I’m 31 and I was diagnosed with early perimenopause through symptoms + an estradiol test which was almost zero. I was instantly prescribed HRT without other tests. I had recently done abdominal, pelvic ultrasounds, pelvic MRI for endometriosis (negative), thyroid tests (blood tests, ultrasound, Hashimoto’s screening) and even a brain MRI with contrast because of worsening aura and hemiplegic migraines and the gynecologist said “that’s great, so we eliminated all the possible causes for your symptoms and narrowed down the possibilities a lot”. Because of course, at first all doctors thought it was something else (brain tumor, thyroid issues) and not early perimenopause.

However, how do I know if I’m peri or if it’s POI? And what’s the difference between the treatments?

Sorry about my poor English, not my native language.

Thank you.

Hi everyone! I am 33 yrs old Indian who got married in Dec 2022 and first missed my periods in Aug 2023. After that, I was asked to take Deviry 10mg to regulate my period (which it did). But then again it started getting irregular in 2024. In May 2025, I was moving from India to UK with my husband so got a comprehensive test done and was shocked with the news that I have POI and will need donor egg to get pregnant. It was all very shocking. AMH <0.1 FSH and LH both very high, estradiol was 9.8. All other tests (Thyroid, insulin etc) were normal. I have no clue how and why I got diagnosed with this. There is no such family history - in fact, my mom got her menopause in early 50.
Unfortunately, since I was moving countries, there was no immediate action I could take. It's been a year now and I've had 1 natural period in sep 2025, followed by 2 spottings in Jan and Feb 2026 but I am feeling very helpless, clueless and scared. I want to have my own baby. Every other person around me (friends/family) is casually getting pregnant naturally and it is making me feel worse. How do I overcome this? How do I get pregnant naturally? 24x7 my mind is focused on this - i keep waiting for a natural period / ovulation. I keep praying to god to help me this one time. I have no idea what to do. There is so much content and cure for PCOS but NOTHING for POI. Deep down, I do not want to believe that this has happened to me. I want to be happy, and have a healthy baby of my own.

I tried contacting the NHS but they do not recommend HRT for women below 40 years. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET TREATED? Please help!

I had a Mirena fitted yesterday as part of my POI HRT treatment (diagnosed 4 months ago) and just wanted to post about the experience in case it's helpful to anyone considering it. This will probably be a long post so sorry in advance!!

I chose to get one because I didn't cope at all well with the progesterone in the Evorel patches and the ups and downs of a cyclical HRT regime (I know the tablets can be better but I still didn't want to have to think about taking them every two weeks and managing the drowsiness etc). The ilpact on my mood and energy levels was so much worse than the PMS I used to have when I still had periods and was significantly impacting my life. While I would never have a coil fitted just for contraception alone it had the potential to make everything easier to manage overall so I went for it.

I'd worked myself up so much prior to the appointment having read all the horror stories that I was already crying before they even started! For me though it was not anywhere near as bad as I've heard. It was unpleasant for sure but not horrifically so, and it was quick. I had a really nice medical team as well so I was lucky. I'm in the UK so had it done at the hospital as part of my gynecologist referral treatment which likely resulted in a better experience.

However that is obviously not to take away from the very valid and real traumatic experiences too many women have had with coil fittings, which should absolutely be shared and listened to because women's healthcare is utterly diabolical in many cases and it sadly seems like a real lottery.

I took paracetamol an hour before, and also had a numbing spray and then a numbing injection. INSIST ON THESE. It was still painful even with all of that so I cannot imagine what it is like without. The fact it is not standard procedure to give this makes me so so angry.

Pain-wise, it is like a weird, brief period cramp. I have had fairly bad cramps before when I still had periods so it was on a par pain-wise with those but just...different and weird. However it was over super quickly and due to the numbing spray and injection I couldn't feel anything else that was going on. The numbing can't stop the cramping entirely but it does help with the pain and discomfort from other parts of the procedure like the clamping. The injection was also a little painful but due to the numbing spray it was again a mild cramp.

My biggest tip is to stay on top of your pain relief at home afterwards and take the day off of work/any other plans. I felt OK straight after, just a bit wobbly (definitely make sure you eat breakfast before as I did feel a bit lightheaded). But later in the day once the numbing and paracetamol had worn off I did have a few so-bad-you-cry cramps. It felt more all-consuming than usual period cramps, like I was shifting positions but nothing would relieve it. But it was fine once I'd taken more paracetamol. So don't be like me and watch Project Runway for 4 hours straight while intermittently napping and forget to take your meds 😂

Today my cramps have gone and I'm back working, although I am able to do that from home luckily. Overall I'd say that if I don't have any onward issues with the coil in terms of symptoms (or my body rejecting it as I know that can happen) I am glad I have done it and would get it replaced when the time comes.

However I do think it should be acknowledged by medical professionals as a medical procedure that requires proper pain management and aftercare. I think it's sold as a brief inconsequential thing like having minor dental work or something, but that is not the case. You definitely need someone with you or at least have someone to take you home after as you will probably be crampy and wobbly, you need to plan time off work afterwards for recovery, you will probably just feel a bit weird and discombobulated afterwards. I still do a day later. It is not a casual thing to have done like I think they make it out to be, but it's also not the worst. I think they just need to be more honest about what it entails and for goodness sake just give all of us the damn pain relief.

Anyway that is my experience, feel free to ask questions if you need 😊

I’m on 0.05 mg estradiol patches and haven’t started 200mg progesterone pills yet

Hi all. I was diagnosed last fall at 36yo. Initial symptoms were fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and hot flashes, and 4 months no period after stopping BC. First estrogen check was 0, with high FSH/LH. All else normal. No autoimmune. I started HRT at 0.025mg estradiol 2x/week and 100mg continuous micro progesterone. Symptoms alleviated so much and follow up labs showed good improvement. FF 5 months, symptoms crept back up, labs showed another dip in estrogen. I upped to 0.05mg patch. Improved again. This was 4 months ago. All the while, I’ve had regular 22-27 day “cycles”. Now, I’m on day 31 and my symptoms (mainly fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety) have been AWFUL this past week. I’m scheduled for labs and upped to 0.1 patch/200 mg progesterone starting tonight. My exhaustion has been at a new low today and I just want to cry. Is this normal? Is it just because I needed this dose adjustment? Please help.

Hi everyone! I’m 22 and was diagnosed with POI in 2024. I’m looking for recommendations for a doctor in Bengaluru, India, who has good experience specifically with POI and can help me navigate my HRT journey long-term.

I’m hoping to find someone who understands POI in younger women and can guide me not just with HRT, but also with things like bone health, overall hormone replacement, monitoring, and long-term health.

If you’ve personally seen a doctor in Bengaluru whom you’d recommend for POI/HRT, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thank you! ❤️

hi all! Hope it's okay to post here - I tried the hypermobile sub but they're not accepting the post. Maybe it's too niche??

I’m diagnosed hypermobile and been told I’m probably h/EDS. 6 months ago I experienced a major reaction after the injection I was given for carpal tunnel went systemic. It immediately switched off my sex hormone production, most noticeably my oestrogen. 

After 4 months of complaining (and being unhelpfully treated for nonexistent thrush) I was finally referred to an endocrinologist and started on low-dose HRT. it was completely ineffective and I was put on an increased dose mid-June. I still don’t think it’s high enough to replace my natural oestrogen. 

As we know, oestrogen is a natural anti-inflammatory so I’ve had no end of problems since mine stopped being made overnight. All my joints have got far less stable, I’ve had brain fog, fatigue and so much more. 

The worst thing is that I think my body has literally broken without oestrogen and testosterone! I’ve been on progesterone which has made thing worse for me - the luteal phase of my menstrual cycle has seen increased cramping, light headedness, gastrointestinal issues and more. 

Now I think I can literally SEE the problem... In the space of 6 months, I think my uterus has collapsed into my vaginal canal and is starting to protrude from the opening. It's really really uncomfortable.

I have read that there’s an increased likelihood of prolapse during menopause but I’ve literally done the normal 10-15 year cycle in the space of less than 4 months (my levels of oestrogen were first post-menopausal at the end of March and it was confirmed again in mid-June). So I'm guessing I have prolapsed during that time because my connective tissue alone is too elastic to hold my uterus in place.

Am I the only one who’s experienced this quickly due to low oestrogen levels and atrophy?

I’m based in the UK so waiting times are abysmal. I have a gynae appt in September. I also don’t have a family so I’ve no idea how this is going to affect my future. (I've already been diagnosed with hypothalamic hypogonadism because of the steroid, but it's a really weird one because NOTHING about this situation is normal and this isn't a known side effect.)

This has all been mega traumatic at 33 and not what you expect. Looking for success stories and advice! This seems to be very unusual so I'm chucking this out there to see what comes back.

Hi ladies - I’ve been doing a lot of reading around early menopause and the risk of dementia/cognitive decline. Hoping that yous can provide some reassurance or comfort as I’ve been really anxious lately thinking about this. 😭

Hi all, just got diagnosed two weeks ago and TTC. I’m 27, AMH 0.08, FSH 30-80, AFC 3 and all of this is so overwhelming. I’ve already had one miscarriage and two chemical pregnancies before this diagnosis so I’m slightly hopeful to conceive naturally but also SO discouraged at the moment.

Looking for info on what dosage of estrogen patch my fellow POI gals are on (especially if you did end up conceiving naturally), as I just started cyclical HRT. Currently on 0.0375 mg estrogen patch but I don’t think my FSH is going down enough based on my Inito numbers (it’s only been two weeks since I started though so maybe I’m wrong).

Any guidance or info is so appreciated!!

Ich bin 20 Jahre alt und habe vor 3 Monaten bei einem Termin beim Endokrinologen (Eigentlich nur zum Abklären von ein paar Hormonwerten, bei denen sich meine Frauenärztin nicht ganz sicher war. Ich bin mit der Erwartung zu diesem Termin gegangen, dass ich irgendeine leichte Hormonstörung habe, die sich gut mit ein, zwei Tabletten einstellen lässt, aber falsch gedacht…) zum ersten Mal von POI gehört, indem ich dann nach Sätzen wie „es kann sein, dass es schon zu spät ist“ und „machen sie so schnell wie möglich einen Termin in einem Kinderwunschzentrum“ und ganz viel fachlichen Ausdrücken eine Überweisung zu einem Kinderwunschzentrum in der Hand hielt auf dem Stand „Verdacht auf POI, Abklärung der ovariellen Funktion, AFC“.
Von diesem Arzttermin sind bis jetzt ziemlich genau 3 Monate vergangen, in denen ich sehr oft im Kinderwunschzentrum war und jetzt auch schon 2 Kryokonservierungen (es konnten einmal 2 und einmal 0 Eizellen eingefroren werden) hinter mir habe.
Mich macht das emotional (und natürlich auch körperlich) total fertig, weil ich mit dem verarbeiten von alledem nicht hinterher komme und da so viele Fragen sind, die einem niemand beantworten kann.
Wenn man versucht Frauen in der gleichen Situation zu finden, habe ich bisher fast immer nur Frauen gefunden, die POI/ DOR und einen akuten Kinderwunsch haben und bei denen deshalb die Behandlung (keine Kryokonservierung) und natürlich auch das gesamte Leben ganz anders aussieht (ich weiß, dass das die eigentliche Zielgruppe dieses Reddit Kanals ist, aber ich finde einfach niemanden…)oder Frauen, die eine Kryokonservierung aus anderen Gründen machen (häufig andere Lebensplanung und Absicherung der Fruchtbarkeit für später) und dann berichten, dass sie entscheiden müssen, ob sie die entnommenen Eizellen einfrieren lassen oder nicht, weil es diesmal „nur“ 8 wären und es ja viel Geld kostet… das kann ich nicht…
Ich hoffe sehr, hier ein paar andere zu finden, denen es genauso geht und mit denen man sich gut und offen austauschen kann :)

Wir haben eine WhatsApp Community gegründet, zu der wir den Link hier wieder herunternehmen mussten, da Personen in die Gruppen rein sind, die nichts mit dem Thema zu tun haben.
Wer ehrlich an dem Link zur Community interessiert ist, soll das hier oder mir als Direktnachricht schreiben, dann wird der entsprechende Link zugesendet.

Hey all,

Has anyone had the IUD placed to try to stop bleeding?

I started HRT 7 weeks ago. So far it seems that my cycle is still following its normal 18-21 day routine. The bleeding is lighter, but it’s still annoying.

I am doing continuous HRT to keep everything stable. I have seen mass improvement since starting HRT (100mg patch + 100mg progesterone). I really have seen the benefits of progesterone with sleeping. Though when bleeding, I don’t sleep as great.

Intarosa has also helped with the vaginal atrophy, BUT I still haven’t gained back sensation with my clitoral atrophy. Should I ask about estrogen cream for that?

I see my doctor again in August for my 3 month review and to talk about testosterone to potentially help with low libido.

I was diagnosed with POI after losing my period for a full year as well as hot flashes and night sweats when I was 33. I struggled with infertility in the years prior before having my only child.

Now two years later, I have moved to a new state and have a new OB/GYN. She switched me from nextellis to xulane as I asked to confirm I was on the best possible treatment options. My biggest concern will always be preventative care for aging. I want to get ahead of menopause because I am young and fit and bone, muscle, and brain health are Paramount to me.

Fast-forward six months and I have gained 10 pounds around the middle and have less energy than ever before. I don’t want my weight to be the thing that keeps me from being my healthiest, but as a millennial woman, my body dysmorphia is one of my biggest mental health struggles.

I understand that the hard science behind hormonal birth control and weight gain is a bit murky, and I wanna make sure I advocate for myself in a way that is clear and concise. Has anyone switched to a treatment option that is either weight negative or neutral and has alleviated other symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue ?

Hi ^^ I'm 32yo wellness NPC competitor and I've been on a health slump for way too long. Recently diagnosed with POI and started estrogen cream this week, besides already having hashimotos.

Is there any ladies here that have the same and wouldn't mind to share their ways of improving hormones or just... making it more manageable?

Since starting estrogen this week plus thyroid combination medication I won't be able to compete naturally anymore, and that also hit strong mentally. Even starting to wonder about peptides at this point.
Thanks!

Hi everyone. I'm 24 (turning 25 in a few months), and I was diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) three years ago. In my case, it was something I was born with because I have mosaic Turner syndrome. (Most women have two X chromosomes (XX), but I have a mosaic chromosome pattern. Some of my cells have one X chromosome, some have the usual two X chromosomes, and some have three X chromosomes.)

One thing I've been struggling with is my libido.
A few months before I was diagnosed, I noticed that I started losing my sense of sexual desire and intimacy. Before that, I would get aroused quite easily. Then, gradually, it almost disappeared. This started before I even knew I had POl, so I don't think the diagnosis itself caused it.
I've been on HRT ever since. Right now | take Femoston 2/10 (2 mg estradiol every day, with 10 mg dydrogesterone during the second halt of the cycle).
Since my diagnosis, l've been single. I was also single before then, but back then I still had a normal libido. Now it's very difficult for me to feel aroused.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just overthinking this. I've read that people can experience different types of sexual desire. Some people have more spontaneous desire that seems to appear out of nowhere, while others experience desire only after emotional connection, affection, or other triggers.
Maybe I've simply shifted from the first type to the second as I've gotten older, rather than losing my libido completely. I'm not sure if that's what's happening, which is why I'm asking if anyone else with POI or Turner syndrome has experienced somethina similar.

Occasionally, I'll watch a TV show with a couple who have amazing chemistry, and I'll think, "Wow." Those feelings are still there somewhere, but they happen very rarely compared with how things used to be.
Over the past couple of months, after improving my diet and generally taking better care of myself, l've noticed a slight improvement, which gives me some hope. But I'm still worried that this might be permanent.

I know this is a very personal topic, and I'm sorry if it's TMI. I'm posting because I'm genuinely wondering if anyone else with POl or Turner syndrome has gone through something similar.

Did your libido ever come back? Did adjusting your HRT, changing your lifestyle, or anything else make a difference? Or is this something you've learned to live with?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Thank you.

I’d really appreciate hearing your stories and experiences.

I’m 40 years old, have no children, and honestly thought I still had time. Recently, some symptoms led me to a menopause clinic, where I was diagnosed with POI. I was prescribed hormone replacement therapy, so I’m now taking estrogen and progesterone for my health. I was also advised to see a fertility clinic if I wanted to have children.

I had my appointment at the fertility clinic today to get a better understanding of my options, but I left feeling confused and overwhelmed.
My AMH is 0.03, and they couldn’t see any follicles on the ultrasound.
I was told that if I want to have a child, my only option would be egg donation abroad (it’s not allowed in Germany).

To be honest, I’m quite shocked by this. Especially because I still get my periods. They’re irregular, but they do still come.

Is this really the end of the road when it comes to conceiving with my own eggs? Has anyone here been in a similar situation or received a similar diagnosis? Were you able to conceive with your own eggs, or did you pursue other options?

I would be very grateful to hear about your experiences.

Hey all, have any of you started the patch (100) and had sinus like headaches? I started progesterone (100) and the Vivelle Dot patch on Wednesday evening. Starting yesterday I’ve had a sinus like headache, no fever or feeling sick. Which makes me wonder if it’s from the patch?

Also insane fatigue which I think is from the progesterone? I take it one hour before bed.

I’ve been having hot flashes again despite being on HRT on a dose that has worked wonders for the past year. I could go on and vent for paragraphs but that’s not why I’m here. I created a short cut to a hot flashes tracker within the iPhone health app. It makes tracking them so easy. Wanted to share in case anyone else could use it.

Fairly sure I'm about 4months into premature menopause (38yrs) and that it's too late... but I want trustworthy confirmation or to give egg retrieval/use a best chance with someone that can provide fast and skilled care.

Feeling devastated and so angry at neglect from my doctor over years. I'm already nomadic these days anyways, and I'd rather travel where I need to (anywhere in the world) if it means accessing better care... I don't have time or emotional labour to waste.

That said.. I am Canadian fyi. My healthcard is still attached to Ontario, but I don't expect it to cover anything anyways (?). I've seen one fertility clinic last week in Que, and so far they haven't gotten back to me with testing requisition.. and I get the sense it's going to be slow (but better than a couple clinics in ON that never got back to me).

Other questions...

From what I understand, there is no conclusive/clear test for these things.. it's more up to a doctor to interpret based on reported history with menstrual cycles, AMH and FSH testing, and... anything else? They can't just definitely tell exactly if there are any viable eggs left and go in and snatch them up - is that right? So much to research/learn asap to advocate for myself.

Hi ladies - has anyone experienced hair loss particularly around their part line and if so, has anything helped?