Feel like things are going downhill very fast!

[Stevie77]

48 yo, periods started to be erratic mid 2023 pre the “great menopause enlightenment”. Sent for a couple of blood tests which came back within normal range and the doc sent me on my merry way. In hindsight I was definitely peri then, but haven’t really had any other obvious symptoms.

Started on HRT in March this year - first the gel, now I’m on Evorel 75 patches, cyclical Progesterone, and was prescribed Testogel this week. Progesterone is not bringing on a bleed during off weeks, and I’m getting the feeing I am also at the point of needing some vaginal oestrogen.

It just feels like it all escalated really quickly and that I am far too young to be so extensively medicalised 🫠😆. At this rate I’d be taking HRT medication for longer than I took birth control 😂. I also don’t feel ready for my periods to stop altogether - my youngest has just started secondary school!

anyway, if anyone wants to share their experience of vaginal oestrogen I’d love to hear it. It reads messy!

I use the pessary twice a week. It's very straightforward.

You can think of it more as taking supplements if it helps - you're supplementing your hormones to rebalance them as they change. 48 is definitely not too young, and blood tests aren't recommended as a means of diagnosing peri any more, it should be done on age (45+) and symptoms.

You're pretty fortunate if you have a gp willing to prescribe testosterone, most are reluctant!

@Pamspeople that is a good point and I like the way you suggest to view this; as supplementing hormones. It’s just so consuming, with multiple products and applications. I guess I am lucky since I never had to deal with any medical conditions, so this is new to me.

I guess I feel a bit sad this is coming along earlier than it does to most.

And yes! My GPs are great and seem very knowledgeable, and I am indeed grateful and appreciative.

Hi OP, I've been on HRT since age 44. I don't consider it to be medical so you could try looking at it another way, for me it is hormone replacement and I am now the same as I was age 38 before everything went haywire.

Estriol cream is magic. No more wees in the night. No more itchy bits. And I rub some on my neck and jaw line too. You can get face creams with it in.

My labia had been grey and now they are pink again!