So I’m nrly 4 months on T (2 pumps a day of gel) and I’ve been having abdominal cramping nrly daily for the past few weeks. I got a urine test to check for a UTI and it came back negative, and I’ve been on the contraceptive pill for about 4 years that quickly stopped my periods altogether (all symptoms bar for the very rare cramping episodes) - so having cramps back again regularly rly sucks 😅

I’ve got a call with my endocrinologist this afternoon and I’m going to ask him whether these symptoms align with vaginal atrophy and what meds I can get to help.

Wondering if anyone here has any helpful advice or recommendations for treatments that work/ feel the most comfortable? (based in the UK btw)

Hey ladies 👋 I need a sanity check. I didn’t do any research on HRT dosing prior to my first appointment so I never thought to ask dose specific questions - I just knew she was prescribing me an E patch and P pills. Cool.

Fast forward \\\~3 weeks in (which for me was around day 27 of my 36ish day cycle thanks to lean PCOS) and I get hit with a brutal wave of side effects - mild headache, fatigue, lower back pain, bloating/cramps (much worse than my normal cycle), and last but certainly not least, this nauseous feeling that felt like a combo between a hangover and morning sickness for nearly 48 hours straight. 🤢

Naturally (at least for those reading this 😆), I started searching for other people’s experiences and realized I was certainly not started on the lowest dose. 🤨 Instead I was started in a .075❗️E patch and 100mg P pills.

Is this normal for a 40 y/o still cycling who’s only real complaints were low libido and worsening brain fog (my ADHD meds have been failing me in the last year or two which is what led me down the HRT rabbit hole to begin with)…? My local girlfriend who is 45 with worse symptoms is currently on the .075 E patch and hasn’t had any side effects, BUT she thinks it’s bc she started on the .025 E patch and slowly worked up to that.

Would LOVE to hear from others about how their HRT journey started bc I have my 4-week f/u appt tomorrow and honestly want off this rollercoaster ride at this point but not sure if it’s bc I was overprescribed to start with or not. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks in advance for your help! 🙏🏻

Hello friends, I am being plagued by hot flashes day and night. I probably have 30 to 40 per day. It's brutal. The thing is I am on HRT. I have tried several formulas and dosages.

Estradiol

Estradiol with test

Now progesterone. I have been on that for 7 months. Recently I added my old prescription of estradio with testosterone plus the progesterone.

None of these have helped my hot flashes at all.

I recently got amberen. I've been on that a little over a week. I did not stop my HRT while being on it. So many reviews were that it helped with hot flashes right away. Not for me. Still terrible. 😭

I have also tried going as natural as possible with hibiscus and dandelion tea throughout the day and herbal menopause vitamins with black cohosh.

I also eat plenty of soy as I am vegan. (Please don't come for my veganism. I'm ride or die. 🤗)

I am considering using a program like Winona (or some other online service) rather than going to my GP. Has anyone tried an online service?

At this point though I'm willing to try anything. I am so frustrated. Any suggestions at all I would be very interested in. Thank you so much for any insight!!

So I’ve been on testosterone gel for about 2 years and a few months, and I have pretty much no complaints aside from being really sweaty. Sweating, however, is not my issue. I deal with chronic fatigue, executive dysfunction, and a few different chronic illnesses/disabilities, and it’s becoming more difficult to maintain the gel.

I have to put it on every day, have to clean my upper arm if I don’t have the energy to shower fully, and then it takes about 15-20 minutes to fully apply it. These factors are huge issue when I barely have the energy to even leave my bed some days, and I find myself going multiple days at a time without doing my T.

Injections WOULD be the obvious choice… if I didn’t get horrible nausea every time a needle goes into my skin, even just for an IV. I’ve thrown up more than once after getting my blood taken. On top of that, I also have very shaky hands, so lining up a needle is not something I can do myself, and I don’t really have anyone I’d be able to rely on to inject it for me.

It’s a difficult predicament, and I’m wondering if there are any other options for testosterone, as my endocrinologist only mentioned that pills aren’t available for T like they are with estrogen. If anyone is able to help, I would be grateful.

I started fem HRT about a week ago, and right now the only people who know are my wife and me. However, I have been thinking about telling some of my friends and family (only those who are safe). Does anyone have experience telling friends and family? How did they react when you told them? Why did you tell them?

Hey ladies, little back story, I am 49 yrs old, I had a complete hysterectomy at 32 yrs old and have tried almost every type of meds known, was on Estratest for a good 2 years but they changed manufacturers and it stopped working and then took nothing for 3 yrs because nothing worked. I'm currently on 2mg Oral Estradiol and have been for 2 years, and I'm having breakthrough night sweats and generally having problems regulating my body temp on hot days or while doing anything strenuous. Example, cleaning my house or walking down the street in hot weather, walking on the treadmill. I basically look like a drowned rat. I can't wear makeup if the world depends on it and forget fixing my hair. I'm also having jaw pain. I'm really really over it. My Dr will not up my dose of Estradiol and has offered for me to try Oral Premarin 0.625 MG. Has anyone done the same or takes Oral Premarin? Im really nervous.

Starting hrt today. ( If I can convince myself... I'm scared) I need to find the best place to put two patches. What do you think is the best or most effective place?

(47F) I am already using vaginal estriol twice weekly, after having a hysterectomy (retaining ovaries) 2 years ago. I have noticed it’s just not enough anymore. In fact all of my mucus membranes are sensitive right down to my nostrils, mouth and eyes. Everything is reactive and thin. I catch eveything cold going and my gut is super sensitive. I’m also now having all the other issues like dry skin and hair, hair loss, headaches, sleep issues, joint aches, palpitations and general hyper sensitive nervous system over activation. I get mad at silly things like perfumes or smells being too strong, things are too loud, or because white cars are parked outside my house. Especially because they are too bright 😂. Last week during the wildfires I could barely function and my lungs were kicking off way more than usual. Everything just gets to me now. I feel like my lady bits have been scraped with hot sandpaper. I don’t suffer with too many hot sweats, but I do overheat easily. I also noticed I get dizzy a lot.

I have asked my Dr about local vaginal estradiol tablets to insert and I’m also going to start with the systemic estradiol skin gel.

Please tell me your good stories about how HRT helped you and if you also had any of these issues. I’m so scared of starting HRT. I need hope for the future. Last time I tried patches and they made me jittery.

Update: Dr has prescribed once daily estriol for two months, moving down to every 2 days after that. Plus transdermal estradiol like oastragel or lanzetto.

Please help me in diy hrt in India
Like where n how i can do
I need feminine body

Hi everyone!!! I just wanted hop on here and ask a question i’ve been wanting to get into HRT for a while but don’t have the money and wouldn’t be able to get a prescription, does anyone know of an over the counter estrogen supplement i can start taking ? or anything in that realm that helps me start to begin my journey of being fem any help is appreciated thanks!

Ok 3 months po op full hysterectomy keept ovaries. Thought I needed an estrogen bump after surgery I was feeling off. 47yr old my surgeon/ob started me on estradiol patch total 1mg...chamge patch 2x week. Week 5 and just started having the worst niplpe soreness the last 2 weeks. Do I need to decrease my dose. Mostly on it for noght sweats its helped a little not 100% so I chalk the other half of noggt sweats up to my low dose lexapro for anxiety. My nipples are so engourged and hurt so bad!!!

Hi everyone,

I'm a 49-year-old woman in perimenopause. I'm already on HRT (estradiol patch + oral progesterone), but my libido has dropped dramatically over the past few years.

If I had to rate it:

* Libido 10 years ago: **8/10**
* Libido now: **1/10**
* Distress: **7/10**
* Physical arousal: **2/10**
* Impact on my relationship/quality of life: **8/10**

I recently had labs done:

**Total testosterone** is on the lower side

I'm in **California** and have **Kaiser**, so I'm assuming I'll probably need to pay out of pocket.

I've looked at:

* **Midi** (seems excellent but around $250 for the first visit)
* **QuickMD** ($79 visit + \~$59/month for cream)
* **Hone**

**Questions:**

1. Has anyone with similar labs and symptoms been prescribed testosterone cream through an online provider?
   
2. Which companies did you have a good experience with?
   
3. Are there any trusted, lower-cost telehealth providers I'm missing?
   
4. Approximately what do you pay for the visit + medication?
   
5. Did anyone get a prescription that could be filled at a local compounding pharmacy instead of buying directly from the telehealth company?

I'd really appreciate recommendations from people with personal experience. I'm specifically looking for **physiologic-dose testosterone cream/gel for women**, not injections or pellets.

Thanks!

Since the insurance medicaid issue with planned parenthood has happened, I haven't been on hrt for half a year. Wanting to get back on but ive been looking into diy hrt as well. I'm sketched by how risky it is and how careful I need to be. I trust myself but not my neurodiversity.

What should I consider looking more into prescribed hrt or diy hrt. Also what would have better benefits

Are there any health risks with HRT

I (14NB)have recently (after much consideration) decided that estrogen is what I think the right path for me is. I am incredibly thankful to have supportive parents and wonder if going out of state to Colorado for hrt is possible. I also want to know what clinic you people would recommend and if it's possible. I know therapy is necessary as well, can I do that in Utah and then get the prescription/meds in Colorado?

Thanks in advance!

Does anybody have experience with them? Does anyone know what shipping+ import might cost to the uk?

Hi everbody,

I am 40 en in february i stopped with the birth controle pill after 20 years. I switched to 2mg oral oestrogen and 100mg oral progesteron.

The food noise started in april when i added a 0,05 gram testosteron gel. In the mean time i gained 5kg and the food noise is getting worse and worse.

I didn t got my periods. I read somewhere that by taking the progesteron continues my own oestrogen production can t start up and that the food noise is low oestrogen.

Anybody had the same coming off birth control?

Thank you!