How much did HRT help your non-physical symptoms?

[Anonymous]

Struggling with anxiety, a little depression, and brain fog/trouble concentrating. I think part is due to menopause but it’s hard to tell. I haven’t had a period in over a year, and went through some hot flashes, but those seem a little better now.

Does it seem like it’s worth trying HRT? I have an high level job and can’t afford to be this off.

[Anonymous]

Give it a shot. Maybe a low dose estrogen patch.
I used that with low dose progesterone pills periodically. See what your GYN says and mention risk factors like family history.

[Anonymous]

Oh, definitely helped with the mood regulation. I have every reason to be suffering from anxiety and depression with my high-stress job, and I've been amazingly chill since starting menopause hormone therapy. Everything feels evened out, if that makes sense. No emotional roller coaster, no freaking out about things. It's been great.

I'm taking Prempro.

[Anonymous]

Helped so much with sleep, anxiety and clarity.

[Anonymous]

Yes with brain fog and sleep.

[Anonymous]

Around perimenopause I had significant cognitive issues. They say that dementia is insulin resistance in the brain, and perimenopause is also a big time for insulin resistance (I felt that too - more hangry, cravings, etc.). I removed all grains from my diet and ate mostly vegetables and proteins. I also tried intermittent fasting. These are all good for reversing insulin resistance, and they worked really well for me.

[Anonymous]

Game changer for me. Saw improvement on the lowest dose. Now am up slightly and I am so so so much calmer, can remember words, don’t just stare blankly at walls, no irrational rages. All of this started for me during COVID—and my job stunk, my kids were a mess, my mom was deteriorating—so I thought it was just who I was now. Turns out it was the hormones. Men wouldn’t put up with that shit. Take the hormones.

[Anonymous]

Helped so much with extreme irritability, depression, anxiety, sleep, brain fog etc. Life has improved so much. Before I thought I had dementia and depression. Didn’t feel like I could make it. I do an estrogen patch, testosterone cream, estrogen tablet insert and progesterone pill.

[Anonymous]

Yes helped tremendously

For me it took a while to establish what worked.
Ie estrogen tablet insert and progesterone pill or Patch. Eventually we figured it out.

Find a good GYN that deals with this not just moms having kids.

[Anonymous]

Op, I think first you should get a thorough physical including blood work, your thyroid could be off and even vitamin levels.

There are some risks, and some rewards, with hrt. It's important for you to understand both of them and decide what to do. I mean it might be worth a trial for you to see if they help or not. But I would definitely do a general physical first and make sure it's not something like the thyroid, which is not unusual problem in our age group

[Anonymous]

Find and read the New York Times articles (plural) woken have been misled about menopause and 2 other articles published in Feb 2023. There is also one written later about menopause and women of color.

Of course labs are indicated before all treatments. And there is no longer a need to suffer with menopause.

[Anonymous]

*women not woken