Are OTC Supplements worth even bothering with?

[BamberGascoine]

I’m pretty sure Im in peri. Blood tests a couple of years ago said no but tbh I didn't believe it then as I hadn’t previously had any hormone related bloody tests so I don’t really understand how they work it out. Plus, in the last 2 years symptoms have increased.
Brain fog- was one of the first symptoms
Dry mouth
Poor sleep- have always had poor sleep but its got worse
Vaginal dryness
Rage!
Hair loss
Dry(er) skin
Needing to pee more often
Weight gain
Increase in sweat nut no hot flushes
Periods the same but the odd discharge/clot in between

I suffer from depression and anxiety anyway, sometimes take sertraline but currently unmedicated. I take vitamin D for a skin condition anyway but I’m wondering if there are any supplements worth taking. My Mum died from breast cancer so I’m reluctant to go straight to HRT- have been researching it though.

I am currently really concerned about the hair loss and brain fog. I’ve got some Plantur 39 products in my basket but there’s just too much out there and none of it is cheap!!

Are there any recommendations for things to try. Im 48 by the way.

TIA

I tried the usual OTC stuff before I caved and went onto HRT. I can't say anything made a difference, I eat a good diet so I was probably not deficient in anything to start with, I would say if your diet is not great give them a go otherwise your issues are probably hormonal in which case it's your hormones that need topping up. No vitamin etc will help you.

Actually, I hadn’t thought of it like that!

I agree that you need to optimise your diet and lifestyle first. Most of the stuff in supplements is not proven to help at all. They usually include lots of soya, sometimes sage, calcium etc and tiny amounts of vitamins etc making a very long list on the label. You could get all of these through food. Read the labels of supplements and see what's in them!

You can get your dryness and weeing a lot sorted with vaginal estrogen creams from your GP- not classed as HRT and not absorbed except where they go.

Thankyou, my diet definitely needs an overhaul, sensible place to start.

Will look in to the creams, thankyou

If it's any help, I take Flourish supplements which help with my anxiety, one magnesium tablet to help sleep and a daily mega fish oil supplement from Newson Health for joints/skin/heart. I don't know what extent the benefits are placebo, but I notice if I forget to take them. I'm also doing heavy weights at the gym (under supervision) to build muscle mass. I'm 50 and still have regular periods.