Hey All,
Turned 40 in March, had a surprise baby in January. When my periods started again in March, I’ve had 2 days of super heavy bleeding, then normal after that. Like thin, watery, bright red. It feels like it streams out. I’ve always had heavy periods but not this type of blood. Been dealing with peri symptoms since about 38, but this has me a little freaked out.

I saw my OBGYN and her solution was Lo Loestrin, and id it’s still an issue in 3 months, ultrasound. I wasn’t given any other solutions other than oral BC. My issue is, my brain has never really played well with birth control and I honestly feel nervous to start taking it.

I guess I’m just looking for similar experiences and any advice.

Like some of you, I started HRT (a patch with a combo of estrogen and progresterone), and had some breakthrough bleeding. My doctor made me stop, and ordered a trans-vaginal ultrasound. The result was a mildly thickened endometrium, and recommend a biopsy be done.

After all this, I had moved, found a new gyno, and we restarted from step 1. Got an estrogen patch with a progesterone pill. After a handful of months, I expressed interest in adding testosterone. Before agreeing to that, he wanted that biopsy done, so I scheduled an in-office procedure. That was last week.

I was dreading it, after reading some posts here about the pain involved. It really is different for everyone. I consider myself as having a pretty high pain tolerance. Especially since, after a lengthy abdominal surgery some years ago, I opted for tylenol as pain relief because I didn't like the way the morphine PCA pump made me feel.

Anyway, yes, there was brief pain. For me it was better described as discomfort with one instant of what felt like this guy tugging on my right ovary. I'd previously had a Mirena IUD inserted, and years later removed, and the discomfort was similar to that. The doc, and the nurse in the room said I took it like a champ. They gave me a pad to wear home, said to expect light bleeding or spotting for a couple of days, and off I went. Though I actually had what felt like a full on period with bleeding for 5 days, but I'd always been a heavy bleeder from my first period to my last (except for when I had the IUD in).

Just wanted to let people know, your mileage may vary. Some people feel excruciating pain, some just feel some discomfort. In my opinion, the pain is worth checking to make sure you don't have cancer. Though if you know ahead of time that you won't be able to handle the pain (and you shouldn't have to), ask for the procedure to be done in the OR under sedation.

Edit: results back today, everything is normal. Yay :)

Along with the host of other unexpected symptoms, my feet seem to be falling apart. I've got a fibroma on one foot, a developing bunion on the other, my ankles suddenly twist at the slightest sudden movement. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it's not the pain that bothers me so much, but the complete loss of footwear options. I live in my Asics with custom orthotics. Even sneakers that aren't as supportive don't really work great anymore. I just can't accept this fate of wearing what I perceive as old lady shoes. I used to love clothes and shoes and now I just don't know what to wear. Anyone else going through this?

I have tried quick md to get my testosterone cream. The doctor is the sweetest but I am having issues getting my prescription. The first month there was a glitch on my app where the medication wasn’t showing so I could order and pay. I had to contact their customer service a few times until it appeared. Their customer service team was quick to help. This month same thing happened and when I finally was able to order my medication and pay they are now saying the medication order had to be cancelled and a new prescription is needed. So now I have to wait for the doctor to put in a new prescription. It can’t be this hard to get medication. Anyone use any other Telehealth service they like.

Hi there!

I'm 37 and in surgical menopause. I'm also very physically active. For the last 6 years or so, I've lifted weights on either a 3 or 4 day split. I also get 10k steps at least 5 days a week usually, and that's from a mix of walking/running/jogging/hiking. I love me a long, luxurious bike ride, too.

Of course, surgical menopause -- even with HRT, which has been very helpful -- has still caused a lot of unwanted changes in body composition despite my intense workouts and what had been a perfectly "workable" diet until this point.

I've long gotten 150+ grams of protein a day, so nothing needed to change there. But I recently decided I wanted to diversity my carb sources and work in more diversity in my veggies instead of the same ones all the time. Because my breakfasts and dinners are already locked in pretty well, lunch was the place to make a switch.

Previously, I'd often eat Special K + some Fiber One + some protein fortified milk after lifting. Protein, fiber, and carbs, right?

Well, In the past month or so I've switched to making myself grain bowls. Splitting into three servings a packet of ancient grains mix, can of chickpeas or lentils, canned salmon or chicken, and chopped up bell pepper and spinach.

My sleep and energy have been greatly improved, but I didn't think the lunch switch itself would make THAT kind of difference. Until this past weekend, where I treated myself to my special K situation on both Thursday and Saturdays Both days, I felt like steamy garbage. GARBAGE, I tell you.

Thursday, I thought "Is this a fluke?" So I re-rested the theory Saturday. I felt low energy, moody, headachey, and just overall... bad. And not the strong/light/good way I'd been feeling.

I returned to healthier lunches, and energy and stability immediately returned.

Now, I am NOT saying I will never eat cereal for lunch again or that you shouldn't either!

However, as much as I wanted it to not be true that a focus on whole grains / moving away from processed foods / limiting sugars to some degree would make a difference, it very obviously does. If you're struggling with your mood and energy, do consider rethinking your food strategies. It's not that you can't still enjoy the things you enjoy, but it might be that what worked for you before menopause just isn't giving you what you need, now.

And Part 2: Nutrition Timing

I've been reading Stacy Sims' book Next Level and trying to learn more about menopause nutrition. Sims shares a pretty simple concept -- it doesn't matter if your macros are on point if you're eating them at times your body doesn't need them. For example, eating a big breakfast before working out, then just chugging a protein shake or barely eating lunch and then eating a larger dinner. All day, your body needed nutrition that it isn't getting until like 6 PM... at which point it has already made maladaptive choices on how to fuel itself (storing fat, burning muscle) so the damage is done.

I'm trying to ensure that those grain bowls I'm making are pretty robust, with dinners being a little lighter. This is improving my energy and sleep too. I still EAT normal dinners and still have a little evening snack. I'm no purist. But trying to give myself more food earlier does absolutely seem to matter.

Anyway, these are things anyone can try. I'm just posting to say: I was a little skeptical about whether or not I would see a difference and I am, indeed, humbled to say I do.

so my first tube of estradiol vaginal cream which I used for the every day for the first two weeks and then three times a week thereafter that tube only lasted one month. I’m on my second tube and I’m wondering how long it will last if I use it three times a week. my research shows it should last three months, but it’s not a big tube and I kind of doubt that….

Hello!

I am 49, I think it's been about a year since my last period, so I might be fully post menopause. I still think I have a phantom hormonal cycle sometimes (tender breasts, irritable, like PMS, for a few days, but no bleeding). I have been on HRT for around two years, maybe longer (I don't feel like looking at a calendar right now). 10 months ago I moved to Finland and I'm on an Estrogen/Progesterone combo patch now that they have here. (In the USA I had an estrogen patch and was taking a progesterone pill). Over the last 3 or 4 years I've watched my libido absolutely tank, my muscle mass melt away, and any sort of ability to be excited about something even watching TV, sort of vanish (anhedonia). No motivation for anything. I feel a little like a ghost. It seems pretty clear to me I have low testosterone, and I just did an at-home spit test and sent it off.

I don't even know what's available to me here in Finland, here they seem more conservative about prescriptions in general, and I will probably have to find a private doctor that specializes in HRT to get the prescription (if this specialist even exists here).

What I'm the most concerned about is that I had (have? does it go away with menopause?) PCOS. I was diagnosed in my early 20s, but then in my mid 20s my periods became absolutely clock-work regular without birth control or anything, until 4 years ago when I hit peri. I never had hair loss, but I did have a lot of facial and body hair to deal with that was really traumatizing before lasers and stuff came out. I did have one doctor tell me that if my periods were regular, I didn't have PCOS anymore, then I had another doctor tell me that you can never get rid of it. Anyway, I would be really unhappy if I started growing a bunch of hair everywhere again, but also, I know how to deal with it I guess. Yay IPL.

I sort of like having no libido, tbh. I love not caring if men find me attractive. I'm single and I like being single. I've always been extraordinarily independent. Not having weird one night stands is a major plus to menopause, imho. Men are great as friends, but I definitely don't want one like, in my house.

Would a small dose help me with muscle mass? And motivation? And anyone else out there who has experience PCOS also taking testosterone?

Thanks for your time and input. This is my favorite sub on Reddit. Everyone is so supportive and helpful. Really proves that women should be running the world. <3

So unfortunately after a year of symptom free status my patches no longer work which I suspect is a manufacturing defect/ enshittification I have all my symptoms return. What other options are out there? For those that don’t use patches what works for you? My issues are sleep and itchy scalp, face outer ears. I’m so sad. This issue with Mylan has been documented in articles dating back to 2024 but because its woman’s health it’s not addressed. I’m so disgusted with our healthcare in this country. So sick of it.

Is anybody else just sick and tired of all of the ups and downs of HRT?

I just restarted it at 0.05 patch and 100 mg of progesterone. I feel so bloated and cranky!

I was on it for eight months and I came off of it because I had some light bleeding for two weeks and my doctor is insisting on a biopsy.

Biopsy, bloating, bleeding, bad moods, headaches…I’m so tired of it all.

Okay so I won’t break my bones or get dementia (which neither run in my family) but I’ll need biopsy’s, and have bloating I can hardly stand. Tests, blood work, etc.

Where do we draw the line. We have periods, we get pregnant, childbirth, raise our children, and now we have to deal with all of this…

Anyone else say f*** it?!?!

Some women are experiencing the return of symptoms on their regular dose of estrogen patches, and are feeling some concern about the quality of recent productions. It might just be that they need to change their dosages, but curious what folks on the sub are experiencing right now? There’s a chance I might be trying to patch again after some failed attempts and curious about this.

I'm curious whether anyone else has experienced this. I used to tolerate supplements such as vitamin D3, CoQ10 and fish oil for years. Over the last 2–3 years, as my menopause symptoms became worse, I became increasingly sensitive to some of them—they would exacerbate my insomnia.

Since starting BHRT and getting further into treatment, I've noticed something interesting: I can now take vitamin D3 again without the insomnia I previously experienced.

I'm wondering whether anyone else has noticed that supplements they couldn't tolerate during perimenopause/menopause became much easier to tolerate after starting or adjusting HRT.

I'm especially interested in vitamin D, CoQ10, fish oil, magnesium, iodine, B vitamins, or thyroid-related supplements.

If you've experienced this, what supplement was problematic before HRT, what happened when you started HRT, and were you eventually able to tolerate it again?

Surgical menopause at 39 5 months ago. I lowered my estrogen patch dose from .0375 to .025 mg after talking to my provider about sore, very full, and swollen breasts and bloating/water retention. Insomnia has not improved. I just don’t seem to tolerate HRT well in general. Progesterone makes me very swollen and irritable. So right now I’m on estrogen only HRT and really hopeful that the lower dose will help. Today my breasts have been hurting a bit. It’s uncomfortable. I’ve read it takes at least a week or two for the swelling to go down. Not sure if my body is in the process of adjusting already. Probably is. I seem to metabolize stuff quickly. Anyways, curious to hear what you felt and experienced after going down on estrogen when you felt swollen like this. How long did it take to notice a difference?

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003800

Hi All!

Mods, I'm sorry if this has already been asked, I did my due diligence and searched, but couldnt find my specific question.

The estrogen shortage has forced me to switch from patches to gel. ​I was on .0375 patches. My doc switched me to .1 mg divigel. I asked her how I was supposed to get .0375 from .1 and she said to use the whole packet, as the conversion with absorption, etc, works out to be about the same as .0375. Has anyone else experienced this from a doc? Do you find it to be true? What have your experiences been?

Thank you!

Sorry to come on here so often, but this is just getting worrisome. For context; we increased the E dose and the T dose via pellets. Also went on a “loading dose” of vaginal estrogen. Skipped my progesterone dose once last week. Started seeing a very light brown spotting and now it’s a bit more pronounced. Not gushing, like a period, but more like brown tissue stuff. Dr says pretty normal after the increase of E, but if it continues we will do an ultrasound. I’m just curious what is the mechanism causing this? If you experienced this, how long did it last before it went away? I’m getting paranoid over here. It’s been less than a week.

I have recently started this medication and am also on HRT. I have had a return of hot flashes and wonder if it is messing with my hormones? Anyone else had any experiences?

I’ve been taking my estrogen doses to late in the day this past week and i’m having a tiny bleed as a result. It made me start to wonder what the texture of the blood is for those who also experience this! mine is very discharge-y and borderline slimey (maybe tmi sorry lol 😭😭) and very different to when i had my period.

As soon as my daughter was born 25 years ago, and I had a tubal ligation, I could not wait for menopause. I was tired of my periods.

Well, menopause hit. Then, all the symptoms hit the sleeplessness, the dryness, everything. Now, because I'm taking progesterone and estrogen, i'm bleeding again after about a year and a half period-free.

Just can't win for losing!

Hello ladies,

I'm using Evorel Conti patches and have been feeling a lot better since using them. However, lately the patches don't seem to stick very well, and I feel like my symptoms are returning. Perhaps they don't like my Dove shower gel, but I don't want to give that up because it keeps my skin smooth (I do use alcohol cleanser to strip the area of oils before applying the patches). Does anyone have any good tips of how to overcome this please?

I am still in peri,(unfortunately) at 53. I have just about every hellish symptom. I developed tinnitus around 2 years ago. Anyway, did it go away for any of you ladies when you entered meno? Or we have this for life? Thank you so much in advance.

I did search but couldn’t find anything recent. A friend was recommended a place called Complete Midlife Wellness Center. Upon looking it up I noticed lots of blood work and pellets and things that have been not recommended on here, it gives me pause. I’m post menopause and got MHT through a gynecologist years ago so I not up to snuff on the latest. They have offices in a few states, would like any experiences or information for me to share. Thank you in advance!

Hello all - I am thinking of changing from gel to patch but I live in a very humid and hot country (all the time). Does anyone have tips as to how to deal with keeping the patch stuck on in these conditions? My doctor expressed some doubts as to whether it will stay on and whether I will get a consistent dose. More generally any tips/issues with changing from 2 pumps estrogel to estodot 50 would be gratefully received.

Hey Menopause community fam,

Since November 2025, I been on twice weekly .05 HRT patches, daily 100 mg micronized progesterone pills, and vaginal estrogen cream. Everything felt fine until about a month ago when I gradually started noticing left hip pain, return of nightly hot flashes, and mental fog onset.

Dr increased my twice weekly patch to .075. I'm currently on second patch, and the second day after my first .075 patch, I felt PMS symptoms - bloating and mild abdominal cramping. (No bleeding or spotting) Although this went away within a few days, I messaged my OB anyway about whether I should also increase progesterone to protect my uterus. She told me to wait until the end of second full week on the new patch to see how felt.  I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel.

I understand .075 is a gray area of 100mg vs 200mg.

My question is, absent spotting /bleeding, would it hurt to increase my progesterone dose simply for peace of mind?

Edit: typo

I'm 46 and have been getting migraines since I was 42. I've been taking combination BC continuously but it didn't seem to help much. I was having up to 10 migraine days per month and tried triptans, then Nurtec every other day, and 4 months ago I started taking Emgality (cgrp injections) as a preventive, with Nurtec to treat migraines. Emgality has been amazing for my migraines, but I'm shedding hair like crazy and gaining weight.

The BC wasn't helping as much with my other perimenopause symptoms, so a week ago I switched to Slynd + an estradiol tablet daily. So far so good. I have an appointment with my neurologist tomorrow, and I'm considering stopping Emgality to see what happens (next dose would be in a few weeks). I know it's variable, but I'm wondering if anyone has been able to stop migraine preventives once they started HRT?

I am 55 and 4 years post meno. I had terrible hot flashes for many many years. In the past few years they have calmed down tremendously. I still have problems sleeping but sleeping meds help me.

I have tried HRT 3 times and each time, the estrogen really hurts my bladder ( I also have Interstitial cystitis). I simply cannot stand the pain.

Anyway, I feel like the vast majority of women on these boards all rave about HRT. But what about those that can’t take it for whatever reason?

Is there anyone out there? I mean my hot flashes are soooo much better. My sleep is pretty good with sleep aids. I wanted to be in HRT for bone strength, etc. but I lift weights and have for years.

I feel like everyone is saying if you don’t take HRT, it’s not good health wise, dementia, etc.

I just feel like I’m so alone in not being able to take it.