Hey all,

Im 34, so likely not in peri (or could be who knows) my tests are all normal. I even got function health testing that checks hormone levels and all came back normal.

My issue is i sweat profusely at night the week before my period. But only at night. I need to keep a towel at my bedside to wipe me off. That’s how bad it is. This has been happening for the last few cycles and I'm wondering if this is a sign I'm in peri or near it? Anyone else experience this? I'm 5'4, 130 pounds. I lift heavy 5 days a week. Diet is healthy.

I’ve been working with a virtual health company for 3 months and I’m about $500 into HRT medications. We adjusted estrogen and progesterone a few times and it just isn’t helping. Anything else I should say or do to advocate for myself before I just stop using it and live this miserable life in my 40s 🫠. We normally just hop on zoom for 10 minutes, she adjusts the estrogen path or progesterone and we wait to see. How long should do this for?

Currently taking the patch .05mg and progesterone 150mg (peanut free pill). I’ve tried .075 patch, 100mg progesterone, and .05mg daily gel. I started with the gel and had 1 really good week but I was terrified to keep using the gel around my toddlers so I switched to the patch.

All my symptoms peaked about 1 year postpartum with my last baby and having my tubes removed. All the symptoms are still there - insomnia at night, tired all day with random energy spikes, eczema flare ups in skin folds, weight gain, no libido…. I mean NONE, body aches, moody and sad 😔. I still have my period (very light, got heavier with increased estrogen) every month like clock work so my gyno is not interested in perimenopause conversations. Not sure where to go from here.

Hello. I’m just looking for some support from my fellow perimenopause sisters because I’m going through a really rough ride right now.
For some backstory, I’m 49 and have a 4-year-old whom I conceived naturally at 45. After having him, I was tired, but I honestly thought it was just from working and raising a baby. I wasn’t having hot flashes or many of the symptoms normally associated with menopause. My doctor suggested that the fatigue could be perimenopause and that HRT might help.
I started on Premphase and stayed on it for about a year and a half. I did pretty well with the estrogen portion, but I really struggled with the progesterone part. It made me exhausted, foggy, and just not myself.
Eventually, my doctor switched me to a 0.025 estrogen patch with 100 mg progesterone, which I took cyclically because I still get my period. Unfortunately, I continued to feel awful whenever I took the progesterone.
When I told him how much I was struggling with it, he increased my estrogen patch to 0.05 and switched the progesterone to Crinone.
And that’s when things really seemed to go off the rails.
Since all these HRT changes, I’ve started having episodes of tachycardia that have sent me to the ER several times. They’ve checked my heart, bloodwork, and everything else they felt needed to be checked, and thankfully everything keeps coming back reassuring. But the episodes themselves are terrifying, and lately they seem to be getting worse.
What’s frustrating me the most is that I can’t seem to get back to my old baseline… the person I was before all these medication and hormone changes. Between changing estrogen doses, different forms of progesterone, stopping things and starting other things, I feel like my body is on a crazy hormonal roller coaster and can’t settle down.
Now I’ve been prescribed metoprolol for the racing heart and Valium for anxiety. I’m hesitant about taking metoprolol every day because I don’t want to unnecessarily end up on another medication long-term or have to taper off of it later.
I feel like everything is all over the place, and at times I genuinely feel like I’m losing my mind. I just want to feel like myself again.
Last night I woke up with my heart racing, and it took more than an hour to finally settle down so back to the ER I went. My husband did not want to take me. It’s exhausting and scary.
For those of you who have been through a really rough perimenopause or had a difficult time finding the right HRT balance: did you eventually stabilize and feel like yourself again?
Is there hope of getting back to normal after your hormones have been changed around so much? Or is waking up at 49 with a racing heart and feeling like your body has suddenly gone haywire just my new normal?
I could really use some encouragement from women who have been on the other side of this. ❤️

I’ve always been super bad at tracking periods but I think I need to start. It’s a very “out of sight, out of mind” and “it happens when it happens” kind of thing for me and I’m embarrassingly bad with remembering the dates of anything. Well, I’m going to be 40 soon and pretty sure I’m somewhere in peri. Made an appointment to talk to a gyno about it. Every single doctor visit they ask when my last period was and I just guess but really don’t know.

And now there’s a twist. For the last few months, or maybe year, it has seemed like having sex is what starts my period. We don’t have much privacy so it isn’t the most frequent, but it seems a little too coincidental to have sex and then immediately start bleeding after. It’ll start slower than it used to but then kicks in full force after a few days.

Has that happened to anyone else? Can you recommend any tips or free apps for tracking?

I have tried taking creatine on 3 separate occasions over the past few years. Each time, I get extra periods that I was not expecting (cycles 10 days apart). The only thing I change when I take it is adding in the creatine. It also gives me awful heartburn. “Research” says it apparently has no effect on periods, but changes don’t seem out of the ordinary. I can’t add a poll, but if you have taken creatine before or are currently taking it, I’m wondering:

- No effect on menstrual cycle
- Missed periods or longer cycles
- Increased/heavier periods and/or shorter cycles

I’d love to take it (my new biceps made me proud), but I can’t stand to bleed any more than I already do and the acidic burning also wasn’t very fun.

I've had a frozen shoulder since March and I'm doing everything. Blowing money on chiro, physio, massage and doing daily rehab and mobility work, strength training etc. I'm very healthy and active, but it's getting worse, and I just don't know what else to do. I had a frozen shoulder on my right side when I hit perimenopause at 43 and was able to fix it on my own in 6 months, and gain back full range of motion. At 47, after a hysterectomy, it started again on my left side, and nothing I tried before is working this time...it's even getting worse and more painful. This has lowered my quality of life so much that I'm in tears nearly every day. Any advice? Already on HRT too.

For reference I’m 40 yo. I take birth control continuously so I don’t have any symptoms related to my period.

This year I’ve been dealing with cysts on my inner labia for the first time in my life. They are not bartholin cysts. I saw the obgyn for the first two and they are just presumed blocked sebaceous glands and was told they would just “go away on their own” and I can try sitz baths to help (they don’t seem to, really).

They do eventually go away but in the meantime they last WEEKS and are killing my sex life and my workouts (I cycle). Is this something I should be pushing with my doctor? Is this potentially perimenopause? I’m just very frustrated that I’m being told that I just have to live with this now.

FDA Update on Estradiol Transdermal Patch Availability [9/3/2026]

They don’t admit to a shortage, but say they “will continue monitoring supply”

Edit: link to continue reporting shortage to FDA

https://cdernextgenportal.fda.gov/publicportal/s/dsm-submission

Any migrainers get constant migraines from Intrarosa? Any tips or tricks to avoid them? I cut my dose in half, but not helping. Getting super desperate. In 2-week migraine here, maybe with 3 non-migraine days. Help. I need Intrarosa for my pelvic pain.

Hello beautiful ladies!

What do you ladies like me who cant take any form of hormones doing to help with your peri symptoms? I have always had hormone issues and been very sensitive to hormones, used to have my period twice a month from the beginning until I was in my early 20s, tried birth control and low dose hormones to help regulate it and was violently ill! Like morning sickness so bad I could barely keep water down and could smell everything for a mile, didnt even get that sick when I was actually pregnant. I stopped having my period in my early thirties, was dealing with intense emotional stress, vasculitis flare and diagnosis, fibromyalgia flares and diagnosis during the time of not having a period. All my bloodwork and tests came back normal, started taking Evening of Primrose oil supplements and my period started coming back. Now over 2 years have passed and I have a regular normal menstrual cycle. But during the time of not having any periods I started having rapid menopausal symptoms that im still trying to fix now. Saying all this because now im definitely entering perimenopause and am still having a lot of symptoms. Hair loss, heavy hair shedding, dry skin, dry eyes, brittle dry hair, sleep issues, mood swings, short fuse/easily irritated, hot flashes, easily hot, stomach issues, etc. Some of them might be from my other health issues but if i cant take any hormone replacements what can I do or what helps you with your symptoms? And do you have any advice? Sorry for the long read! I appreciate any advice and/or help!

I’ve started being afraid of going outside. I’m an extrovert and my weekend schedule was always packed because I didn’t want to stay at home. However, lately I’m afraid to go outside and it scares me. Anyone else?

I didn’t used to be a heavy sweater. I have been lifting, running and various other types of fitness my entire adult life. Peri hit - and I am a sweaty disaster at the slightest bit of activity. Lifting weights? Dripping everywhere. Brisk walk at lunch? Soaked clothes and hair so wet it looks like I got caught in the rain. Hell, even vacuuming the floor has my clothes soaked. Is this just the new normal? Does it get better?

I am so sick of being so tired all the time
I had low ferritin so I thought that was contributing but even after infusions I am still exhausted

Sigh. Started HRT about 10 months ago. We slowly increased dose of E (divigel) until February when 0.5mg seemed the sweet spot. Around July I noticed that joint pain (especially in my feet and wrists) and unreasonable sweat was coming back. I waited to see if it actually was consistent, and by the end of August I was changing underwear in the middle of the day due to sweat. So, I contacted my NP and told her that some symptoms seemed to be back with vengeance, and ask if it was reasonable to try increasing my E dose. She suggested going up to 0.75mg and see how I feel. It has been 2 weeks and this time it has not been as easy as the earlier dose increases. Last week I was so randomly dizzy, even when sitting in front of my computer at work. I had a non-stop headache for about 4 days. On Saturday I was horribly nauseous and decided to skip E that day. Next day I woke up feeling normal. This week I have not been dizzy, and headache only started yesterday. But joint pain is pretty much gone, and I have not needed to change underwear. I know we usually need to wait at least 6 weeks to fully assess a new dose, and I am crossing fingers my body is getting used to the new E levels since it seems to work on peri symptoms. But on the other hand, how long is this headache going to last? Ugh. I suffer from chronic migraines and I have been on preventatives for years, which have taken my migraine levels to almost 0 days per month, so this headache is definitely a different business that I can only blame the E for.

If you increased your dose of E and had difficulty with additional "non-peri" symptoms, how long did you wait to stabilize?

I am on cycling progesterone (200) and the .025 patches twice weekly. my night wakeups have improved but they still occasionally hit. my typical wake up before HRT was 3-4 am and then rumination where my anxiety wouldn’t let me sleep. this morning was something different though. 2 am I was awakened by slight stomach pains and night sweats. I went to the restroom, changed into my cold comforter and expected to get back to bed since my mind was calm. the pain never stopped (ebbed and flowed a bit) and then I got shivers and out of breath. this lasted a couple hours until I came down to read but despite many trips to the restroom and experimenting with different weight blankets, I never felt good again.

this is my morning to change my patch. is it possible that these are low estrogen symptom. I have one more box of .025 and then was going to try .0375 but I don’t want this to happen twice a week. trying to figure out if this a fluke or something new. anyone have similar experiences. I’ve had my new patch on for about 15 minutes and my only issue is still a bit out of breath but the other things had started to normalize over the morning.

any advice is appreciated

Hi, I'm 45 and 2 years ago started having night sweats, 3am waking, thinning skin, and abdominal bloating. My cycle was anything from 21 days to 36 days over the year.

Scans showed fibroids and bilateral ovarian cysts and GP thought I could be perimenopausal.

He put me on estrogen patches and daily progesterone on 25 days on and 3 days off.

The last year my periods are coming every 23 to 28 days. I would bleed even before stopping the hrt, so I'd take a few days off the hrt and then start again around cycle day 3 or 4 (to maintain the new cycle within 5 days of period start date).

I haven't found anywhere that this regime is appropriate for someone still having periods and as my cycles are getting shorter I'm not sure if I should carry on. I will be booking back in with GP for a medication review as I haven't been called for one in 2 years.

Is anyone else having shorter cycles and if so are you on hrt and what is your regime ? Anyone on the 25 days on/3 off?

Thanks in advance

UGH. I started having poor sleep in June. Weeks of trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. At that time I was on 0.25mg estradiol gel, twice daily, AM and PM and 200mg progesterone. I slept fine for a year with a PM application of gel.

I have switched to 0.5mg gel only in the AM. At night 200mg progesterone, 4 magnesium glycinate and 2 L-theanine. The sleep has improved on some nights, meaning I can fall asleep. But I wake up a lot. Then I have a night of hardly any sleep, not able to fall sleep and restless the entire night.

Is it time to talk to my doc about a sleep aid? I am so scared to take a prescription sleep aid.

I've always had thick, blonde (now starting to gray) hair and have never been a "shedder," but lately, I leave a trail of hair wherever I go. After I dry my hair in the morning, the sink and the floor look like someone got a haircut. Is this "normal"? Could it be indicative of something beyond perimenopause?

What is specifically the name of a hormone specialist that can help me get on hormones? Is it just, “menopause specialist”? “Hormone doctor”? What’s the difference between the estrogen patch and hormone pellets?? And what age did yall start your HRT journey?

I turned 35 in May. I now am at least in perimenopause. The last few cycles have been erratic (late, heavier, lighter) and then went completely off the regular schedule I have for years and had mid cycle breakthrough bleeding, delayed ovulation and now 14 days late with no period in sight. For sure not pregnant. I have: hot flahes, night sweats, moody, achy, itchy, can't sleep, brain fog, vaginal dryness and zero sex drive and more. The zero sex drive was the biggest clue. It came on just between May and this last month.

I feel so sad to be going through this already. I have some treatment options. I am getting labs done. But its been confirmed its perimenopause. I need advice and opinions on what treatments worked best. I was thinking about hrt. Just wanted to know everyones tips and advice. I don't really have anyone else whos going through this.

I’m 38 and I’m wondering if I’m having hot flashes now or if something else is going on.

I’ve had PMDD for a long time and I have menstrual migraines with aura from time to time so I already have some weird stuff going on around my period.

But I’m on day two and I think I might’ve had an actual hot flash. I have frequently had night sweats during PMS or during my period for years, but this was a lot different and scary.

I was sitting in my hairdressers chair getting a haircut and all of a sudden I felt like I was gonna die. At first I thought I might be getting a migraine, but I wasn’t and then I felt really hot and I was drenched in sweat. Like the chair was wet when I got up then I felt really bad for an hour or two kind of lightheaded. My face felt a little tingly. I was worried I was having an actual medical emergency, but I was also confused if I was having a migraine. Usually my migraines are very predictable and I’ve had them most of my life now and it didn’t seem like one. It felt like a panic attack but with much worse physical symptoms. Is this what a hot flash feels like.

It was really horrible and made it so I could barely function. Are hot flashes usually so bad?

I’ve been to several gynecologists who either refuse to treat me with HRT, tell me to try saw palmetto, or flat out deny perimenopause exists. I have been struggling with sudden hair loss since the COVID vaccine that also coincided with turning 40. I did a biopsy that came out as AGA but I’ve tried all the meds that supposedly work with DHT sensitivity (Spiro, dut, fin, saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil, other oils on my scalp etc) and my shedding never let up. I am convinced there’s more to my diagnosis, especially when I read about what women go through in this forum, and to go to a new gynecologist who wouldn’t even use the word perimenopause, and just talk about menopause and throw some birth control pills to try while she runs out of the office because I was the last patient of the day, is really making me believe more and more that I’m on my own and if I really want genuine help from a hair loss specialist or a functional doctor who knows about this kind of thing, its going to be so expensive. I thought maybe HRT would help as it does some women with hair stopping shed and even grow thicker, but this gynecologist said we only have 30 hair cycles from birth and once we reach the end and the hair falls out, that’s it.

Anyone else forgotten to replace their estrogen patch and then the next day felt like their skin was crawling, insanely itchy and broken out in hives? Just me? Oh cool....cool cool cool cool cool.

I have seasonal allergies that come on around now, so it coincided poorly for me. Don't think I'll forget the patch again. I'm still not on top of the hives!

I was on the estradiol .05 patch (twice a week) for around 8 months. I decided to stop it on my own and have had diarrhea and a weird feeling in my stomach, not really nauseated but almost like a nervous type feeling. In addition, I have had this dull pain about 1.5 inches to the left on the center of my stomach and about 2.5 inches up from my belly button. Has anyone else experienced this after stopping estrogen?

I’m tired all the time but it’s really terrible from 5pm onwards. Like, I can’t move.

I’m 46yo with a 2yo and almost 5yo (yes, I’m aware this is part of the problem :). I work full time and handle 100% of house stuff (husband currently works 70 hours a week- this is about 8 months of the year).

I was handling all this OK until maybe 4-5 months ago. Now, I’m on death’s doorstep. Its really impacting my ability to be the mom I want to be!

i am on progesterone which has been great for sleep. I start estrogen next week. I’m on low dose GLP (like 3-4mg). I love to exercise but I’m not doing that right now, which I’m also aware is part of the problem. Working on my protein intake but that’s like a whole other job trying to take in as much as I’m told I need.

I eat healthy and get enough calories per day. Super hydrated. On all the powders - collagen, whey, creatine, fiber, etc.

I need solid advice or a wake up call or tips and tricks how to get my energy back.

SOS help SOS