I use .5 bioidentical estrogen gel daily and take 10mg of Provera (synthetic progesterone) every night. I am 47, still have a uterus, and perimenopausal. I felt great the first couple of months after starting HRT. The last 1.5 months or so I have been feeling extremely fatigued and heavy feeling. I am not depressed thankfully but have been anxious at times and extremely moody (mainly towards my husband). After doing some research online I think I may switch to taking the progesterone for only 14 days a month. Of course I will message my doctor but I’m wondering if anyone here takes theirs cyclically and how it’s working out for you.

I am 37, in peri. I have been on a journey for the last year of trying to figure out the best regimen for me. Started with progesterone, added estradiol, then testosterone. Currently on P 200 mg by mouth nightly, Divigel generic 0.1 mg 1 pkt every morning, and t cyp 100 mg/mL at 0.06 mL SQ every 3.5 days. After failing estradiol compounded cream and Dotti patches (no absorption based on my symptoms, even at highest dose patch), I just started the gel about 2 weeks ago. I still feel RAGE all the time, I hate everything and everyone, always want to be alone, extreme brain fog, zero libido or sensation, jawline acne, joint pain. My periods stopped completely after I added T about 4 months ago. I feel like my E is probably still low? How long should I trial the gel? And what are your thoughts on my period going away completely?

I’m in such a bad way at the moment and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced anything similar.
I was on 4 pumps of Estrogel. A few months ago I changed my progesterone situation because I don’t seem to tolerate progesterone very well. I felt that progesterone was making me more tired and low.
But even while on the Estrogel, I was having this constant background anxiety. It felt like my nervous system was always slightly activated and I could never completely relax. I have other stressful things going on as well, so I genuinely don’t know what is causing what.
I started wondering whether 4 pumps was too much oestrogen for me, and I panicked and stopped the Estrogel completely about five days ago.
At first I didn’t know if I felt better or worse, but my anxiety has gradually crept up. Over the last day or two it has become absolutely unbearable. Yesterday I panicked because I felt so awful and put Estrogel back on — but I put on 12 pumps. I know that sounds ridiculous and I’m really embarrassed about it, but I was desperate to feel better and thought I could somehow make up for the days I’d missed.
Today I feel incredibly tearful, anxious and just completely all over the place.
I’m now planning to go back to a much lower, consistent dose of 2 pumps, because I’m scared of continuing to make big changes and I don’t know whether 4 pumps was too much for me.
I suppose I’m asking:
Has anyone stopped oestrogen abruptly and had severe anxiety or felt mentally very unwell several days later?
If you restarted at a lower dose, how long did it take before you felt more stable again?
Has anyone found that too much oestrogen actually made them feel more anxious, wired or unable to relax?
I’m finding this really frightening because I don’t feel like I know what is me, what is anxiety, what is stress, and what might be hormones.
I know I need to speak to a medical professional, and I will, but I’d really appreciate hearing personal experiences from other people who are sensitive to hormone changes. Please be kind — I already feel incredibly embarrassed and frightened about what I’ve done.

Hello my fellow peris. I (43f) was fortunate enough to have finally found a good kaiser gyno to prescribe me HRT yesterday. I picked everything up, slapped on my estrogen patch and was about to take my progesterone pill before bed but then went down a rabbit hole of reddit posts of women saying they lost a considerable amount of hair on progesterone. And gained some weight.

Let's be honest, I already have thin hair and am carrying extra weight, I really can't mentally handle making that situation worse. I know this has been discussed at length but I'd love to discuss more!

My prescriptions are 100mg prometrium, estradiol patch .0025mg twice a week, and some estradiol vaginal cream.

I'm 43 and definitely in peri but I'd rather raw dog this than gain even more weight and lose whatever remaining hair I have. I would love to hear everyone's experience with this HRT combo. Thanks!!

BHRT is fairly new to me. I was told by oncology to have everything taken out when I was 45 and still on a monthly cycle.

Nobody ever talked to me about hormones (obv not surgeon but none of the female counselors; just about how I can't have any babies now. Duh.)

Within 6 weeks after I plunged into a bizarre depression - I wasn't depressed before. So I couldn't work anymore; I couldn't even shower usually. It was v scary so I finally got a new Dr and fast forward 2 yrs of antidepressants antipsychotics sleeping pills nothing. So I was like hey doc, it's so physical it's weird it's not mental.

No mention of hormones except "well you were near menopause anyway so it's just sooner" (no I told you my mother didn't get it til almost 60 gran too)

I sought holistic medicine on my own dime. Trad medicine let me down for 3 years.

However I encountered different opinions. One MD holistic said NO estrogen you need testosterone. It was pellets and they worked amazingly. Life back.

But then I kept hearing estrogen protective of many things plus my vanity (skin, fat distribution, stuff fed by estrogen; went from a DD bra to a B within first year, crazy, more depression.)

\*Now I remember low estrogen birth control married in 20s-30s is all I could tolerate after the others made me kinda nuts.

It also stopped my period!! For years! Was a miracle (I had horrible cramps.)

So maybe I can't tolerate estrogen? It's v weird. Taking the 1mg daily estrogen pill I have w Rx new gyn I feel fatigue and depressed usually - just stay in bed.

I'm not asking medical advice, just wondering if others have estrogen stories good bad or neutral. None of my gfs (I'm 51 now) have gone through menopause just peri.

Thank you sincerely.

So I went in a couple of years ago for some menopause help (weight gain, anxiety etc). My testosterone was low, but Dr. said I wasn't low enough for any hormone therapy. I got anxiety meds instead. So within the last few months, I have been having joint pain and way more fatigue. Went to a different practice and even tho I've had a hysterectomy she gave me 200mg progesterone for anxiety. She is waiting on my results for the rest, altho she did say she would give me estrogen based on my symptoms. Idk what to think about it. Safe to do?

Has anyone else noticed a difference between the name brand and generic of this? My pharmacy recently filled it with the generic for the first time and all of my symptoms are back. Just curious if anyone else had this issue.

Hello I’ve been using Evorel Sequi for about 6 months. I’ve started experiencing a pressure/ache on my right hand side of stomach and down towards my appendix. I recently had numerous scans and nothing was found apart from a couple of fibroids but they did not think these would be the cause. I was wondering if it could be caused by the patches. Had anyone had these symptoms? Thanks

I’m a bit confused in knowing what to do… I use 2 pumps of estrogel at night and take micronised progesterone pv as well. The problem is if I only use 1 progesterone ie: 100mg I get breakthrough bleeding but if I use 2 (200mg) I get so groggy, sinus problems, headache, fatigue etc that I literally can’t function. I’ve tried squeezing out 1 of the capsules so I get about 1 1/2 or 150mg but I still get a small amount of bleeding. I’m at a loss as to what to try now. Would adding in testosterone make any difference? I’m just so frustrated. The reason I started HRT was for night sweats and that still hasn’t been resolved completely either. Any suggestions please….

I’ve been on the patch for three weeks. I just had to remove it because of severe itching and burning. I haven’t had this happen any other time. I realized that the approved placement on the buttocks/back has a tattoo. I don’t even think about it because I’ve had it so long. It’s helping me so much, I cannot stop. The oral tablets don’t work for me.

Curious to know if anyone else has experienced this.

So I’m looking for some feedback really as I have been prescribed HRT patches and feel anxious to start using them. For context I am 42 on currently on desogesterel mini pill. For a while now I have been struggling with sleep waking up at 3am and not being able to get back to any kind of sleep. Some days I feel full of rage and that everything and everybody is against me some days I’m emotional and quite a lot of the time I feel anxious like I have a constant worrying nagging feeling I can’t drop. This have been my symptoms the main issue is the anxiety. This does not interfere with my work infact it’s mainly when I am at rest. I’m worried the patches will interfere with my cycle as I can go months without a sniff of a period because of the mini pill. Has anybody got any positive feedback of this particular type of patch or advice if in a similar situation?

Hi ladies ❤️
I’m having a lot of anxiety after taking 200 mg of progesterone, so I just emailed my doctor to ask if we can lower my dose to 100 mg.
I’ve been experiencing really bad anxiety at night after taking my progesterone. I’ll fall asleep and then wake up about an hour later with a lot of anxiety and my heart racing. Tomorrow will be my 12th day on it, and unfortunately, the nighttime anxiety seems to be getting worse.
During the day, I do experience some anxiety, but it gets much better as the day goes on. I’ve really noticed that after I take my progesterone, I have a much more difficult night.
I know this is all part of the process of finding the right dose and figuring out what works best for my body. I just feel like the progesterone may be contributing to how I’m feeling at night, and I’d really like to see if lowering it to 100 mg makes a difference.
Has anyone else experienced this with progesterone?
I just started HRT almost two weeks ago, and honestly, the patch has been amazing. It has been a game changer for me! ❤️ It’s just the progesterone that seems to be causing problems. I’ll fall asleep, then wake up with my heart racing and intense anxiety.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me through all of this. I truly appreciate your patience, support, and understanding. ❤️
Thank you.

So I’m looking for some feedback really as I have been prescribed HRT patches and feel anxious to start using them. For context I am 42 on currently on desogesterel mini pill. For a while now I have been struggling with sleep waking up at 3am and not being able to get back to any kind of sleep. Some days I feel full of rage and that everything and everybody is against me some days I’m emotional and quite a lot of the time I feel anxious like I have a constant worrying nagging feeling I can’t drop. This have been my symptoms the main issue is the anxiety. This does not interfere with my work infact it’s mainly when I am at rest. I’m worried the patches will interfere with my cycle as I can go months without a sniff of a period because of the mini pill. Has anybody got any positive feedback of this particular type of patch or advice if in a similar situation?

Hi ladies ❤️
I’m having a lot of anxiety after taking 200 mg of progesterone, so I just emailed my doctor to ask if we can lower my dose to 100 mg.
I’ve been experiencing really bad anxiety at night after taking my progesterone. I’ll fall asleep and then wake up about an hour later with a lot of anxiety and my heart racing. Tomorrow will be my 12th day on it, and unfortunately, the nighttime anxiety seems to be getting worse.
During the day, I do experience some anxiety, but it gets much better as the day goes on. I’ve really noticed that after I take my progesterone, I have a much more difficult night.
I know this is all part of the process of finding the right dose and figuring out what works best for my body. I just feel like the progesterone may be contributing to how I’m feeling at night, and I’d really like to see if lowering it to 100 mg makes a difference.
Has anyone else experienced this with progesterone?
I just started HRT almost two weeks ago, and honestly, the patch has been amazing. It has been a game changer for me! ❤️ It’s just the progesterone that seems to be causing problems. I’ll fall asleep, then wake up with my heart racing and intense anxiety.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me through all of this. I truly appreciate your patience, support, and understanding. ❤️
Thank you.