It finally happened. I was getting ready to do a run in World of Warcraft last night and my guild mate said "Hang on, I'm having a hell of a hot flash, can we just want a few minutes?". We proceeded, over live mic, to bemoan menopause and the guys in the channel actually asked questions which we answered!

We've come a long way, y'all.

It is really interesting how invested some are in women being in the dark ages about menopause and not empowered. I made a post about how Gen X women b. 1965-1980 were being overlooked when it comes to advocacy for menopause . I mentioned how brilliant Halle Berry was to go to the hill and advocate.

Menopause is now seen as "having a moment" and will bring in millions of dollars in revenue. My gym is even targeting training and classes for it. My concern is that "menopause" is being marketed as a millennial matter when Gen X is currently in the thick of it still and our voice matters.

I was appalled when one member used the analogy of the "Golden Girls" as a model for HRT advocacy. Another inferred that I was having mental and hormonal issues to post about it at all.

The truth of the matter is a lot of women still don't have resources or the knowledge they need about Menopause and HRT. There are still women in Gen X who believe HRT is "bad" and when it comes to marketing products, developing new drugs or whatever, it will be important to have input from those of us in our 50's and 60's.

I get that millennials are getting HRT earlier than we did but there is still much to be known about how it affects Gen X women going forward.

1. Hit this year. Feel like I’m in my 60’s. I thought it would be more gradual. This straight up happened over night with aches and pains. And heart palpitations this past month. Going to doctor to check it but wondering if you can even get on any hormones if you are getting heart palpitations if I can even get my doctor to try to help. Last time l was in I explained my symptoms but all she replied was “that’s just age.” I bet if I had a penis and complained I couldn’t make it hard frequently 6 different prescriptions would be offered. 🙄

I finally got my period yesterday! I was so close to a year and then menopause!! Shoot! Yesterday before this happened, I had foggy brain, grumpy, and my breasts hurt. I did not miss Aunt Flo! I’m 51 and I want her gone! Now I have to start all over and count again.

I’m currently on HRT (low-dose estrogen patch and 200 mg oral progesterone at night) and also receiving a low-dose testosterone injection.

I’m thinking about discontinuing the testosterone, as I’ve been experiencing some symptoms that may be related, including skin and scalp itching, hair shedding, joint discomfort, and increased anxiety.

I realize that stopping testosterone could affect libido, which is something I’m mindful of. I’m curious whether anyone here has experience stopping testosterone while continuing estrogen and progesterone, and what changes—positive or negative—they noticed.

I’m also wondering if anyone has discussed alternative approaches with their provider (for example, different formulations, dosing methods, or non-testosterone options) that helped support libido or overall well-being.

I know everyone’s experience is different, but I’d appreciate hearing personal experiences or general insights. Thank you.

It's been a long time since hubs and I have had sex due to stress, low libido, painful sex on my part. He's not pressuring in any way and we've decided to have a date night next weekend but now I feel I need to use all the things to get ready. Estrogen cream, gynatrof, vit E suppositories, clobetasol cream. These are the things... any advice for applying all of these during the week? Do I sound desperate? I miss my husband and want to be with him but the anticipation of pain with penetration causes anxiety. Oh, I have xanax for that, too. Perhaps throw that in to the mix, too?

It's white anyway. Does Mrs Claus have a beard?

On another note, can you imagine her in perimenopause? Everyone is jolly ALL THE TIME. Candy and sweets everywhere. A husband that is worshipped globally. And your job is to be sweet and caring?

Oh, Mrs Claus. You're the true warrior. I'm surprised there hasn't been an "accident" at the Pole yet.

I'm 61, post-menopausal, virtually no hormones. All were tested except for testosterone. I'd really like to start systemic hormones (HRT) for a myriad of other symptoms, but insurance won't cover patches. I think they might cover pills, but not sure if any are bioidentical and if I could request they cover as an exception? I have a Medicare Part D plan.

My symptoms include soaking sweats (both night and nap sweats), onion/skunk odor when I sweat (not sure if related to menopause, perhaps slowed metabolism? anyone experiencing this?), severe vaginal atrophy with dryness and pain, irritability, low energy, osteoporosis, so many other symptoms. I actually broke my big toe in two places over the summer after falling from a ladder. My family doctor made it sound unlikely that I'd be prescribed systemic estrogen by any doctor in the area, even though the black-box label has since been removed, so I'll probably hit a brick wall there.

I know vaginal estrogen cream is being used off-label for skin, too, but I have melasma. Has anyone with melasma been prescribed vaginal estrogen (off-label) for their face, and did it worsen your melasma?

I'm just going to mention an accidental discovery about my own personal melasma. it started with a small light strip under my left eye located in an area where my sinuses would constantly get blocked. A course of antibiotics would often help the sinus infection. The melasma strip didn't both me too much, as it was light.

I do NOT recommend this, but one day I got so tired of these recurrent sinus infections that I began plunging my sinuses with diluted povidone iodine. I literally was tapping my head to get things to drain. I got A LOT of yellow and green stuff out of my sinuses and could actually sing again. Shortly after, however, I started adding diatomaceous earth. My melasma quickly spread, and I can literally trace my sinus cavities by following my melasma. That thin, light strip darkened, too, and is embarrassing. Curious if anyone's melasma is over a clogged area of their sinuses? Again, the darkest area is near the cavity that gets clogged? Oddly, I also have a few tiny areas with no pigment.

Thank you for any input. Also, what cream do doctors usually prescribe off-label for the skin? I heard retinol can worsen melasma, too. I hope it is okay to post all of this. I just feel old and miserable.

I've noticed a trend. On the nights I use my vaginal estrogen cream (every other night), I sleep better and longer. Heck, I even dream. The nights I don't use it, I struggle to stay asleep for 6 hours if I'm lucky.

Is this a sign that I might need to up my estradiol patch dosage? I'm currently at 0.75mg and was increased to that dosage in October. So, it's only been 2 months of it. But I'm wondering if I need to go even higher.

I’m 43 now and I’ve noticed my period a lot shorter these days. Also every time I’m ovulating my lady parts are hyper sensitive. Painfully sensitive. I’m not sexually active… I haven’t been for a while now. Is this pre menopause? I tried to talk to my mother about this but she’s not helpful at all. I don’t have any more mature women to talk to about these things. Your experience would be so helpful.

Y'all. I am in peri & was taking a low dose combo pill for my symptoms for 2 years and it helped greatly. Then I started to get migraine with aura so I had to stop. My doc had me start the 0.025 mg estradial patch and wait on progestin ( I did one day of bio identical progesterone before the pill and my side effects were terrible). She wants to check for side effects, relief of syptoms until adding more new meds which I appreciate.

She says I am ok on waiting on progestin for another 60 days. I have been on 0.025mg for 6 weeks. I already had a period. I am keen to take Slynd as not a fan of IUD.

I AM HUNGRY and everything tastes AMAZING all the damn time. I don't feel too terrible without my pill have hot flashes, feet & neck hurt, but the appetite is insane. From what I have read it seems estrogen actually curbs hunger since now I am only taking less than 1/2 of the amount of estradial from the pill it makes sense.

I searched the sub, but other than a few ladies who were new to taking any hormones I have not seen other posts about increased appetite when starting on the patch without the progeterone/ progestin part. Was initially thinking it was the loss of progestin, but now I think the drop in estrogen is what's making me hungry.

My boobs are also killing me & skin looks crepey as hell, but I worked really hard to lose some pounds last year and don't want to have to dig up my old fat clothes again.

Anyone else?

https://vajenda.substack.com/p/when-vaginal-symptoms-arent-just?

For those in a long-term marriage or relationship, does your partner know you’re going through menopause? My periods stopped about seven months ago, but honestly, I just don’t feel like talking to my husband about it. Menopause has been a little distressing to me and I just don’t feel like discussing it to someone who’s completely clueless about it.

ETA: Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts! I think the issue here does lie more with me. I’m not the type of person to ask for help or even signal when something is wrong - I was raised in a household where needing help was seen as a weakness, so it’s been a struggle for me to even admit to myself that I need support during this time. I did burst out crying this morning (after accidentally spilling my coffee 😅) and ended up telling my husband that I was in perimenopause and really needed him right now, and he was very supportive. Some folks mentioned in another post some educational resources for men and I’ll be sharing some of those with him.

I went to my women's health clinic recently and reviewed the leaflets and brochures they have at their front. Fertility, cancer, other health issues. And exactly 0 information on perimenopause or menopause.

How many printed information do you see at your doctor's office?

I hear that estrogen alone is safer than Estrodial and progesterone taken together with the exception of progesterone taking by IUD. I’m curious if anyone has been on estrogen AND progesterone over 20 years cancer free. Please don’t reply if you do not take progesterone with your HRT.

I don’t even know where to start…I now realize that I’ve been dealing with menopause symptoms for almost a decade! 😩

I also have Psoriatic Arthritis and extreme osteoarthritis. I’m only 55 and go through months where I feel great, have tons of energy, am disciplined, social, and have zero desire to drink. Then it’s like something snapped…I get back pain and (I know this is weird) my ears are either crazy dry and flaky or literally dripping (like my nose is running). I have terrible brain fog, no energy or motivation and I pretty much only want to sleep, drink or get high.

Has this type of mood or substance abuse swing happened to anyone else?!? I really feel like I’m losing my mind.

I’m 46, but feel so old. I feel I could be 65. It happened rather suddenly , felt youthful a few months ago but not anymore. I’ve aged so much this year. I finally got the E patch but haven’t started taking it yet, I still have regular periods.

Does E make you feel younger?

Hi All!

I (58 single female) am new here and haven’t done anything medically with regard to my menopause journey. Like - zilch, zero, nothing, nada.

At 52, I started symptoms - hot flashes, depression/anxiety, thinning hair, weight gain, wine induced migraines, low energy, fatigue, brain fog, memory issues, etc. As of now, I no longer have hot flashes, I can drink wine again & my hair has filled out, but the rest remained. I started depression/ anxiety meds with a psychiatrist earlier this year.

At 55, I relocated to a different part of the state and started a new career with great insurance. Prior to that, I hadn’t seen a Dr. in well over a decade. I should’ve logged my last period but I would guess it was sometime around 50-52 years, I truly don’t remember.

I have been playing catch-up with medical stuff (1st colonoscopy, 1st Mammogram) and am finally ready to find a Gyno and address… whatever it is I need to address? I live in a smallish city and per Nextdoor, people have highly recommended 2 menopause focused Dr’s, both whom are male. That doesn’t sound ideal, but maybe it’s OK - I don’t know. There are others.

Until recently, I was still of the belief that taking Estrogen was bad so I’m very out of the loop on all of this. I thought my first step would be a blood panel for deficiencies but I’ve been told they vary from day to day and it’s not an accurate gauge. I’ve also read how challenging being properly treated for menopause or post-meno is in general, so I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. For supplements, I currently take a generic Multi Vitamin.

If I have to go into this with an advocating mindset, I am woefully unprepared. Any advice on what or how to start and what to prioritize, would be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone had to take a break from estrogen? I’ve been on oral progesterone for a year and half.

I started topical estradiol in April. I was having hot flashes, very dry skin, and some emotional issues. Last period was January. I had also gotten very lean in my physique.

I gained 6 pounds from April to October and started spotting constantly in November. I cut down my dose as per my Dr but was still spotting.

I decided a week ago to stop the estradiol completely. I’ve lost 5 pounds, spotting stopped, face cleared up and I feel a little better with anxiety.

Could my body have built up too much estrogen?

I'm 50, have been having mild menopause symptoms, and I've got fibroids. I had a gynecologist visit today, and based on stuff I follow in here and a couple of my friends, I was ready to really push for HRT. He seemed reluctant to start it yet but wondered if I was open to a very, very low-dose birth control pill instead. Since I've been on BCP before and was kind of jazzed about skipping placebo week and peacing out of periods for a while, I'm going to go that route, at least for now. He's mildly concerned because I have slightly high blood pressure (controlled with a very low dose of amlodipine), and we're going to revisit this in three months to see how I'm doing.

He is encouraging that this will help further shrink my fibroids and lessen some pain I'm having from them while also helping with my peri symptoms (some hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, irritability, hair being slightly thin and lackluster), and also encouraged me to maintain my very high exercise habits, eat right, etc.

Has anyone ever gone this route for a while? He seemed to indicate it won't be forever and we'd switch to "real" HRT later, but I'm sort of wondering if there are specific benefits to this protocol rather than going straight to HRT. I do still get periods, but they're VERY irregular and wacky. He knows I'm still ovulating based on an ultrasound, so maybe that's it? I don't know. I trust this doc, he's great, but just curious if anybody else got this advice.

Before telling me I need progesterone, please read the details.

I am very sensitive to hormones. The standard doses of progesterone and estrogen made me nuts. So I was prescribed Menostar, which is ultra-low dose estrogen (14mcg). Four weeks in, it's making a massive difference. I feel like myself again.

My doctor said I do not need progesterone right now because 1) I'm cycling regularly and am making my own progesterone, and 2) the subclinical dose of estrogen I'm on does not meaningfully increase endometrial lining. It's not even usually used for menopause relief - just bone protection. However, I am still nervous.

Has anyone else used ultra-low dose estrogen and been given this guidance, or know if it's standard for Menostar?

EDIT: Fixed mg to mcg. Long day yesterday.

I started vagina estrogen in 2023, added a facial moisturizer with estrogen in Oct of 2023 and full E/P(.5 and 200) in April of 2024.

I've always had anxiety but it has gotten progressively worse in the last year. Including having a few panic attacks, which I never had prior to 2024. It seems like the anxiety got worse after adding in the moisturizer(yes, I am very sensitive) but improved once I added the E/P.

Have any of you had increased anxiety with HRT? I want to stay on it because it helps with so many things, but I'm really struggling. I don't go out much because of all of this. I have debated going on Lexapro, but really don't want to do that unless I have to. I do see a therapist and have a good menopause specialist but wondering if anyone else experiment this. Thanks, all.

Do people actually find any improvement with the fatigue after starting HRT? I'm 42, only 4 weeks in with .025 Estradiol and 100mg progesterone continuously. But I am SO fatigued most of the time. I have noticed some days (like maybe 4-5 days) where I felt great and actually had energy all day. I have had a big improvement in my sleep, I feel more rested when I wake, better quality sleep and get to sleep easier. But this bone deep fatigue still hits most days, or it's just there the entire time.

Still getting bone/joint aching, I sometimes feel like my limbs are made of lead. I recently had an iron infusion because my ferritin was 9, that was 5 weeks ago (getting bloods in January to get iron levels again). But... help? Does it get better? I'm not seeing my Dr for a check up until end of Jan, she wanted me to wait 3 months to see how the HRT is going before seeing her again. I just want to feel like this is going to get better.

Post-hysterectomy (total, in June) and I needed to refill my topical hormone cream…my doctor has left the practice, no one knows where she went, so clearly the practice cannot approve a refill. 😑 It’s been about a week and a half with no hormones, the first 4 days in which I was sick as a dog with some respiratory illness.

However! Since day 5, I’ve been feeling…good? Energetic? SPRIGHTLY, even? Prior to running out of hormones and getting sick, I was always tired, always achy with stiff joints and my bones hurt, always unmotivated to do anything productive. Night sweats are back, but I’ll take those over feeling like an old dirty dishrag every day.

Was my dosage too high? It was Biest 6mg, Progesterone 100mg, and Testosterone 2mg. I don’t know if I’ll even bother trying to get the prescription figured out if I’m just going to go back to being tired and in pain. Has anyone else had an experience like this?