Questions about low oestrogen 18 months after baby / perimenopause?

[VinylQueen]

I don't know if there's a section for peri-menopause on here so sorry if I posted in the wrong section. Also I don't even know if this is perimenopause...

I had a baby last year and I'm led to believe by my smear test nurse that my oestrogen has dropped and stayed low (due to various symptoms). I'm 42 and she said it may or may not be connected with age, but definitely birth. She said to talk to GP about prescriptions that can help with oestrogen levels.

Is this HRT? Does anyone know about taking oestrogen after a drop in oestrogen levels due to giving birth?

I spoke to a GP who was all of 25 and she told me I'd need an internal examination before any prescription would be offered but this doesn't seem right?

If you can, it would be very worth your while to go privately to a peri/menopause specialist. GP's are woefully ignorant about peri-menopause and hormonal issues.

Do you have any recommendations?

Just bumping to see if anyone else knows anything about this 🙏

Hi @VinylQueen. Came across your post when googling my own symptoms. I suffer from vulvodynia (vaginal nerve pain) and chronic bladder infection (been on long term high dose antibiotics since January). These problems started 2019, there's a long history, but probably due to treatments to try and maintain a pregnancy. Anyway, I managed to keep both conditions somewhat under control and after a number of losses I gave birth to my miracle baby 3 months ago (I'm 44). Was feeling ok-ish in following the birth until a month and a half ago started experiencing various vaginal symptoms and bladder symptoms (constant need to go, abdominal pain). My bladder specialist said there was no infection at the time. I then saw my specialist who was helping me with vulvodynia to ask to go back on medicine that controlled it before pregnancy (had to come off when I got pregnant). He listened to my symptoms and asked if I have my period back yet (I don't). Based on that and my symptoms, he said it's most likely lack of estrogen due to breastfeeding (baby gets mainly formula, but I pump to give him whatever little I get). He did not examine me, but gave me a prescription for 3 months Vagifem (vaginal estrogen pessaries). Apparently these should start working within 4 to 6 weeks. This is not systemic HRT, but local estrogen to help with symptoms. I've since googled and apparently breastfeeding can give you a menopausal vagina... It should get better once periods return and one stops breastfeeding...assuming hormones go back to normal... Can I ask if you have been experiencing any bladder symptoms at all? Were you able to see someone privately? Where are you based? Hope you feel better soon.