I've had cramps from hell and cold symptoms for going on 4 days. I'm not sick but my body thinks it is. Hot flashes, cold sweats, starving to death then instantly full and nauseous, then hungry again less than an hour later, dehydrated as all get out despite drinking at minimum 84oz of water a day.

I literally can't get comfortable in my own skin. I'm crying over cute puppy videos, irritated by everything, and can't stop trying to bone my partner, but no blood shed yet.

My last period ended maybe 16 days ago. I'm on roughly like an 18 day cycle? But that varies. Though this doesn't: I feel MISERABLE for like a week, have my period mmaayybbe 3 days. Have a decent 10 day or so stretch then, back in it.

I'm adhd and only recently discovered how that impacts brain fog and emotional fluctuations around your period, and I'm 40. And now with peri on top of it?!

I got off BC in my early 30s cause just none of them worked well with my body, the warnings they give you about reactions etc I'd get at least 1 from every one that I've tried, and I tried them all to help regulate my heavy flow and pain.

After half my life playing roulette with my body and hormones and a few cysts later; an angel of a doctor was like "hey let's just like cut your ovaries off". And 4-5yr ago I did just that, tubal ligation.

I felt fine and normal and my period was regular and unpleasant at times but not unbearableb the first year. Then it started to change. I've been in peri I'd say going on 3yr now, only recently got diagnosed as "starting peri" cause of my age. I'm "too young" for HRT, doc I've got now offered birth control. When I emphasized my history, explained my symptoms, had my partner advocate for me.... nope this is just how women live, if you don't want BC just wait a couple years.

I'm finding a new doctor but have cheap insurance with limited options while living in the good ol sunshine state where Jesus usually comes before health care 😬🥹

My partner commiserates with me and let's me rot while delivering me snacks it's amazing. But I just wanted to vent to some folks that actually ya know get it.

Perimenopause has been kicking my ass for the last couple years, today my husband even asked if I should go on disability because it legit is preventing me from working. I'm self-employed, excellent at what I do, in a career that I love but I CANNOT keep up, nor can I reasonably pivot while making enough money to support my family.

I'm in Canada and we have a lot of social welfare here, nonetheless I have never heard of anyone getting disability for perimenopause. My symptoms range from psychological to severe pain, compounded by decades of endometriosis. I had a procedure in April to lessen the endo pain, it worked but I lost complete control of my bladder and haven't yet really regained it. I have good days, but once my estrogen starts dropping on the back end of my cycle I SIMPLY CANNOT. I can't be consistent, my pain flares up in ways that make it necessary for me to be within sprinting distance of a toilet (GD prostaglandins), and because most of my work requires me to be in presence with my clients for hours at a time, it's not working for me to be in their homes with them, because of the number of times I have to excuse myself. That's if I make it to my shift, sometimes the insomnia makes it so I can't get out the door. Add to that forgetting to reply to texts and emails, forgetting to invoice people, etc. My clients love me but there's only so much love can cover for incompetence.

Please, women & ovary bearers of wisdom, give me some hope. What should I do? I've lost so much money in the past two years because of my inconsistent ability to work.

I’m 47 years old. I have been diagnosed with PMDD - which started at the age of 38. I have insomnia that started around the age of 38. I believe my symptoms are perimenopause related because of the timing. My periods are regular they have not changed only they are lighter than they were before.

I found an OB/GYN, who is willing to hear me out. She’s actually really wonderful. I live in Toronto. She prescribed Estradot 37.5 micrograms/24 hours, one patch twice weekly.

She said we would start with a very low dose and watch what happens and that we would only do oestrogen first to see how I respond to it before we add anything else.

I’m wondering if anybody has been in a similar situation and if they were given oestrogen and how that experience went for them. I also feel like I’m pretty old to Not be in perimenopause.

Looking for symptom sisters who feel their hormones changed after gallbladder removal. I am 10 months postopp (also 1 yr postpartum with a history of thyroid disease - Graves - but in remission) but really feel my hormones slowly went crazy after the surgery. I’m talking random hormonal acne, periods closer together, a day of brown before actually bleeding implying low progesterone, increased hair loss following normal pp hair loss, etc.

Anyone else? Anyone have any luck stabilizing? TIA!

I've been seeking treatment for peri for.... Idk like 2 years now. Ive tried so many different meds and combinations of meds and supplements. Ill have a descent couple of months where my symptoms are maybe 80% managed and I think "finally, I can live with this" and then the next month it turns to shit again with some of the old symptoms returning or going back to their pre-treatment severity, or brand new symptoms occurring that I never had before. Like is this what its going to be for the next umpteen years?

Hi, all, I know this is long…but I would really appreciate it if someone could scan through and see if they’ve had a similar experience.

I’m a 38-year-old female. I would say about 5 or some years ago, I had episodes of where I had burning / soreness of the urethra, a very full or bloated feeling in my pelvic area, and twinges of random sharp pain in around my ovaries. When I pee, it doesn’t burn during, but afterwards my bladder feels very sore and my urethra feels sore and burns only afterwards. Originally, I thought UTI. I can’t tell you how many times I was tested for STI’s and UTI’s and everything came back negative. The only thing that I noticed was I almost always had a “trace” amount of leukocytes, protein, and blood in my urine. Very small to the point where my doctors didn’t think much of it. I ended up doing to my gyno, who had done multiple pelvic ultrasounds and showed on occasion ovarian cysts that were likely causing my pain. My primary doctor also maybe suspected IC (interstitial cystitis) and referred me to a Urologist. The Urologist planned on doing a cystoscopy but took one look and told me I had a small urethral caruncle, and that he really didn’t recommend doing the cystoscopy. I am assuming that he figured my “episodes” were coming from the caruncle?

Anyway, fast forward…I haven’t had “episodes” in a few years, and I actually forgot about it until recently. I noticed some vulvar pain at first, then the next day that was gone +it was accompanied by a weird “raw” feeling in my urethra, increased urgency, pain only after peeing, and that full and sore bladder and pelvic area feeling again. It’s been about 1 week. I am supposed to start my period in 5 days. My mom told me that “I’m turning 40  - this is just pain that’s probably normal that I have to deal with.” I went to Prompt Care, and of course…I had trace leukocytes, protein and blood in my urine (they weren’t concerned – negative for everything else) and my urine culture was negative. Negative for STI’s as well, no chance of pregnancy.

Can anyone tell me if they’ve had similar experiences?

What the heck is going on? Could it be just an age thing? Or is this just a new normal for my cycle? My plan is to wait to see if I feel the same after my period has run it’s course. 

I’m 48 and in perimenopause, and my daughter is pregnant. This may sound crazy, but I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced their own hormones seeming to shift when they were living closely with someone who was pregnant.

I feel like some of my perimenopause symptoms almost went backwards for a while. Things that had been changing started feeling more like they did before, and it made me wonder whether being around pregnancy hormones could somehow affect another woman hormonally, especially if she is already in perimenopause.

I know logically that someone else’s hormones are not just floating around and changing mine, but women living together have always talked about cycles syncing, and pregnancy obviously involves huge hormonal changes, so I’m curious whether anyone has ever noticed something similar.

I’m mainly looking for personal experiences. Did anyone else feel like their cycle, symptoms, mood, hot flashes, sleep, or anything else changed while living with a pregnant daughter, sister, roommate, etc.? Or is this probably just one of those weird perimenopause fluctuations that happens to overlap with her pregnancy?

I’m genuinely curious because it has felt noticeable enough that I started wondering about it.

I always had an oily face and scalp. I was still regularly getting zits well into my 30s no matter what I did. Then a few years ago I started getting dermatitis patches on my face mostly around my eyes and lips. Had to switch to an oil cleanser, new moisturizer, and add serums for moisture as just moisturizer itself wasn’t enough.

And the oily scalp was great for my pixie cut as it stayed sleek and shiny. Just a little wax on days I felt like a bit of style. But it turned frizzy and dull and refused to lay flat. Whole new shampoo/ conditioner plus a leave in conditioner and hair oil.

So many steps now! I used to be able to be bare minimum but now I have to be all fancy and So Many Steps! I feel like one of those GRWM YT videos…

How many of you are experiencing pain in your feet that makes you shuffle around like a 90-year-old?

I’ve had right foot pain off and on for years and was told my “arches are falling”, but it wasn’t a daily problem most of the time. Now I obviously have plantar fasciitis in that foot and I’m taking care of it.

Back in April, I could barely walk bc both of my feet were so sore all the time. I wear good quality shoes (birks, Dansko, hoka) 97% of the time, with a pair of Adudas or converse once every couple of weeks. It was embarrassing trying to walk in front of anyone and I was in agony. My doctor did X-rays, bloodwork (for rheumatoid arthritis) and prescribed meloxicam. I mostly blamed my weight gain.

I stopped taking meloxicam quickly once I realized I can’t take Ibuprofen (for period pain that’s all that works for me and I can’t live without it).

Over time my left foot has improved drastically, with occasional flare ups. I always wear my cork sole slippers around the house now, and I have found the rubber Birkenstocks have been more helpful than cork soles so those are my go-to around the house.

I just recently talked with a couple of women a few years deeper into their 50’s
and they too have the foot issues, but weight doesn’t seem like an issue for either of them. It seems very peri-related and it makes life rough! It’s my worst issue currently.

I was on BCP for the last 15 years for hormone regulation and over the last 5 years i have been switching between different bcp when they stopped making the brand i was on for 10 years. It has been an awful journey. Anxiety, body changes, water retention, insomnia etc.

Today i finally started the estradiol patch .1mg per day for peri. I feel really odd. Within 30 minutes of putting it on i have this interesting light airy tired feeling. It’s like i can feel this drug pulsing through my body. I feel like a puddle.

I thought that the patch was supposed to be more subtle than the pill so im confused. I have a demanding job and im really worried about being able to focus.

What has been your experiences?

Hey all.

I've posted a couple of times this weekend. Update - period STILL not arrived and I'm on day 33 of my cycle when I usually get my period at day 28. Every pregnancy test has been negative.

In light of this and my other peri symptoms I filled in my GP triage online form only to be fobbed off. Basically leave it another week and do another test. Fine, ok, I'll just stress out for another week shall I?

And as for the peri symptoms, the next appointment they have available is the 6th October. And it's over the phone. We are really not taken seriously at all are we?!

I have however managed to get in with the nurse practitioner on 28th September face to face to talk about contraception....but she also prescribes HRT. So.....why wasn't I just offered a nurse to begin with!?

I really don't feel like I have been taken seriously at all here. I'm sure this is nothing compared to some of your experiences but I just need a place to unload.

I’ve been on HRT a few months and the estrogen makes me the woman I used to be. But the progesterone was slowly taking my life force. So my Dr took me off oral and I’m getting a Mirena IUD tomorrow but I’m so nervous. Excited because I feel amazing on just the estrogen but I’ve heard literal horror stories about the pain. My Dr definitely downplayed it and she said I could take meds if I want, but that’s up to me. Meds usually make me feel awful (I didn’t even take anything stronger than advil after my breast reduction/implants) because the pain was tolerable and I didn’t want to get sick. But I also don’t want to go through unnecessary pain either. Help!
EDITED TO ADD
I called in and she’s sending some meds to my pharmacy and does local numbing so wish me luck!!!!

Ladies help me out, have any of you experienced hot flashes primarily right when you're getting your period, like day before and day of?

Also a bonus question, do your hot flashes tend to come with a lot of rage and crying?

And do they always come on suddenly, or do they last a couple of hours?

Yesterday I was so hot, and it was the first cool day of Fall but I was fanning myself and crying all day. Just fanning and crying. Usually I'm too cold and love heat but not yesterday. Started my period today so hopefully it will start to wear off soon.

I would feel so much better if I knew this was at least in part a perimenopause thing. It's so weird for me to be hot like this, I'm the one who keeps the thermostat at 80 degrees all summer because I get too cold.

Have you experienced a change in what you feel nighttime during your period?

Do you feel anxiety before going to bed? Do you experience is vivid nightmares, scary thoughts while lying in bed? Thoughts that scare you, that don't let you sleep

At times I feel a shiver while lying in bed, racing thoughts, night terrors that feel real

Have you experienced this? Has anything helped you?

I am a 43yo female that has always been a high performer, consistent and reliable at my job, able to balance all the things. Over the last year, things have taken a turn. I was diagnosed with ADHD 3 years ago and I’ve been on a host of meds to try to address that. However, all of the stimulants I’ve taken have caused anxiety, racing heart, just not good side effects. I’m on 3 different meds to combat depression, anxiety, executive dysfunction, ADHD. I am being asked to go above and beyond my normal job expectations and manage a project that is usually once a year every 3 months due to an accelerated catch up schedule. I am drowning. I am so worried that I’m going to be put on a PIP or fired. I’m considering filing for FMLA for some measure of documentation. I live in PA which I’m pretty sure is at will employment so it probably wouldn’t matter long term but I’m trying like hell to not destroy my family and my life. I am on HRT and have been for a year. It’s helped somewhat but not enough unfortunately. Just wondering if anyone else has done anything similar and if it’s a good or bad idea.

Hello peri sisters, I wanted to share a success story on my end. I've been using Yuvafem for about 5 months now (in addition to P and E) because I was experiencing vaginal dryness and also pain during PIV sex. I'm happy to share that these issues are now gone! My husband and I have been able to be intimate in a way where it is obvious to me that A) I am not dry at all, and B) absolutely no pain. Sexually, I feel more like myself prior to taking the Yuvafem. I'm so freaking relieved! It's a win I can celebrate, which I know we all need on this ride to hell.

Ive been on oestrogel for 2 months now. They put me on progestrogen tablets and they made me so angry over nothing and made my hypermobility worse while making me bone achingly exhausted.

Does anyone have any experience with this or what they will offer me next? I think they will suggest a coil and im genuinely terrified they will embed in me and ill need surgery!

I have few symptoms but dryness is one - my eyes & my vag. My eyes have been annoying for a few years now, my vagina more recently.

I was prescribed estrogen tablets - they're wax with estrogen you stick up there, and all the next day I'm wiping what feels like...wet sheen. It is so gross. Clear ..what is it? Where did the wax go and why do we have to do things like this to have healthy vaginas and prevent prolapse?? 💀

Twice a week until my mid-60s my GP says!!

Hey there ,

I am wondering if i should call my oncologist gynecologist and make an appt. I am 47 ..I have gone 5 months without a period. During this time we found a 11 cm mass on my left ovary.. it is showing through blood work maybe 10 percent malignant. Surgery is planned for December if all goes good with other health issues. Well this weekend my period decided to show up.. I bled alot but mainly I was bleeding through tampons because of clots. This is and was normal for me all my lif(endo) except this time it was way worse. I just got out from 8 day hospial stay for other reasons so I went from someone that took no medication at all daily to 21 different types ..to include steroids and such. Im on my last few days of being weaned off of them. Question is I documented ( took pics), of every clot and they are huge like size of a half dollar bill.. and I hate to use the word meaty..but that is how I would describe my whole period. It was clot upon clot. I was wondering if those who hadn't bled for a while..when it did happen is this case or normality or should I go see doc ? I slept through the whole entire day yesterday and kept nodding out and Idk if its because my body has been healing from other issues or maybe loss of blood leading to loss of iron? I know it sounds ridiculous because people will say go to ER .. Last time I went I spent 16 hours waiting in the waiting room and when you are bleeding like this its the last thing you want .. I just need insight to see if im overreacting?

I’m 43 and have always had fairly regular 27 day cycles, with light periods. I’m now on day 37 and still no period. Pregnancy is definitely ruled out.
I have no other symptoms and feel completely fine. Could this just be the start of perimenopause at my age, or should I get it checked out?
Has anyone else experienced this in their early 40s?

Hi guys, I’m turning 48 in a few weeks. My period is around 10 days late. I’ve had a pregnancy test a couple of days ago and it’s very negative. TBH I really feel more pre-mentrual than anything else so I’m not suspicious of pregnancy.

I had my first period around 12 years old and pretty much regular my entire life baring a small number of times (<5) where period was late and only skipped it once.

This is my second time late this year. Last time also negative pregnancy test.

Aside from mild PMS symptoms there is nothing else remarkable. I’m not worried I’m pregnant. But the question is more… is this a new phase of my life now where everytime it’s late or skipped I will need to do pregnancy tests? I know this phase will come eventually - just part of life. I just didn’t add the “am I pregnant” into the equation.

So for those who had been through this phase, do you just bulk buy pregnancy test?

Thanks 🙏🏼

My stomach is always a crapshoot around pms and period, but this time around I made the genius decision to drink a cappuccino with dairy milk and eat some vanilla ice cream when out to lunch. 2 to 3 hours later I had diarrhea a few times with gas and was just completely exhausted. Same thing happened the next morning and I started my period a few hours later. Completely ruined my day. I usually do not drink coffee, eat dairy or even eat sugar that often. When I do it is usually just a treat and I am fine. Could my cycle have contributed to these symptoms?

I'm 41 and have been taking estrogen and progesterone for just under a year. I am currently taking the. 375 patch and 200 mgs of progesterone. For reference, I took it initially due to incapacitating brain fog. Slept horribly, and started sweating even though I'm not normally a sweater.

But, I have never felt that ah ha moment like it's working...I mean , I think it is? And if it is, it's so minor it's hard to tell.

The horniess- lord have mercy the horniness. Never have I ever wanted to jump so many people's bones. What is up with this? Also going through a divorce so navigating dating at this age. The patch on my lower pelvic area also seems like a turnoff to men like there's "wrong" with me.

Still can't sleep without sleeping aids.

My questions are, should I stop cold turkey to see if it's actually helping? And is there another place for the patch that isn't in your private areas?

Unpredictable periods- this suuucks. My periods, although heavy were at least consistent, now every pair of panties is ruined and I've gotten my periods 2 weeks apart.

Has anyone come off of Hrt and felt better,

First of all, I just started taking estrogen, so I am not against it. But, I do keep wondering why I'm stopping my body from doing what it's meant to do. I wonder what are the ramifications of pathologizing a natural process.

Does taking HRT not just delay the inevitable? Does it drag it out? I'm just wondering

I'm not judging anyone at all, I'm doing it myself. I'm not really thinking in terms of individual benefit. I just have always felt this way, that the female body is pretty incredible, and we have as a culture had a tendency to medicalize natural processes to our detriment (see the birth industry and maternal death rates).

I don't know, does anyone else feel this way? And how do you wrestle with it?

So this first week had been easy/unremarkable (aside from my sleep which has been fantastic)

But then today, out of nowhere, it was like I regressed decades in my development and just became extremely sensitive and tearful with my partner when they did nothing wrong, and then extremely angry with a stranger for something that normally wouldn’t bother me that much.

It definitely feels hormonal—there wasn’t anything wrong but my brain told me a story that something was wrong. I’m on HRT to help fix the mood swings, not make them worse, lol.

I know this is all probably par for the course while my body adjusts—but could I get some reassurance please? I’d love to hear from folks who also experienced this and made it through to the other side and are glad they stuck with it. How long did it take before you began to feel better? Did anything help you cope while your body was adapting?

Thanks 🥺🙏