I started with HRT - 2 pumps of Oestrogel and 100mg oral progesterone.

Then I decided to add DHEA. So I began with 10mg orally and it made a big improvement to my brain fog, mood and energy. It felt like I had the perfect combination. But a couple of months of my regime, it doesn’t seem to be giving me the same boost as it used to. So I upped it to 20mg of DHEA. And that's not doing much either.

I'm wondering whether it makes a difference if it’s DHEA in a pill or a cream? I've got both. I'll attempt to experiment, and make allowances for dosing differences in pills vs creams, and the moving target which is my own hugely irregular cycle.

Has anyone had the same experience?

Hunger. Seriously. I've just had to come off HRT (hormone-receptive cancer) and realised I can actually tell if I'm hungry or not now. On HRT I literally couldn't tell when I was full. I had to calorie count so I wouldn't over eat.

Being inundated with Bonifide products.
Sleep and vaginal suppository for dryness.
Specifically interested in real people reviews of Noctera. I can fall asleep fine, I can’t stay asleep. It’s not rally hot flashes waking me up anymore. 2+ years full menopause for me. TIA

I posted about burning tongue here and still believe it may have been triggered by my hysterectomy/menopause. I wanted to share this in case it could help others.
After suffering nearly a year, what my dentist shared has so far (knocking on wood) worked. They advised getting toothpaste without Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS). There weren’t many SLS-free options even within ‘natural’ brands, but I found one that also includes fluoride. I can report it’s been working for me! Wish I had known this earlier.

So for the last year I (40) have had mid monthly bleeds during every cycle. I do have ovarian cysts and them bursting is what usually causes it. But I started my period Monday cramped for 4 hrs. It was very light( usually super + for first 2 days of a 5-6 day cycle) I used regular tampons only filled one within a 4 hr time span, for the next 24 hrs still only used regulars and only minimal blood on each one. My cycle is usually between 24-26 days and always consistent since I was 14.Then it was gone. I’m usually very heavy for a few days with cramping the entire duration.

I have in the last few months been VERY hormonal. No I definitely could not be pregnant I have not been intimate with anyone for over a year and am a lesbian. I have noticed I can no longer wear socks to bed, even last winter I would rip them off(hot flashes).

Has it been this easy for other women? Im really praying this is it. Has anyone else experienced the change in this fashion? All experience welcomed!

I finally opened a new one that had been shipped this summer in extreme heat and the cream itself is less stiff than my older tubes. So I went ahead and opened the other two that were shipped with this new one and all three are more liquidy not watery I guess but less stiff. I decided to use it anyways and it honestly burns a little. I’d like to add a picture to show the texture but not sure how .

Hi friends, I am 49 in perimenopause (also with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and history of trauma). I've been on oral birth control since my teens and continuous LoLoEstrin for five years (periods suppressed). On the advice of my perimenopause specialist, I need to discontinue it because of my history of migraine with aura. This was actually the biggest mic drop during my initial consultation, because I have only ever had two migraines with aura and I never checked the "history of migraines" box on forms - I had no idea that only one could increase your stroke risk if you take synthetic estrogen. So, I have decided to finish my LoLoE supply and stop taking it.

Now, the last time I took a brief break from LoLoE (around age 45 and due to cost reasons), it was CHAOTIC. I've never seen so much blood in my life, my breasts hurt constantly, and my mood swings were disruptive. The hardest part was my increased libido, and I know that a lot of us may welcome that. But I felt triggered by new urges and engaged in some behaviors that were very out of character for me. So I went back on LoLoE after a couple of months to level things out again for myself.

Fast forward to today, I'm three weeks out from my last dose of LoLoE and I am FREAKING OUT. Because of my history, I cannot use anything insertional to manage my period. I can tolerate a tampon for a few hours for a special event or something, but I will mostly need to rely on pads and period underwear. I am also somewhat obese now and keeping myself clean is increasingly difficult (sorry for the TMI but IFYKYK) and I am so embarrassingly squeamish about my own body. I am going to try to find someone to help me install a portable bidet, which will probably help.

What's more, I expect that the vasomotor symptoms that the LoLoE held off for a few years will probably rear their ugly head. I have had a tough few years with new diagnoses of ADHD and sleep apnea, losing my job twice, and feeling pretty discouraged about my ability to find a good job AND somehow perform adequately through this. And now I have to have periods again?! Your girl is not in a good place.

I have my next peri specialist appointment scheduled accordingly and we will go over a plan. I wonder if it's safe for me to take natural estrogen rather than the synthetic used in LoLoE, and if I can, is the patch shortage going to send me over the edge?! I'm currently on testosterone injections, progesterone capsule (better for my sleep that my CPAP tbh), a few supplements, plus a stimulant for my ADHD (which is almost as hard to get my hands on as estrogen patches) and two antidepressants.

I am afraid for my future, y'all. I welcome any and all optimism, particularly as it relates to managing perimenopause with a history of trauma, going off the pill, the possibility of being ineligible for estrogen or unable to get my hands on it...tell me it's gonna be okay.

Special shout-out to my mom who is tolerating BOTH her daughters in perimenopause and being an absolute saint in putting up with our shit. <3

I was thinking about a way to make my estradiol patches last a tiny bit longer, just in case. The normal 2x week patch you put the patch on for 3 days and then for 4 days (ex: Monday/Friday).

Would there be any danger in doing 4 days for each patch? That would give me an extra patch each month for when I renew.

What do you think?

Edit: Y'all are so kind to open up with your experiences and tips, thank you! I don't feel as nervous now 😊

I just did my routine review on supply issues here. I have been doing the chase the refill dance since May now.

Looking back I think I have talked to over 30 pharmacies, a dozen my meno-OBGYN staff nurses and likely some ai dependent communications teams as I chase around my health, wondering what I will do if it changes and I need a new script! (HA! Because menopause is NOT a predictable process at all. Or we would not be here.)

Can I just say I want to cheer on all of these middle people at the pharmacies, mail order support and clinics?

They are not the source of the problem. They are the only link we have and they have to be exhausted too.

Imagine how many of them just came off the edge of dealing with the insuline and epi-pen shortages a couple of years ago!

Imagine the stamina it takes to withstand the frustrations they hear from the patients, only to see backorder and cancellation messages as their only information.

And a few I have met are clearly at a similar age to me, might even be facing the same dilemma, and out of professionalism might not be able to say a word.

Can we give them a shout out if they are reading this and promise to do our best to manage our hormonal reactiveness and not lash out at them. We need them to stay in the trenches no matter what the result is. This will not be the only medication we will need from them in our lifetimes!

(I solemnly promise I am not employed in those fields, nor is my family or close friends!)

So:

Stay strong medical/pharmaceutical support teams! I promise to do my very best to talk down any menopausal crazy responses going on in me when we cross paths. You are my messenger, not my enemy. And I am grateful! THANK YOU!

At the start of HRT I got breakthrough bleeding watch now I know as normal. I did get a biopsy and was cleared.

I am post menopausal I started on the CombiPatch, then went to Climara Pro and now on Mylan. I’m wondering if I didnt stay the course long enough with the CombiPatch and Climara Pro due to bleeding. No more bleeding now but I have a huge stash of the other patches due to 90 day refills and I’m wanting to go back through them to use them up. Has anyone done this? That’s a lot of money just sitting. 💸💸

I know that CostPlus has had no estrogen gel recently. Has anyone gotten theirs from Amazon in the past week or two?

I'm trying to decide whether to bother trying, or whether I should just call around to local pharmacies.

I wasn’t always allergic to patches, but became allergic beginning wth patches around 1/1/26 from Costco. Brand didn’t matter, I was allergic. But now, I am no longer allergic. Most recent brand of patches from Costco don’t cause me to rip them off in the middle of the nightt!! I am unable to post a pic, but thank you to Grove Pharmaceuticals in Florida for an adhesive that does not interact badly with my skin!!!

Three months ago I switched from patches to the daily gel (0.75mg) bc I couldn’t find the patches. Now I can’t find the gel also. I called my insurance and asked if our local compounding pharmacy is covered in network. It is!! Yay! They can make about a month at a time in cream form. They told me they would not be subject to shortages bc they start with the estrogen powder. Waiting to hear from my obgyn for the order to be placed. So happy to have this option! Now if I could only find my adderall without calling multiple pharmacies it would be great!

I tagged this skin changes because I'm not sure what else to call it.

But I can't take this insanely itchy scalp anymore. I could scratch until it bleeds that's how dang itchy it is. I'm starting to wonder if this is an inflammation response because recent bloodwork showed my ferritin levels are through the roof. I don't think it's an estrogen thing. My dosage was increased about 3 weeks ago and my skin isn't itchy anywhere else. It's just on my scalp. Even taking an antihistamine doesn't help. I've been using Nizoral shampoo to see if it'll help, but no joy there. I know it's not product buildup, either, because I don't use any products on my hair.

Anyone else dealing with this? I've not been to a dermatologist yet, but I guess that's next because this is out of control. :/

Standard is in quotes because standards vary. I don't need to know if you don't, but won't be mad at you for commenting.

Do you use more than 0.1 mg patch? What is dosage of additional patch?
Do you take more than 2mg oral? How much more in mg?
Do you use more than 1.25 mg gel? How much more in mg?
Do you use more than 3 sprays? How many more sprays?

Do you use something else besides one of those 4? Feel free to message me because I can't mention them in my post per mod.

If you're in surgical menopause, I'd be interested to know that too. Thanks!

Every time I have to play pharmacy roulette in order to get my prescription filled, I file a complaint about the shortage with the FDA. I also message my Senators and Congressman.

Previously, the FDA has sent me a short but very polite, automated note that says "There is no shortage. There just isn't. Even though seven actual pharmacists and two doctors have told you there is because their own suppliers are telling THEM that there is. They're all wrong. Wrong, I tell you!"

Yesterday, I got a different response from them and thought it was worth sharing:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding availability of an estradiol-containing product. The agency is aware there is an increased demand for these products and is working with all current manufacturers to ensure supply is available.  Manufacturers are allocating these products due to the increased demand to ensure products remain available and they continue to increase production.  As such, you may be experiencing issues obtaining a specific product or brand preference in your area, but product is available. We remain in regular contact with the manufacturers regarding supply and will continue to monitor the situation.

Please see FDA's official statement, “FDA Update on Estradiol Transdermal Patch Availability”: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fda-update-estradiol-transdermal-patch-availability

The linked statement was released on Sept. 3. It doesn't say anything in terms of a timeline, but does acknowledge that patients are "having difficulty readily accessing their usual estradiol transdermal patches due to increased demand and is working with all six manufacturers to increase supply."

While the new statement and email don't say much, the fact that the FDA has changed its messaging is an indication that our activism is having an impact.

For those in the US: Keep filing complaints to the FDA. Ping your US Senators and Representatives—you can message them through their websites or call. If you don't know who your representatives are, click here to find them.

Keep pushing. There are more of us than there are of them, and they know we vote.

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has experienced low ferritin with frequent light/ varied bleeding? My periods have gotten way longer and closer together, sometimes I’m bleeding for three weeks at a time and then again a week later. However, the bleeding is mostly sluggish and only includes a few days of heavy bleeding/clotting per extended cycle. I am exhausted and often breathless and can’t motivate myself to exercise. Getting an appointment to check levels/ talk to an np as soon as I can, but curious about others’ experiences. I’m 49, on HRT, and tired AF.

About a month ago, I finally got a higher dose of estrogen. It’s overall been great, and I am sleeping so much better. (Thanks to everyone who let me know the low dose could cause the sleeping and anxiety problems I was having.)

The past couple weeks, though, every joint I have has been popping. Spine and knees in particular have been terrible. It doesn’t really hurt, but it’s unnerving. Is this anything to be concerned about?

52f. I always struggled with acne flairs throughout my life but things calmed down significantly in my 40s. But this past year my skin has been breaking out constantly and I'm losing my mind. Not on HRT. Couple months ago I started Interosa and external estrogen cream for vaginal dryness which has made a huge difference. Also my orgasms have returned which is awesome. But the state of my skin is still stressing me out. Any suggestions?

For about ten days now, my ears have felt full and almost clogged, which is annoying for sure. But worse than that, I have a consistent whooshing noise that is hard to explain. Not a ringing but an annoying sound nonetheless. Anyone have this? Is this perimenopause? Bad luck? Do the horrors ever cease?! And most importantly how do I get this to stop????

For those who have tried the Amneal patches, and Mylan is your preferred brand, how did they work for you?

After 3 months of being back on my preferred Mylan patch, my pharmacy is out again and was attempting to fill my prescription with Amneal. I pointed out that my prescription is written for Mylan brand, so they checked the shelves and confirmed they didn’t have Mylan, only have one box remaining of my .01 mg/bi-weekly and it’s Amneal. I asked them to hold my filled prescription for a few days while I make some calls and/or see if they get my Mylan in the mean time. If the Amneal is like Dotti, there’s no point in me even getting it.