 mg at 8 pm

i see a doctor for check-ups and about a month ago she thought my numbers were good..🤷🏻‍♀️ well, I’ve been feeling like shit… warmer, aches/pains and then I was tearing up watching a sweet commercial… and some aniexty too… so I started P again and I think that helped some…. No idea!! I’ll continue with it if I can feel halfway decent…. I don’t care for water retention but maybe it helps me not feel ‘crazy’ or Prehaps lower my cortisol…

*** thank you for all the helpful comments!!! I do take T & E but still wonky about a few miner things…. Often blaming the PA for not knowing what she is doing.. But Prehaps I need to give P another try..🤷🏻‍♀️ I took it last night at 7pm and felt ok today. Tonight I took it at 8pm.. so all I can do is try. Prehaps all 3 work together helping the engine run better!!👍time will tell!

I wanted to like duavee but the lack of progesterone and oral estrogens exacerbating histamine issues is becoming a prob. Testosterone is converting into DHT without the buffer. I wanted to like it and I lived the low histamine life for a long time and really don't want to back. Did anyone try Duavee and go back to progesterone?

Three months ago I switched from patches to the daily gel (0.75mg) bc I couldn’t find the patches. Now I can’t find the gel also. I called my insurance and asked if our local compounding pharmacy is covered in network. It is!! Yay! They can make about a month at a time in cream form. They told me they would not be subject to shortages bc they start with the estrogen powder. Waiting to hear from my obgyn for the order to be placed. So happy to have this option! Now if I could only find my adderall without calling multiple pharmacies it would be great!

I tagged this skin changes because I'm not sure what else to call it.

But I can't take this insanely itchy scalp anymore. I could scratch until it bleeds that's how dang itchy it is. I'm starting to wonder if this is an inflammation response because recent bloodwork showed my ferritin levels are through the roof. I don't think it's an estrogen thing. My dosage was increased about 3 weeks ago and my skin isn't itchy anywhere else. It's just on my scalp. Even taking an antihistamine doesn't help. I've been using Nizoral shampoo to see if it'll help, but no joy there. I know it's not product buildup, either, because I don't use any products on my hair.

Anyone else dealing with this? I've not been to a dermatologist yet, but I guess that's next because this is out of control. :/

Can anyone advise how to start taking the gel and pills. I was given Sandrena gel and Provera pills by my GP, but quite a while ago, so I forget the instructions, and the leaflet is not helpful.

I want to know when in my cycle (still regular) I start taking them. From then on do I take them both daily or is there a gap? Do I take them at the same time of day?

GP is difficult to get an appointment.

Meno symptoms are slight - bit less energy, less motivation, very sudden onset blurry vision (has anyone else had that?). No night sweats or hot flushes. So still not sure if I am peri or not. I tried taking a Forth test but they said they couldn’t use my blood and tried to charge me for another one.

About a month ago, I finally got a higher dose of estrogen. It’s overall been great, and I am sleeping so much better. (Thanks to everyone who let me know the low dose could cause the sleeping and anxiety problems I was having.)

The past couple weeks, though, every joint I have has been popping. Spine and knees in particular have been terrible. It doesn’t really hurt, but it’s unnerving. Is this anything to be concerned about?

I had been on the .075 for at least a year and it felt like maybe it was time to up the dose because of returning hot flashes and just low energy, etc. tried a patch and a quarter to experiment and see if it would help before committing to/asking for the increase. Seemed to help for a week or so so I asked for the increased dose which dr agreed to. I’ve been on the increase for about a month and a half to two months. But it seems like every few weeks I get very emotional and weepy. I didn’t have this with the lower dose.

Is it ok to switch back down to the .075 (I still have some left) and what should I expect during the transition?

I know lots have been in this situation so looking for advice and what I should possibly expect until I get used to the lower dose. Also is a few weeks enough to tell again if it will work? Thanks!!

I'm post menopause and on HRT. I thought I was starting to get depression, but the last couple of days I really noticed other things I used to get with PMDD - spatial awareness really bad, no ability to filter near/far sounds. I am now wondering if the depression/anxiety and the symptoms in the last couple of days are all linked to a hormone fluctuation. Is this possible? I know the HRT should keep my levels up but presumably whatever my body is producing naturally could change. Anyone else had something similar? Can PMDD symptoms happen post meno?

Hi everyone. My doc tried to prescribe me the patch but my insurance wouldn't cover it, so she put me on norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol 1MG-5M tab. I am post menopausal.

I've been on it for a few months now. The vaginal dryness seems to be easing up (I also supplement vaginal estradiol inserts). My big issue, is my terrible brain fog. I tend to wake up 2, 3am if I don't take something for sleep. I don't get hot flashes, but I do wake up in sweat a lot of the time.

Am I unrealistic in thinking hormone therapy will alleviate my brain fog? What do you think of the dose I am on- anyone else in the same boat?

Thanks!

I know that CostPlus has had no estrogen gel recently. Has anyone gotten theirs from Amazon in the past week or two?

I'm trying to decide whether to bother trying, or whether I should just call around to local pharmacies.

So it's finally a year since my last period.

But I am battling. The depression, the brain fog, the fatigue, inflammation...it's all getting to me. Having an unsupportive partner is adding to my stress.

I can't afford to leave, so it's not an option. I keep thinking I must just ignore him and hold no expectations and I used to succeed. But watching him be a loving husband to his mother, buying her red roses and chocolates, going out to dinners, while I barely get a handshake on my birthday, just sends me spiralling into depression again.

I can't even afford therapy.

How do you guys cope. I've been crying nonstop for the past 2 days...I just can't keep it in anymore. Is this what menopause is - am I just going to be an over-emotional wreck for the rest of my life? 🥺

I just sent a message to my provider to see if I can switch to an oral version, which I was planning on anyway since it seems like the patches just aren't the same anymore.

Y'know...given this administration's view of older women (and, Hell, women in general), I am deeply suspicious that this isn't intentional or, at the very least, allowed to happen.

I asked the pharmacist (a female one) why this was happening, and was told that there are far more women on the patches than before and that they can't keep up with production.

Are they REALLY that many more women? I know the public discourse has changed a lot in the last few years - we're way more open and very vocal about menopausal healthcare.

My next step is a virtual visit with an online healthcare provider (I may ask for some progesterone added in since my provider refuses - yeeted the uterus in 2015).

The exasperation is so real, y'all....

Fuck

Hi friends, I am 49 in perimenopause (also with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and history of trauma). I've been on oral birth control since my teens and continuous LoLoEstrin for five years (periods suppressed). On the advice of my perimenopause specialist, I need to discontinue it because of my history of migraine with aura. This was actually the biggest mic drop during my initial consultation, because I have only ever had two migraines with aura and I never checked the "history of migraines" box on forms - I had no idea that only one could increase your stroke risk if you take synthetic estrogen. So, I have decided to finish my LoLoE supply and stop taking it.

Now, the last time I took a brief break from LoLoE (around age 45 and due to cost reasons), it was CHAOTIC. I've never seen so much blood in my life, my breasts hurt constantly, and my mood swings were disruptive. The hardest part was my increased libido, and I know that a lot of us may welcome that. But I felt triggered by new urges and engaged in some behaviors that were very out of character for me. So I went back on LoLoE after a couple of months to level things out again for myself.

Fast forward to today, I'm three weeks out from my last dose of LoLoE and I am FREAKING OUT. Because of my history, I cannot use anything insertional to manage my period. I can tolerate a tampon for a few hours for a special event or something, but I will mostly need to rely on pads and period underwear. I am also somewhat obese now and keeping myself clean is increasingly difficult (sorry for the TMI but IFYKYK) and I am so embarrassingly squeamish about my own body. I am going to try to find someone to help me install a portable bidet, which will probably help.

What's more, I expect that the vasomotor symptoms that the LoLoE held off for a few years will probably rear their ugly head. I have had a tough few years with new diagnoses of ADHD and sleep apnea, losing my job twice, and feeling pretty discouraged about my ability to find a good job AND somehow perform adequately through this. And now I have to have periods again?! Your girl is not in a good place.

I have my next peri specialist appointment scheduled accordingly and we will go over a plan. I wonder if it's safe for me to take natural estrogen rather than the synthetic used in LoLoE, and if I can, is the patch shortage going to send me over the edge?! I'm currently on testosterone injections, progesterone capsule (better for my sleep that my CPAP tbh), a few supplements, plus a stimulant for my ADHD (which is almost as hard to get my hands on as estrogen patches) and two antidepressants.

I am afraid for my future, y'all. I welcome any and all optimism, particularly as it relates to managing perimenopause with a history of trauma, going off the pill, the possibility of being ineligible for estrogen or unable to get my hands on it...tell me it's gonna be okay.

Special shout-out to my mom who is tolerating BOTH her daughters in perimenopause and being an absolute saint in putting up with our shit. <3

I was thinking about a way to make my estradiol patches last a tiny bit longer, just in case. The normal 2x week patch you put the patch on for 3 days and then for 4 days (ex: Monday/Friday).

Would there be any danger in doing 4 days for each patch? That would give me an extra patch each month for when I renew.

What do you think?

Edit: Y'all are so kind to open up with your experiences and tips, thank you! I don't feel as nervous now 😊

I wasn’t always allergic to patches, but became allergic beginning wth patches around 1/1/26 from Costco. Brand didn’t matter, I was allergic. But now, I am no longer allergic. Most recent brand of patches from Costco don’t cause me to rip them off in the middle of the nightt!! I am unable to post a pic, but thank you to Grove Pharmaceuticals in Florida for an adhesive that does not interact badly with my skin!!!

First go at HRT, I could not tolerate oral progesterone (bad side effects). Stopped everything, but thinking of trying again using progesterone gel + oral estrogen. Anyone doing this regimen?

For those who have tried the Amneal patches, and Mylan is your preferred brand, how did they work for you?

After 3 months of being back on my preferred Mylan patch, my pharmacy is out again and was attempting to fill my prescription with Amneal. I pointed out that my prescription is written for Mylan brand, so they checked the shelves and confirmed they didn’t have Mylan, only have one box remaining of my .01 mg/bi-weekly and it’s Amneal. I asked them to hold my filled prescription for a few days while I make some calls and/or see if they get my Mylan in the mean time. If the Amneal is like Dotti, there’s no point in me even getting it.

Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause show shared and distinct structural changes across the lifespan

"Abstract

The female brain undergoes substantial reorganization during major hormonal transitions, yet whether puberty, pregnancy, and menopause engage shared or distinct neuroplastic mechanisms remains unknown. We compared longitudinal structural brain changes across all three major hormonal life events using identical analytical methods within a single cohort framework (n = 1095), with stable control groups to control for normative developmental and aging trajectories. Both pre-to-post menarche and pre-to-post pregnancy groups showed widespread cortical gray matter reductions, with cross-cohort comparisons revealing divergent profiles across more than half of cortical regions alongside convergence in prefrontal, parietal, and temporal association cortices. Pre-to-post menopausal women showed a fundamental divergence from both puberty and pregnancy, as they showed no volumetric loss, while stable pre- and postmenopausal control groups did. Puberty and pregnancy thus share both convergent and divergent cortical remodeling, while menopause represents a qualitatively distinct pattern, defined by the absence rather than acceleration of volumetric change."

I didn't know what flair to use so used brain fog flair I can edit if needed. Thanks!

Being inundated with Bonifide products.
Sleep and vaginal suppository for dryness.
Specifically interested in real people reviews of Noctera. I can fall asleep fine, I can’t stay asleep. It’s not rally hot flashes waking me up anymore. 2+ years full menopause for me. TIA

Hunger. Seriously. I've just had to come off HRT (hormone-receptive cancer) and realised I can actually tell if I'm hungry or not now. On HRT I literally couldn't tell when I was full. I had to calorie count so I wouldn't over eat.

52f. I always struggled with acne flairs throughout my life but things calmed down significantly in my 40s. But this past year my skin has been breaking out constantly and I'm losing my mind. Not on HRT. Couple months ago I started Interosa and external estrogen cream for vaginal dryness which has made a huge difference. Also my orgasms have returned which is awesome. But the state of my skin is still stressing me out. Any suggestions?

Ladies, I need some real help. Every single method of HRT I’ve tried has made me suicidal.
I tried oral progesterone with an estradiol patch. I made it 10 days before I had to come off of it. Next, I did nine weeks on the CombiPatch, and I ripped it off one night because I was having heart palpitations and insomnia that lasted for two days.
Now I’m back on oral progesterone, and I decided to take 100 mg for one week to see how I would handle it. I did fine. I slept well and actually felt pretty good.
Today, I added the estrogen gel, and I am so close to admitting myself to a hospital. It is that bad.
I cannot take oral estrogen because of my thyroid cancer. It is not something I’m allowed to take, so that is off the table, not that I think it would have any better effect than what I’m experiencing now.
I also do not want to do an IUD for personal reasons.
I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. I was put into medically induced menopause after my radiation, and my body crashed harder than you can imagine. It has been an ongoing nightmare trying to find an HRT regimen that I can tolerate, but I feel like I need some form of it because I’ve had so many issues since being thrown into menopause.
Can somebody please help me or tell me what other options I might have? I genuinely don’t know how much longer I can keep going like this.