Perimenopuase

[Menopawsal]

Welp, managed to spend 5 minutes wondering why I can't post a message when there's actually a nice shiny 'Post a new message' option at the top >.<

Anyways - had a sub-total hysterectomy at the age of 35 (am now 43), and have started being driven nucking futs over the past year or so by brain fog, mood swings, sweats, dizzy spells etc.

What kind of options would there be for someone who's not quite willing yet to go down the HRT route?

Do things like black cohosh/starflower oil/soya isoflavones etc help?

Any suggestions gratefully received :)

Why don't you want HRT?

It has transformed my life!

Sage can help with sweats if they're not too bad. Worth getting vitamin d levels checked, thyroid too. A lot of people swear by menopace. I know people who've used black cohosh but I've heard it can cause liver issues, that's what put me off trying it.

Good luck :)

In answer to your question, and having had a partial hysterectomy with meno kicking in in early forties myself, my key message would be that regular exercise really helps, as does cutting down significantly on sugar and alcohol (boo hoo). I did find some benefit to mood from St John’s Wort (but it gave me brown patches on my neck I think), and the soy isoflavones. And learning to walk away when I feel irrationally upset with someone, as it is usually not their fault.

I looked into it, and realised that if meno starts before the average age of 51, the current evidence suggests that HRT does not pose any additional risks, and significantly helps to prevent osteoporosis (by giving your bones the added years of the hormones it would averagely get). Therefore I have opted to take HRT and plan to stay on it until at least 51. As I had kept my ovaries, I only need oestrogen, not the other kind. As I am overweight, a gel or a patch is recommended, and now I use the evorel patches, you just stick one on twice a week. I am now starting to feel better than for ages, 6 months on - getting fit, eating well, feeling calm, enjoying work. I use an otc gel for vaginal issues occasionally, but otherwise I don’t really have any symptoms now.