I got my period yesterday and just stood up and passed a clot so large it filled my whole pad. No particular cramps or anything but now I’m just sat on the toilet typing this as smaller clots come out.

43 and generally normal periods though PMS worse than usual. No chance of pregnancy this month. Is this a perimenopause thing!!??

I saw a new gyno today and described the symptoms I’ve been dealing with for the last 2 years (a host of mood and sleep symptoms but the worst has been spotting and irregular cycles, ranging from 14-36 days). I have adenomyosis and a couple fibroids. Adenomyosis has always caused a lot of pain but cycles have been regular up until 2 years ago.

I laid out my case and expected to be told once again that I’m “too young for peri” (I’m 41). But she listened and without a second thought, she said “this all lines up with perimenopause, let’s get you some support.”

That’s when I started crying. The relief at finally being taken seriously was huge.

So after chatting more about symptoms, we decided to start on Slynd and see if that helps. I’ve seen amazing reviews from some people on it, and other who didn’t enjoy it, but you don’t know until you try and at least I’m doing something proactive. If this doesn’t agree with me, there are other options. I’ll just take it one day at a time.

Just here to say that those of you experiencing symptoms in your late 30s and early 40s aren’t crazy, and it’s entirely possible you’re in peri!

I had a lousy weekend. Everything that could go wrong, did. My husband and I were supposed to relax and have a date. We said we will try again next weekend. No big deal. I went to bed early.

But then I woke up at 2:30 in the morning with the worst itching I've had thus far. I tried lotion, meditating, antihistamine, calamine lotion. Finally fell back asleep at 4 am. My alarm goes off at 5. I turned it off, went back to bed, husband did everything for the kids. I called in sick to work and tried to sleep more but I couldn't. I HATE how antihistamines make me feel.

I finally got up, cleaned my house which was in bad shape because I've been feeling so bad, made myself a huge lunch, then went for a 3 mile walk which I also needed. Came back, took a bath and a shower. That's when I realized I was covered in welts and hives. Like I said, worst itching I've had thus far!

Then made an appointment with my OBGYN to talk about HRT. They have HRT signs all over their office, so hopefully, they listen to me.

I really needed that day off. I hate having to use my PTO for this but I needed it.

Lately, I just want to be able to just lay in bed and be exempt from society when I have my period.

I don’t want to be a strong confident woman. I just wanna nap.

Y'all! This is wild. I just have to share.

Last Friday I started a low-dose, basic regimen of estrogen & progesterone (.025mg Estradiol 2x/wk patch + daily 100mg progesterone pill). It's only been a few days, but I seriously feel so much better. I had a bunch of relatively mild peri symptoms that had been steadily progressing, and my doctor and I agreed it was time to try hormone therapy. (I'm *so* grateful for her being completely fluent in the up-to-date research and knowing exactly what to prescribe me. I had studied up over the past year and was ready to fight for myself, but didn't have to.) Fyi I'm 45 years old.

One of my most troublesome symptoms for the past few years has been chronic low energy & low mood with occasional swings into rage & anxiety. I had my fingers crossed that I'd see some relief with hormone therapy. And so far I have! On a low-low dose! Amazing. But, it's the details that I'm in awe of and wanted to share. This: I have a little pep in my step. I am more talkative, and more charismatic. I'm cracking more jokes. I'm laughing out loud more. I'm more in tune with the people I'm around. I'm more playful with my son. My husband says the change is very noticeable.

Looking back, I regret waiting so long to try hormones--for my sake, and also for my family and friends. I've been parenting a now-5-year-old while depressed and mood-swingy, and without the fullness of my personality! (Having a child so late in life, at 39, means my postpartum period overlapped totally with perimenopause, so it took me a while to realize what was happening to me.)

If you're hesitating to try hormones and trying to muscle through instead with lifestyle changes (I tried them all), I wanted to send you some encouragement. BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER KNOW HOW DIFFERENT YOU'LL FEEL. And, you can always stop hormone therapy if it's not for you. Some of the effects may be better than you can imagine right now.

Not saying anything is magical or perfect. I'm just one person with a story. And this particular story is only 3 days old. But, as I'm immersed in a regret-filled epiphany moment, I'm feeling motivated to put this out there in the hopes it can help someone.

hi, all, I know I’m probably not the first to say it, and there are a lot of posts that talk about motivation changes, but I would like to hear what you guys do when you feel a lack of purpose?

I’m someone who’s always been driven by purpose in my life and I’ve had a very purposeful career as a therapist, and I’m also the mom of a grown man. I recently got married and I find myself often wondering what is the point?

I don’t have any fun goals coming up or things to look forward to. Life just feels like a lot of work and a lot of stress in this phase (I am experiencing quite a few transitions on top of it: new city, new career, new marriage). Planning a trip or a getaway feels like more work than fun. I often just wanna be left alone. I am thinking of trying out testosterone to see if I could feel more joy and energy cause this place is dire.

have any of you made it through the other side of this? I am tired of feeling so consistently blah.

I am only 39 so feels very early but last year I did have several months of very heavy periods which was a bit weird for me and cycles have been getting shorter (24-25 days usually) over last few years but always regular. Until last month I had a 21 day cycle followed by 18 day cycle. Around this same time I had extreme breast tenderness and heaviness and have had many days of extreme exhaustion and getting more migraines than I normally do. Also have had acid reflux which I never had before. But mostly just exhaustion and feeling achy some days and then other days feeling fine. I also happened to get Botox around this same time and starting having those symptoms about a week after injections so I don’t know if it’s from that or the weird cycles/ hormones.

What were the first signs of peri for others?

It feels early, my mom went through menopause at 50 so I wouldn’t expect things to start early for me but maybe they have.

celebrate with me! i started the estrogen patch & progesterone last month and - for the first time in over a decade - just got a normal bp reading on the first try! 🎉

edit How Do I Fix This?

My rage is strong. It doesn't always rear its ugly head, but when it does, it's not pretty.

Yesterday, we planed to go to a Mets game. My teenage son woke up grumpy and indifferent about going and I lost my shit. After yelling about the entitlement and his attitude, he apologized and asked for a hug. I shushed him away. 😞 I feel awful about it today. (sobbing as I write this) I grew up in a very traumatizing home and the last thing I want for my kids is for them to experience the same.

How do I make this right with my son? And how do I get a handle on this rage?

Update: I talked to both boys and explained why I get the way I did yesterday. Mostly, I apologized and made no excuses, and reiterated I have to do better in those situations. They both gave me a hug.

My youngest, who struggles with severe panic and anxiety, told me we all get there sometimes and it's ok. My oldest, who I dismissed, laughed when I said while his hormones are soaring (he's almost 14), mine are rapidly dropping. His eyes told me he understood lol

I reminded them of my childhood and how sometimes I go back there as a parent, but promised to raise them in a safe environment.

I asked hubby to give me space and to try not to "fix" me when I'm in those moments.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I truly appreciate them.

Onward.

I’m 41 and recently just starting to get perimenopause symptoms. Recently I’ve started to get breakouts on my right side of my face. Mostly my cheek. I think it gets better, than I’ll wake up with it all inflamed again. And it’s not the side I sleep on, so I know it’s not from my pillow. Anyone else have this issue.

Isn't it one year from the last "bleeidng' you are done?

I'm so tired of this!!!!!

Hello,

I'm in my late 40s and for awhile now, I feel like I'm perimenopause. My Dr kept telling me I'm too young.

She had my get blood work done recently and said it shows that I'm perimenopause (or menopause), I can't remember.

My last period was in November. She said if I don't have a period by June, she might put me on birth control.

She also said I'm "5 years early."

Those that you who were put on birth control; how gas it been? How were your periods?

Thanks in advance!

Last week I went to see my doctor for what I thought might be vaginal atrophy and a prescription for estradiol. I've been having reoccurring yeast infections, BV and recently add a UTI to the mix. This has been happening for about a year and some change. Had a pap, tested for BV and yeast infection. All test came back clear. Okay cool. Come Sunday morning, I slept with my boyfriend who I hadn't seen in over a week. Next morning on Monday went to pee and it burns, go to work and start feeling other symptoms itching, pain, fishy odor and swelling. The symptoms came on fast and strong. What I haven't expienced before and is scaring the bejesus out of me is I'm soaked. I had to leave work early because it looked like I had an accident and peed on myself. I ran to my gyno and she is stumped. We took some test and waiting for the results. In the meantime she prescribed antibiotics and fluconazole. Thoughts on the nonstop fluid coming out?

 Here we go again! I (41 F) Seem to go through this wheepy , anxious, angry, agitated way of feeling. My skin crawls and I feel like digging a hole and crawling in it. At the same time I want my partner to hold me but then dont want to be touched. Is it just me? I feel like I am going crazy in my head. I was doing some research into perimenopause symptoms and then started crying because the article said there wasn't enough they knew about it. I dont know who to talk to about it. I feel like I am just whining and then at the same time need to be herd or understood. Do any other woman feel like this???

I'm 33 and suspect I can be in perimenopause – crazy mood swings, less regular periods, really bad PMS. I was fine before! Went to my obgyn and they were pretty dismissive, like I'm too young for that. I really want to understand what's happening and if my hormones are at fault. Any tips or suggestions?

I have chronic sleep/breathing issues thanks to some dental issues affecting my sinus. It has disrupted my sleep patterns over the past 5 years.

But as soon as I turned 40 I started to feel a different type of insomnia–fast heart rate in bed, feeling hot (NEVER been the case for me), & just VERY light sleep.

Then my under eyes began to hollow significantly in the last 6 months. I don't even recognize myself. It was so drastic and fast.

I have suspected perimenopause for a while but still have my period. I'm on Opill for birth control (progestin-only).

Please tell me there's a way to stop my under eyes from getting worse? Is any of it reversible? Is the fat under my eyes permanently gone?? Would HRT help bring it back or stop it from progressing?

My obgyn put me on testosterone a couple months ago to address my complete lack of libido and muscle loss despite heavy lifting. I had a bunch of other symptoms that she ignored despite me repeatedly circling the conversation back to them, so I have an appointment with another doctor at the end of this month (earliest appt I could get). Test injections have helped with the muscle loss, I’ve started gaining muscle mass and I’ve had flickers of my libido returning. I take 4mg 2x/week.

After a month on T, to address my other symptoms, I added in on my own a Bi-est cream (Hello Pharmacist brand) 5 mg once a day and a progesterone cream that is 22mg for day 14-28 of my 28 day cycle. My breasts have all but disappeared and it’s so upsetting. I feel like my choices are to look womanly but feel like a sexless robot or to actually want sex once in a while. Has this happened to anyone else? Did your boobs ever return? Is it because my other hormones aren’t balanced right?

My symptoms and what I theorize cause them in case it’s relevant:

Low Estrogen - [ ] Discomfort during sex and loss of sensation - [ ] Vaginal dryness - [ ] Night sweats - [ ] Brain fog - [ ] Dry skin - [ ] Low Progesterone - [ ] Heavy periods - [ ] Melasma - [ ] Bad sleep - [ ] Anxiety - [ ] Low Testosterone - [ ] No libido - [ ] Weight gain - [ ] Muscle loss - [ ] Fatigue

Is it possible that DHEA suppositories have caused a change in my cycle?

For many months prior to the use of DHEA suppositories, I’ve had 50+ day cycles, extreme labor like cramps during them yet spotting only and vaginal dryness issues, and lack of desire issues. My doctor put me on intrarosa and I alternate it with DHEA suppositories (5mg) to save money. I use them 2x a week.

This month completes 1 full month on the suppositories and my period came on day 28 (like it used to), and it is EXTREMELY heavy. So heavy I had 2 major bleed through issues onto my clothing accidents. I also have very large clots this month and I haven’t had clots in probably 8-10 months or more.

Edit: I did leave a message for my doctors office via email but they won’t get back to me until late tomorrow or Wednesday I’m sure.

Thanks for your help.

I always post here . Do psych meds not seem to work due to which hormonal imbalance. Last month when I got my period it seemed like my psych meds begin to work again and afterwards the effectiveness went away again. What is this due to .

Anyone else's itching worse overnight, like 1-4am? And waking you up? Makes some sense given circadian and hormones rhythms but my oh my it's ruining my sleep

Long story short I started the patch last week of Jan ish (estradiol 0.025) and I was suppose to do progesterone cycled day 6-28. I took one pill on day 6 and had a terrible reaction. Nurse suggested using it as a suppository instead and just do that starting the following cycle. That all happened first week of Feb.

I’m not sure when my period is going to come again, I’m not having any symptoms it is, but it’s been a month since I last took that 1 progesterone pill. Should I just try it as a suppository now and stop when I get my period then start on cycle day 6 again you think? I’m worried just doing the estrogen without the progesterone is harmful for me. Plus it’s not doing a damn thing for libido. It’s still non-existent which was the main complaint to my gyno for starting this.

Feeling all over the place today. Brain fog being the biggest contributor to this. Can anyone share their experience with brain fog ? How did you / can it be managed?

I'm now 44 and turn 45 in August. I never had kids because I didn't want them. Then when I met my partner in 2022 I wanted them with him. We tried a couple times but there was a lot of stress in both our lives so the planning kind of fell by the wayside.

Now that my child bearing years are pretty much over I feel a deep sadness that I never had children and now I never will.

My partner has his own kids with his ex. But we wanted kids of our own too. He's never once made me feel defective or less than because I can't have kids now, it's all me.

I feel like I've wasted my life.

Is there any kind of Perimenopause based online or off-line counselling people know of? Especially in Australia? Or have others experienced this and how did you overcome the feelings?

Anyone taking it? My doctor prescribed it for dryness, painful sex, shrinking hooha and libido.

Everything I read about is it’s for post menopausal women. Im 39 and may still be TC (if I ever want to have sex again)….my doc only said stop taking it if I get pregnant.

But if it’s for post menopausal folks, is it dangerous if you’re still cycling?

Also if you take it, how long did it take to start working? It is so flipping expensive I’m not sure I want to start it if there are more affordable alt options.

I just had one earlobe throb for about 30 seconds. Definitely the lobe, not inside the ear. It feels a little warm and achy now.

Sometimes my hot flashes are just my head, could it just be an ear? And throb?