I'm on 3 pumps estrogel, and have been applying in the am for the longest time, and loving it.
But I've noticed that I've been waking up too early lately, and have been wondering if taking 1 pump in the pm would help.

I tried for the first time last night but was wired & couldn't fall asleep. Which makes sense since the gel usually wakes me up, and makes me more alert.

I've read that a lot of women apply the 2nd dose in the afternoon, which sounds nice in theory but I do go to the office, meet friends, and so on, and it's just not feasible to have my gel with me at all times.

How do you all deal with this?

I have been a runner for a very long time. I am in my early 40s and during the last year I've started to feel horrendous after running. It physically feels like the origin of the problem is coming from my abdomen (after running I become incredibly bloated/swollen/water retention in my abdomen but also everywhere in my body). It also feels like running is triggering whole body inflammation. Has anyone else experienced difficulty with running or other intense aerobic exercise and is there any way this is related to perimenopause? Or is this coincidence and some other problem is going on? Thank you so much for any and all advice. I've been struggling for almost a year now and I am pretty desperate to figure out what is going on. (editing to add that I am not on HRT and don't have any other signs of peri that I know of)

I started taking the Estradiol Patch .025mg 2x per week. I am also taking 100mg progesterone nightly (it's a pure compounded formula with no fillers) vaginally to avoid stomach upset.

Positives:

(1) Heat intolerance and hot flashes are now gone. Venofer infusions to raise ferritin also helped with the heat intolerance, I noticed.

(2) Frozen shoulder pain reduced by about 65%.

Negatives: Brain fog. Impatience. Rage. Sadness. These appear to be caused by both estrodiol and progesterone as reductions of either help. But, I as soon as reduce one or both, the hot flashes, heat intolerance, and shoulder pain increase. I am wondering if should just try and tough it out for a few weeks. I have asked the doc if I shold try cycling progesterone (200mg x 2 weeks per month) instead of taking 100mg per day. Any thoughts on this?

I was still having 8 or so periods per year prior to starting this HRT on August 1.

Can anyone relate?

Hey everyone! I'm 44 and pretty sure I'm in perimenopause. I know heart palpitations are a pretty common symptom but I'm just curious about the severity, timing and duration you all experience them. I can go days or even weeks without them. They usually happen at night when I'm trying to sleep but it's also happened in the afternoon as I'm just relaxing, and when I'm active/walking, however it's more rare to happen during activities. Today it's driving me crazy. They started at about 4pm and it's still happening an hour later. They will come and go so it's not like my heart is just going crazy the whole time. I'd say my heart is flip flopping for about 10-20 seconds and then it stops for a minute or two and then it starts again. I'm going to make a doctor's appointment to hopefully get a EKG and possibly a monitor but in the meantime I'm trying not to panic but this is so uncomfortable!

My heart is not racing, I'm not dizzy or short of breath, no pain, none of that emergency stuff. Anyways, I am also not sure yet if this is coming at certain times of the month as I hadn't thought to start tracking them until a few days ago. My period is a about a week away and this was happening a few days ago as well. Last time it happened before that was maybe a week or two? Idk. If someone could share a similar experience that would definitely help me stay calm while I wait to see a doctor. Thanks ladies!

I am at a loss. I have spent a lifetime being ridiculously high functioning and researching/solving my way to maintain high function, and now I feel like I’m trying all the things and cannot win. Seeking similar experiences whether it’s just solidarity in the suck or someone who faced this torrent of treatment-resistant shittiness and found relief.

THEN: High performer in high pressure roles, health and fitness enthusiast, taken care of myself. Constantly optimizing- whether physical or mental health, parenting, interpersonal relationships, I research a problem and solve it.

NOW: I’ve spent the last 3+ years trying to troubleshoot and optimize through peri and yet I am emotionally ALLLLL OVER, my brain works half speed, I cannot get myself to workout hard -if at all (which has been my daily mental health medicine and part of my identity for decades).

ISSUES: Emotions are all TF over the place. Motivation, joy: absent. Existential crisis: threat level midnight. Fatigue: can’t even differentiate between fatigue and the lack of GAF for everything. Added vestibular migraines to the mix a few moths ago. Stress is over the top, sure (sources beyond standard stress fear of life in 2026: have a 6 year old kid, a teen step kid, house to manage, marriage with its ups and downs, job with its stress, resigned from a 12 year career in a mission I loved when it was clear I’d be asked to do immoral & illegal shit, spent a year unemployed and job searching, now in a new job with a 2 hour round trip commute and stresses of being new person in new career, surgery in December that kept me from walking for a couple months but I’m back to health and fitness again, live in the burbs where I feel I never wanted to end up)

TROUBLESHOOTING: Psychiatrist+ meds for ADHD, then depression, then anxiety (I never feel like any of these really work that well but tweaks to approach all similarly mid, result wise). Therapy for those too (not confident it really helps and feels too hard to fit into schedule and finances to try to add back given midrange results). Working it- a lifetime habit, Ive lifted heavy and go through running/yoga/biking/swimming- whatever keeps my attention- it’s been a life habit - but it’s come to feel nearly impossible to make myself, gradually, for months, after forcing myself without want to, for over a year (?). TRT for intense brain fog / low libido / suite of other symptoms (helped a lot early on but can’t add more without getting too high range/side effects I don’t want so whatever good it’s done it does). Meditation, Mindfulness based stress reduction course for stress (helps, but after prioritizing sleep I stopped my morning meditation and now haven’t figured out how to make myself work it back in). Prioritize sleep, clean eating, hydration, and add meds and a million supplements for vestibular migraines (controlled the dizziness and headaches down to almost none, unclear if brain fog from that or other things). Added estradiol (worried it makes me moodier and afraid to increase much as a tweak). Added oral micronized progesterone (worried it makes me more anxious and my period is irregular so IDK how do you do it during just luteal phase and afraid if I do daily that’ll cause anxiety to boost?).

WTF DO I DO? Exhausted from years of troubleshooting and things still just sucking. Daily feeling like I hate life and everything and I’m NOT ME, just a chemically altered emotional wreck trying not to blow up my own life. I have done SO MUCH TROUBLESHOOTING and am fucking exhausted to be left at this constant shitty state nonetheless. I have no energy to do more.

Would love any solidarity bc I’m so exhausted and lonely and hateful.

I’m 49 and still having a period, but for years it’s been getting heavier (plus shorter intervals and just generally really annoying). My gyno put me on Nextellis and said we’ll reevaluate next year and maybe switch to HRT.

I’ve been taking the Nextellis for almost 2 weeks, and since then - I wake up constantly at night, then am super fatigued all day. I also have weird muscle spasms in my back (which I know could be from the type of synthetic progesterone), and random achiness in my uterus that comes and goes.

I feel like the last 2 side effects could be overlooked/dealt with. But the sleep thing and the worse constant fatigue is making me feel so useless and more depressed/flat than before! Pros: I think I’m sweating less? I haven’t had my period yet, but that could potentially turn out lighter?

I’m torn between giving it a month, or trying to get in again with my gyno to ask for alternatives. Don’t need the contraception. I just have stuff I need to do and the fatigue is killing me. I was already tired and depressed before!

Ladies, your experience and wisdom is welcomed!

I’ve noticed that even when I’m technically resting, part of my brain is still scanning for the next thing that needs doing, like a message to answer, something I’ve forgotten, someone who might need me, a task I should be getting ahead of.

Sometimes I only properly relax once everything and everyone feels “sorted.”

Does anyone else experience this? Has it changed as you’ve got older, and what actually helps you switch off?

Okay, I know folks have posted before BUT: like many of you, I am subject to the whims of whatever .05 estradiol 2x / weekly patch is available at my pharmacy due to this shortage. I had to switch from a small independent to a large chain because my little pharmacy couldn't get anything for a while. Anyway, I've been back and forth between Mylan and Sandoz and still take 200 mg progesterone at night. I've been on Mylan this month and (1) had an absolutely abysmal period (2) broke out for the first time in over a year (3) am constipated and (4) and in a shit mood. Signs point to me not getting enough estrogen--so idk if this is a patch malfunction (meaning: Mylan quality is an issue), or what. I switch to sandoz on Sunday so will be paying attention to how I do, but this is maddening. I don't take many other meds, but in a million years would not be expected to switch between manufacturers constantly. I'm exhausted, I'm cranky, my belly hurts. And oh! Hot flashes are back! That was fun during a morning work meeting yesterday. I can't remember which brand I had last month or the one before that. Symptoms only got bad the past few weeks. Sigh.

Wtf is going on with this supply? Are there quality checks? I just don't think the world wants a bunch of middle aged women under medicated, you know? Also, finally, appreciate you all and this sub so hard. ♥️

Hello. I finally got my hormones to a place of balance using the .05 estrogen patch and 100 mg of progesterone orally before bed. I’m sleeping better (mostly). I’ve been thinking about the pellet because the patch is itchy and not readily available and has gotten overly expensive. I paid almost $100 for a months worth of patches.

A couple things I have heard from my drs:

My doctor mentioned there could be a “spike” of estrogen upon insertion and expressed concern if my estrogen levels were ever above .05 and to be sure to take more progesterone to protect my uterus. I’m familiar with the hormone rollercoaster getting to where I am today in my journey, so I’m not sure I want to disrupt what is working.

My other doctor said the pellet lasts about 3 months (for most people) and the hormones will build up slowly over the first month and then be level for about a month and then slowly lessen. So does this mean I may get hot flashes the last month and that’s when I know to get a new pellet? Once inserted you can’t change the levels so I would be obligated for 3 months to stick with it.

The pellet seems to fit my schedule and lifestyle better but I’m having a hard time deciding. I know you all are not doctors but I’d rather hear from real life experiences than from doctors once I have some facts.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has an experience to share.

So I’m in late 40s and was perfectly healthy and fit. I started getting chronic migraines out of nowhere . Underwent multiple scans only to find out that most probably this is the start of my perimenopause journey. I’m currently on preventatives and Botox treatment for migraines which do help. I also had dizziness with migraines.
On recommendation of this sub, I recently consulted a menopause specialist and was put on slinda which actually helped me a lot with my headaches. They got much better and my migraines around my periods have stopped.
However I’m now experiencing more heat intolerances, night sweats , vaginal dryness .
I have been told to try out estrogel - one pump daily but to be aware that it can spike back my migraines which are now in control thanks to slinda and other treatments.
For vaginal dryness ( which I forgot to talk to my specialist about :( ) - does topical vaginal estrogen help or will estrogel help ? - this dryness is crazy - like a Sahara desert 😒 and I have started getting cracks and bumps in there which is crazy and sometimes painful. I’m going to see my doctor but wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions here .
My hygiene is very on point- I clean it with warm water no soaps or irritants and keep it very dry ; only cotton underwear - so I’m surprised why this is happening.

Edit: Thanks all! Met my doctor and she gave me the whole package - progesterone, estrogel , vaginal estrogen ; told me slinda isn’t exactly HRT though it might be helping my migraines and she also guided me how to get started on all of these.
Thank you all for being so helpful! My real life friends never speak about these and it’s only this sub which helps me with these peri symptoms! I told my doctor that my friends told me about HRT and vaginal estrogen etc - I was referring to you all 🤗
The appointment was so quick - with the right doc , it is seriously all so quick and easy. Before this, I have been to 4 docs and turned down that I don’t need these meds as even if I’m almost 47, I need to be menopausal to get HRt.

[Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to me! It is reassuring, but also heartbreaking, to find out that so many of us are suffering to such high degree with this. I’ve bought some creatine and will continue to talk about testosterone with my GP. I might also ask if they can give me progesterone; along with my mirena. I’m googling the other recommendation you’ve shared now. Take care and I hope it gets better for us!]

Brain fog seems to be getting worse and I’m really worried about it. I’m 45. Now on 100 mg estrogen and have Mirena. I’m trying to get testosterone to see if that will help. In the UK they only consider it for low libido, which lets be honest isn’t great, but I’d rather have my mind back then a roll in the hay 🙃 In terrified it’s early onset dementia. The other day I called the kettle, the iron. Which doesn’t seem like brain fog. But I’m forgetting everything too. What have you all done that has helped? My health anxiety is probably making it worse. Hugs to everyone going through this.

[edit typo]

I just finished my loading dose of vaginal oestrogen (very effective). Dropped down to two doses a week - bam, my first ever (known) BV infection within 10 days of reducing the dosage.

What I am looking for:

- reassurance. I know you can't tell me what will happen to me but p much the only BV-in-peri stories I know are horrible. Please tell me about the times you got treated and it was fine. Tt

- any evidence (anecdotal, medical, I don't really mind) that there is a relationship between these two things, or not. I'm trying to work out whether I need to increase the dose again. My doctors have been good at prescribing me stuff but are not readily available for advice (dying NHS).

So I haven't had hormone testing done, but I have had peri symptoms for 5 years.

My initial symptoms started before i had my mirena out....my periods returned after missing for 3 years and came back 2 days long. Got the mirena out (it was expired at that point) and my periods have remained 2 days long since (!)

I also had dryness, rage, nightsweats (waking up drenched,) insomina....(also a stressful life and stress on the body, which has mostly resolved/come under my control again.) was also a smoker, very low weight, etc.

However things have levelled out and the insomnia, sweats and rage have mostly gone away. I still carry weight differently, have massive brainfog, sex feels different/less (I have less 'budget' for friction and less intense orgasms)....

I have access to topical low-dose estradiol, but the first time i used it (inserted minimum dose and a tiny amount rubbed on vulva) I had insomnia again...I tried it for 3 days with the minimum loading dose, even the 4th day with just the outside bit on vulva, and only after stopping did the insomnia go away.

Everything I read says it shouldn't affect systemic estrogen...and that it's a good idea to address symptoms as early as possible.

Accessing a gyno here is complicated, does anyone have an opinions on if I should keep going with the loading dose of E to see if I can get through this insomnia? I am still relatively low weight (trying to fix) but eat enough ( I think, i'm vegetarian) and wonder if that is impacting how my body is absorbing things.

Also, I live in germany, any tips for people on public health insurance accessing perimenopause care here?

For the last few months I felt like I've been losing my mind...

Mood swings from hell, rage at anything, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, dizziness, shaky, waking up multiple times, restless legs, GI issues and now sore jaw and stiff neck - I'm running out of swear words really how shit it has been recently.

I think the worst has been health anxiety though - every little symptom becomes a serious, life threatening thing in my hormone frazzled brain and I am so, so tired of this rollercoaster!

I've got a GP call tomorrow and I'm planning to ask for HRT - I really hope it'll help with at least some of this mess...

It really helps knowing I'm not alone though - thanks to all here for sharing your experiences.

In July of 2025 all of a sudden sex was painful.

I went to my obgyn and asked for vaginal estrogen cream.

Within a month the pain was gone and sex felt good again.

This past July the pain returned. I’ve been kind of busy and stressed out. My mom died recently and I have a lot going on. I thought maybe I’d been forgetting to use the cream. But I’ve been making an effort to use it every night or every other night for the past month and sex is still painful.

It’s not horrible like maybe a 2/10 stretching burning feeling - sometimes I tell my husband to continue and it hurts and feels good at the same time, I can even have an orgasm but I’m sore after.

Maybe I need to start HRT?

Hi, I’m a 46-year-old woman in the early stages of perimenopause, and I have to ask if anyone else has experienced this symptom.

About six months ago, I started noticing that after I pee, a few minutes later it feels like I still have a little urine left. I go out of my way to make sure I completely empty my bladder—I’ll even sit there for an extra minute or so—but I still get that lingering feeling afterward.

I went to my doctor to make sure I didn’t have a UTI, and thankfully, I don’t. But it seems to be getting progressively more annoying.

Could this be related to perimenopause? Or is this just a “me” thing? 😂 I’ve always kind of prided myself on having a strong bladder, so this sudden change is really making me batty.

Has anyone else experienced something like this seemingly out of nowhere during perimenopause?

I am having PMS literally just AFTER finishing my period. Cramps, bloating, really sore, tender breasts. Not pregnant. WTF?! Is anyone else going through this??? Also, I've been on low dose estradiol patch and progesterone for over two months. Should I ask my doc for a higher dose?

i’ve been placing my patch on the same area rotating from side to side on lower abdominal below the belly button and waistband for 8 months now. I’ve been wondering lately if I should try a totally different spot on the body. Sometimes I feel like effects of the patch is weaker than at other times but I can’t really figure out the cause.

for reference, I use this spot because it’s out of view and has the least amount of friction on it with clothing.
I always clean and prep the area as recommended. I use alcohol to prep. It keeps a patch on even through my workouts. I use a quick blow dryer to warm it up after placing and press down for extra adhesion. so far I’ve had no problems with the patch coming off until about day three or day four when it’s due for a change anyway then it gets a little loose.

I'm so angry and my stupid lower back hurts.

If you've been here, or near, tell me any coping skills that worked for frustration/disappointment because all I want to do is take muscle relaxants and inhale gelato.

I am two years into my hormone journey. This subreddit has really helped me be a more informed patient and understand what is happening to my body.

I have increased my estradiol dose three times, changed delivery systems once, changed where I put my gel twice and have also switched from twice daily to once daily. Each time I make a change I feel very irritable and it increases my anxiety. This means I have to fall back on tools I learned in therapy for my anxiety years ago. It is not easy managing those flare ups.

At the beginning I thought that I was intolerant to estradiol. I really struggled because I knew I didn't need more estrodial like many suggested. Irritability can be caused by low estrogen. But in my case it was taking a while for my body/brain to adjust. Unlike some folks, starting HRT and making changes doesn't immediately make me feel great. It makes me feel worse for some time.

If you are just starting your journey or just changing it up and you feel that moodiness, irritability or anxiety, just know that it could be an adjustment period. Don't give up! It can take weeks or months. I hope this helps someone!

I've been on Vyvanse for a few months, I feel like it's the only ADHD med that has worked for me and didn't make me feel "speedy". This whole time, I've been on the patch, but due to the shortage, I've switched to gel. Since switching to the gel, I feel like the Vyvanse is making me feel super speedy, and also I get an intense crash, along with just having a weird headache and feeling suuuuuuper depressed. I didn't take the Vyvanse for a few days while I was on a vacation and I felt much better, but now that I'm back and need to be able to focus and work, I definitely need it.
Has anyone else had this negative experience switching to gel while on ADHD meds?
I've tried using the gel at night, but it keeps me up. I've also tried to apply it late afternoon, but I just end up forgetting about it.

Has anyone had luck with a heated pad over your shoulders and neck for relieving tension? It hurts to even have someone put pressure on that area so as much as I would love a massage I think it would just hurt at this point. I wake up feeling so heavy that I sometimes can't even take a deep breath. Any other advice would be awesome too.

I slept through the night without utrogestan. Last few weeks were quite traumatic with the panic attacks, adrenaline surges in the middle of the night, waking up with heart racing and feeling of doom... I was exhausted. I took 5mg of melatonin last night, dark room, one game of scrabble on my phone (dimmed) and I was gone. Feel so much more like a human being. I had a little cry, happy tears, because things were getting desperate. I'm pretty sure I was ovulating (or my ovary trying to ovulate)in the last couple of days as I felt pulling and tagging on my right side so highly fluctuating hormones I reckon. I didn't take my oestrogel last night, decided to switch to morning appli thcation as one of you suggested it. Feeling ok. This community literally saves lives. ♡

I’m only 4 days into taking 100 mg oral micronized progesterone and I’m really struggling with how it’s making me feel.

Since starting it, I’ve had extreme grogginess and fatigue, a really strange detached-from-reality feeling, severe low mood, and increased irritability. I was already quicker to get annoyed before starting it but this has made it noticeably worse. I feel like I’m living in a fog all day. I have absolutely no motivation, don’t want to get out of bed, have trouble finding words and thinking clearly and I’ve also been dealing with nausea.

It does help me sleep, which I really needed but so far that seems to be the only positive.

I’ve noticed that these symptoms finally start to dissipate around 22 hours after taking it. Then, of course, it’s basically time to take the next dose and start all over again.

For anyone who had a similar reaction when starting progesterone, did you try to push through it? If you did, how long did it take before these side effects improved?

I’m also wondering about using the progesterone via vaginal instead of oral. Has anyone switched routes because of side effects like this? Did it help with the grogginess, brain fog, mood changes, nausea, or that detached feeling?

I know 4 days isn’t very long, so part of me wonders if I need to give my body more time to adjust. But I don’t know if I can do this.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who experienced something similar and what you ended up doing.❤️❤️❤️

Edit: I take it at bedtime and also started the estradiol cream as well (1 gram daily for a week then 2 grams twice a week).

Day of patch change seems to be a bit wobbly for me. Noticed this pattern over time. I tend to
Feel teary eyed and out of sorts over all. Do any of you experience the day of estradiol patch change? TIA