Progesterone for peri-menopause symptoms?

[Anonymous]

Had anyone else done this? I am 50 and my GYN just prescribed this. My main complaint is such ridiculous hot flashes. She says because I am still having periods (about 45 days apart), estrogen would not be a wise fit. But maybe progesterone (starting in second half of cycle) could ameliorate the sweating. It is not night sweats. It is daytime, and so embarrassing. Basically I am comfortable at like 62 degrees to balance out the internal furnace that fires up within my core , and then my head starts turning on fire, my hair is soaked, I feel sweat rivulets running down my back, it is a nightmare. Has anyone else treated these symptoms this way, and to any avail? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Yikes, please see a new doc. Estrogen is what resolves these symptoms, not progesterone. You may still need the progesterone because you have a uterus, but progesterone won’t resolve these symptoms. Why does your doctor say that still having periods precludes an estrogen prescription?

Estrogen is the first line treatment for hot flashes, not progesterone, regardless of whether you’re peri- or menopausal.

If you need a menopause specialist, there are menopause telehealth services that treat women in accordance with current best research. Good luck, OP! You’ll feel better quickly once you have estrogen.

[Anonymous]

Wow, seriously? (This is op) because the other problem I am having is trying to time it since my cycles are so wacky now. I am sooo grateful for cooler temps so my symptoms are more manageable now, but still, people comment, “Oh, brrr, aren’t you feeezing?!!” And I am always made to feel like I am an outside the normal human realm of temperature feeling or something. :/

Anyone else??

[Anonymous]

Definitely get a new doc.

[Anonymous]

A couple things--read Dr. Jen Gunter's The Menopause Manifesto and yes, find a new GYN.

[Anonymous]

Just to add, talk to your new doc about estradiol gel. I'm only 44, have an IUD so no periods), but 1mg of the stuff daily has helped turn me from a hormonal lunatic to a level, calm lake.

[Anonymous]

Agree. You need estrogen and it’s ok to do that during peri.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, please see a new doc. Estrogen is what resolves these symptoms, not progesterone. You may still need the progesterone because you have a uterus, but progesterone won’t resolve these symptoms. Why does your doctor say that still having periods precludes an estrogen prescription?

Estrogen is the first line treatment for hot flashes, not progesterone, regardless of whether you’re peri- or menopausal.

If you need a menopause specialist, there are menopause telehealth services that treat women in accordance with current best research. Good luck, OP! You’ll feel better quickly once you have estrogen.

DP here. Some doctors think that because in perimenopause you have fluctuating hormones, adding estrogen might make it too high at some point. But people with symptoms generally have low estrogen most of the time. There are many doctors or online services that will prescribe estrogen.

[Anonymous]

Get a Femring .5 eztrogen

[Anonymous]

IUD to stop your periods and estrogen patch for hot flashes.

[Anonymous]

Love the topical estrogens (spray, gel) and went on them with a reproductive endocrinologist for hot flashes way before my menopause. He said they dint boost your levels anll that high, that instead they keep them from completely flat lining Agree that you need a different doctor.

[Anonymous]

Femring