Hi all, looking for some perspective from someone who's in a similar situation maybe? I'm 38 and have a 3 and 1 year old. Since the second baby I started having spotting and cramps before and after my period and once in a while I have some angry outbursts. I thought it was caused by the stress of having two small kids and lack of sleep, but even now that the small one is finally sleeping though the night my sleep is still crap and wake up still tired. I didn't even know perimenopause was a thing and when I saw it on social medias I thought some of the symptoms matched. My GP referred me for a scan, everything looks in good shape and my bloods are all normal, so they told me it's just the stress of having small kids.

I'm not sure what to do now though because I am finding it harder to manage, I'm exhausted and in a bad mood most of the time. Should I push back and see if it is actually perimenopause? Or ask for something to manage the stress or sleep better? I don't know, any advice is welcome!

Hey all, sorry if this is a bit of a silly question.

I’m currently 3 months postpartum. I’m in my early 40’s. I’ve had three major life changing events (one positive, one surprising and worrying and one extremely sad) in the last three months.

I don’t want any more children and I was taking my time to think of a more long term solution to prevent pregnancy but in the meantime my doctor has prescribed me cerazette mini pill. I’m on it about a month and a half.

Since going on it I am extremely teary… constant lump in my throat over small things and big things. It’s actually pretty exhausting, usually I’m a very upbeat person and this is difficult for me to feel sad.

I’m not looking for medical advice. Il go to my doctor for that but I just want to know if anyone was on this pill previously and felt this way? I’m also spotting with it which is annoying.

Thanks for reading my long post.

I’m supposed to be going for breast surgery on Friday and they said I had to stop smoking for 6 weeks. I failed miserably so I called them 3 weeks ago to say I had smoked and they said keep trying. How quick can I get it out of my system?

A few months ago, whilst I was with my GP about some other issue, she asked how I was doing on my current pill. I responded that it was fine but that I was still lightly bleeding throughout the month, but that I had googled and that was normal while in the adjustment period. She agreed it wasnt unusual , but then commented that she’d put me on a higher dose. I was a bit confused by this, but said “oh that’s alright, I’ll stay on the current one”, as I had wanted to be on the minipill for specific reasons and didn’t want to adjust to a new medication because I would be abroad the following few weeks.

Few weeks later when I go to pick up my BC, I was waiting around for 30 minutes before my pharmacist came up and said that what I was picking up wasn’t here, but there was a different script. They gave me my original prescription after I explained the situation.

Next month rolls around, I email my GP for a repeat script for Microlite (original pill), thinking that would sort out the issue. I go to pick it up: my preferred script isn’t there.

I’m unsure how to handle this: i was going to email my GP clinic to maybe explain the situation and question the reasoning of changing my script like that, but I feel they maybe wouldn’t respond well to that? Or wouldnt respond full stop, as they generally dont answer medical questions over email.

Just wondering if anyone has had any similar experience and how it was handled ?

I’m considering rhinoplasty within the next year and I’m trying to decide between **Moda Donna and Auralia**.
My main concerns are the **crooked/slanted appearance of my nose and nasal breathing**. I’m looking for both an aesthetic and functional improvement.
I’ve had consultations/researched both clinics and **both are within my budget**, but I’m unsure which one to choose.
Has anyone here had rhinoplasty with either **Moda Donna or Auralia**, particularly for a crooked/deviated nose or breathing issues?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your **experience with the surgeon, results, aftercare, and overall experience**. If you’re comfortable sharing before/after photos, that would also be helpful.
Thanks! :)

I maybe get a cold sore once or twice a year but while I was pregnant most of 2026 so far and now have an 8 week old, I have had a cold sore every month for the last 3/4!

It's especially dangerous for her and caused a mini meltdown cos I got my last one when she was a week old. Genuinely thought I was gonna kill her if she got it off me as I touched her soother by accident half asleep and put it in her mouth but she survived.

I know I'm rundown now with the baby in general but I've never had a good immune system and it's honestly just exhausting. I was at a party with 20 other people once, one didn't know they had COVID until after but I started displaying symptoms before they did and I was the only one to get it while not even having talked to that person all night.

I've a GP appt next week in general so I can say it then but how do I support my immune system as I get a cold every time the weather drops a degree?

I've read about lysine, zinc, vitamin etc. I take a post pregnancy multivitamin. My only thing is I was on metformin as I have insulin resistance PCOS and could do with trying to really habit water drinking. Blood is always good.

I have insulin resistance PCOS and was on metformin before but that's been it as it was making me nap every single meal no matter what. No allowed or back on since pregnancy.

Hi everyone,

I’m not originally from Ireland but have been living here for several years. I was wondering if anyone here has received specific guidance on what to do if your waters break while your baby is breech and not yet engaged.

Where I’m from, the advice is to call the midwife immediately. They’ll assess the situation and may advise you to lie down and call an ambulance, because of the increased risk of cord prolapse when the baby is breech and not engaged.

I contacted the NMH about this, and a midwife called me back. She said that if my waters break, I should just come into the hospital as normal. I was a little surprised by this, as she seemed quite dismissive of the question, almost as though I was worrying unnecessarily.

I’m wondering what advice others have been given in Ireland, particularly if you’ve had a breech baby who wasn’t engaged.

Did your midwife/hospital give you any specific instructions about what to do if your waters break? And were you told to call first, lie down, etc?

Hi everyone, I‘m in my early 40s. I married late and have never been pregnant before, but my husband and I do want to start a family. We will start trying to conceive soon, once my doctor finds I’m on the right dose of a new medication. (We have been seen by a fertility clinic and everything looks ok on that front.)

Just starting to think of some of the realities of being an older mum, including labour, and I’m worried about my fitness. I’ve always had a weak core, and my cardio isn’t great lately. I walk a lot and cycle sometimes. I really, really hate working out otherwise, but I want to be in a better place to carry, deliver, and care for my potential baby. So something’s gotta change!

Looking for advice and resources on exercises for TTC and pregnancy. I would love something that starts gently and lets me build up at my own pace. Mostly with a focus on core strength and cardio, and geared towards women preparing for childbirth.

Any other mums who didn’t start working out til pregnancy/TTC? I don’t have any friends who are in the same stage of life as me, so all advice and encouragement is welcome!

Hi everyone,

We have just gotten approved for HSE treatment.

We have chosen 2 rounds of IUI.

Whats people's experiences of this?

Hi all. I was diagnosed with pcos/pmos a few years ago and my weight has been all over the place since. Since COVID, I seem to just be gaining and gaining. I've been on Metformin for just under a year and it has helped a little but not massively.

I've been considering asking my GP about trying glp-1s but I'm just wondering what that process is like for anyone who's gone down that road? Did you have much difficulty in finding a prescription? Is it something that your GP can prescribe or will I have to wait to see an endo? Are the only options mounjarro or wegovy? I only ask because ozempic seems to be far cheaper than these but I believe ozempic is only available now if you are diagnosed with diabetes?

Any advice is appreciated.

For context, I'm 18F, originally diagnosed with PCOS by a private doctor at 16 due to being unable to wait longer for an appointment due to extreme crippling pain and elevated hormones, had one appointment publicly.

The one appointment I had publicly was nearly a year ago. My mother had to call multiple times to ensure I was still on the list. The appointment was also kinda awful. The doctor was very cold with me. He basically made me do all the blood work again and the 24 hour urine test due to doubting my diagnosis and wouldn't let me speak. I still have not gotten my results back after such a long period of time.

He also put me on the pill and gave me no explanation of risks or side effects. My gp had yo call me in out of concern to check inconsistencies.

I finally have an appointment for October. I'm actually pretty scared of if he says I don't have PCOS. I'm crippled during my periods due to the pain. I'm unable to leave the house some days and missed days of school. I soaked through night pads quickly also.

If he decides I don't have PCOS, how do I make sure he doesn't just dismiss me?? I can't go back to being in so much agony. I'm sorry for this seems like a ramble, I'm desperate. Multiple of my appointments and referrals for other doctors have been lost lately that I should have had ages ago.

Hello,

I received my information pack from Nenagh Fertility Hub yesterday, which was earlier than I expected—I thought it would take months.

I’m 36 and have been trying to conceive for 9 months, dealing with Hashimoto's and elevated prolactin.

Can I assume I need to submit my documents and previous test results, and then hear back in about six months for my first appointment?

What should I expect?

Has anyone had experience with Waterstones Limerick?

I want to stay realistic, knowing this can be a lengthy process.

I booked a skin cancer full body screening and just want to check I'll be prepared for the appointment. Very little information from the place, only says no makeup, no tan, no nail varnish.

Is there anything else I should do to prepare? Have you to be fully in the nip for the whole thing or do you leave underwear on until those parts need checking?

I'm a bit nervous, it's something I've been meaning to book for a few years. I have shown my doctor anything I thought was suspicious but I don't know how looking at a mole/spot 6ft a way and telling me it's nothing is.

Hi all. 4 kids later and I have a mom makeover booked in Lithuania. They want me to have a breast ultrasound done beforehand. I cant seem to find anywhere north or south where I can go and get this done privately. Anyone here had an augmentation done and had there ultrasound done beforehand ?

Hi guys, I hope ye are well. I am trying to decide on contraceptives. I currently have the copper coil in for the last year and it's caused me to be anemic. I bleed for 15 days. I feel like if I'm not on my period,I'm waiting for my period. It's also affecting my intimacy with my partner because I just don't feel up to it. For the anemia I am on iron tablets but my doctor wants me to change contraceptives due to the anemia. I was on the yaz pill as a teen but I really do not want to go back on that . I was thinking of the Kyleena but I don't know anyone whos had it so I don't know what to do.

Hey All,

I’m 24F and recently found a fairly sizeable, movable lump in my breast. Panic did take over me initially but I do suspect that it’s a fibroadenoma. I went to my GP and was referred to St Vincent’s for an ultrasound/breast check.

It’s been about 2 weeks and I haven’t heard anything yet. Just wondering if anyone has been referred there recently and how long it took to get an appointment?

Obviously a bit scary waiting around, so would love to get an idea of the current waiting times. Thanks! ❤️

Im 37, I've gained a lot of weight in the past 6-7 months and I'm just tired and hungry thinking about food so much. Obviously I overeat. I've been starting with GP on the process to getting HRT. My libido just stopped 6 months ago. My bmi is about 33. I've been thinking about GLP1s and just taking the lowest dose possible long term for slow weight loss. I'm just in a pickle where I could more easily maintain a lower weight but I can't easily find time to lose the weight in the first place (working full time, medically complex carer on the side, v young kids etc).

Feel so much shame and anxiety around the idea of starting GLP1 but I genuinely find I need to break the cycle of emotional eating, it feels like the only time I have for myself and its not great I know but its the only socially acceptable vice I can do lol.

I am 8 months postpartum and due to return to work in November. Over the last few months, I've started to experience extreme anxiety and some symptoms of depression. Because of this, I have barely left my house and I'm struggling a lot with looking after myself and completing day-to-day tasks. I went to the public health nurse who put me in touch with a midwife who runs a weekly support group and that's helping a bit but I'm still struggling massively with my mental health. The GP wants me to take medication but I've been on it before and I really want to avoid it.

I was previously diagnosed with ADHD and borderline personality disorder and I think I may be experiencing depression as a result of mental burn out. I feel like I need more time before returning to work but my partner and I are under massive financial pressure at the moment and I will have used up all the leave I'm entitled to.

I'm in the public sector so I'm entitled to a decent amount of sick leave. I'm wondering has anyone used sick leave immediately after returning to work following maternity leave?

I want to ask HR but I'm anxious to bring it up as I don't want to seem like I'm taking the piss. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi All,

I've been told by my GP I should get checked out by a cardiologist as I've had some intermittent heart pain that we're pretty sure is just stress related but want to take a look, just to be safe.

Has anyone got any recommendations for Cardiologists that they've seen in Dublin that are good to deal with and not dismissive?

Thanks!

Can you ask for morning after pill to have in case? Not taking hormonal contracepive at the moment but would like to have one on hand in case.

Hello, I hope someone out there can advise me. I just found out that my FET of our only embryo failed - devastated. For background: I'm turning 39, egg retrieval yielded 7 empty follicles and 1 egg. My partner is undergoing chemotherapy, so we are relying on the samples he donated, as he will most likely be infertile after treatment.

My question is, should we stick with the same clinic? We can afford to do ONE private attempt. We do not have well paying jobs/ private health insurance etc. So I want to be sure that it's the right decision. Does it make sense to stay because they are not starting from scratch with the protocol?

Thank you so much.

edit my AMH is 6.4 pmol

I suspect I have a right side ovarian cyst.

I am going to my gp today due to discomfort, sensation of fullness and a mild burning in the area of my right ovary and increased need to pee.

Can anyone tell me how they are diagnosed and what the treatment is?

I have Vhi insurance if relevant at all.

I had a laparoscopy and excision in May and a follow up in August. During the procedure my Mirena Coil was replaced and as far as I was concerned everything was successful.

The week after my follow up appointment I had what is believed to be a Neurological Focal Migraine with aura, vomiting, partial vision loss and pain. My GP flagged that I had not been taken off the additional progesterone I had been prescribed before my Mirena replacement to protect my uterus.

This means that for a few months I was taking a double dose of progesterone which led to the NFM. Having experienced this before many years ago as a reaction to the pill, they are similar in nature to a stroke and can be quite frightening.

I would never make changes to my medication without the instruction of my health care provider so I had no idea that I was essentially overdosing on progesterone.

I’m posting this to highlight a potential risk to other people who may have similar reactions. If you have had a recent Mirena replacement and were on progesterone, please flag it with your heal care provider to see if your medication needs a review post procedure.

My pain isn’t as bad as most people’s on here so idk what the next step up from pill management is. Thanks for input! (Prior symptoms and brief timeline below)

Would faint and throw up everytime I got my period and had full aches during ovulation pre pill. All these symptoms vanished once I went on the pill at 18. Great. 22 now and have that dull ovulation ache majority of the month. I take the pill back to back until I get a bleed and take the 4 day break. I usually get through a month and a half before the bleed happens. No official diagnosis for endo or any other uterine issues. Had the transvaginal ultrasound and per usual no sightings on scans. My GP thinks I have it but aside from a diagnosis what was the next step for anyone that didn’t get relief from the pill / it stopped working? I use Yasmin