Might want to look into HRT / HT. It's worth discussing with your doctor, genuinely. It can help you with your transition to menopause by basically helping keep your hormones at a more stable level so you're not feeling like your on a rollercoaster ride of bullshit.
this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2026
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you can also just avoid menopause entirely and take sufficient HRT to keep the body functioning properly
Big yes to this!
Any thought about getting on HRT? Personally I just don't think it's reasonable to "tough" it out anymore without sex hormones - that's crazy talk, tbh.
I 100% agree. HRT has been used with perimenopausal and menopausal women for a long time now. It's very safe, has some great upsides, and quite frankly, I would never want to deal with menopause.
Like, living without sufficient sex hormones increases risk of heart attacks, risks breaking bones, it makes it hard to sleep, you get hot flashes and mood issues, like - no thanks. Just because the body is giving up on being alive doesn't mean we have to choose that, any more than when a diabetic finds their body isn't producing insulin anymore - just take the hormones and live a healthier and happier life, lol
Especially these days, now that we have bioidentical estrogen and it's not all just Premarin and synthetics - you're right it's much safer and I don't really see any downside (I think there is an increased risk of breast cancer, because that's just associated with estrogen in general).
Yeah, exactly!
That would be great. I am broke, though. I am eating beans and rice, so seeing a Dr. is out of the question unfortunately =/
the way I tend to look at it is that you can't afford not to prioritize your health - if due to low estrogen you aren't able to sleep and function at a job, or god forbid you break a bone due to not having enough estrogen ...
it's a bad time right now in the US, but usually Planned Parenthood would have a sliding scale option for people who can't afford healthcare and don't have insurance
I would pursue whatever avenues available to you that might lead to getting the healthcare you need; I understand if you can't afford it right now, but then I would be making a plan that will help you get the healthcare you need.
~~Sometimes~~ often times supporting people when they tell you about their troubles is and why they have them is better then countering with what they ought to do.
you are absolutely right
I’m 42 and in the beginning stages of perimenopause now and I have a friend who is 10 years older than me who has been in perimenopause for a few years now. We chat about it a lot with another friend who is younger, but she still wants to be informed. None of our mothers ever talked about perimenopause or menopause, they just suffered in silence and we are trying to change that.
The emotional swings are no fucking joke! I’m not one who gets upset at much, but my anger and rage gets pretty crazy when my cycle is about to start. This is new for me and one of the signs I’m getting into perimenopause because I am not a person who rages at minor issues. Thankfully, I can recognize it and I control my reactions most of the time.
I don’t hear it talked about often, but vertigo is also a symptom. My vertigo episodes aren’t frequent and usually only during specific activities, so it’s not a big issue at this time. I typically get vertigo when I park my car on a slight incline; when the car settles into park, it feels like the entire car is rolling away and I have to sit and stare at a fixed point until it passes. Thankfully, it only lasts a few seconds but it is noticeable.
I recommend looking into a few books that you may be able to pick up at your library.
- Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter, her books are really informative. I love that her writing comes from a place of women’s health and does not center around pregnancy. I’m buying this one for both of my friends and myself.
- An Idiot’s Guide to Perimenopause, I know the idiot’s guide books are sometimes looked at as silly, however this one has a lot of good information that is easy to find. Since so many generations before us only thought of menopause as a problem, it’s good to have a source that is easy to follow.
I don’t hear it talked about often, but vertigo is also a symptom. My vertigo episodes aren’t frequent and usually only during specific activities, so it’s not a big issue at this time. I typically get vertigo when I park my car on a slight incline; when the car settles into park, it feels like the entire car is rolling away and I have to sit and stare at a fixed point until it passes. Thankfully, it only lasts a few seconds but it is noticeable.
Oh my god, peri could be why I had issues with vertigo late last year?! Ugh. But also thanks for the heads up!
It’s quite possible! Mine have not been severe thankfully, but I know what triggers it so I can be prepared.
Forgive me the question, but what's the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
Menopause is defined as not having had a menstrual cycle for more than a year. Many women have a sort of stop start time where they may not have periods for a few months or where the periods are extremely irregular. This time can be a little fuzzy but is distinct enough from both reproductive years and menopause that it’s gotten the name of perimenopause.
Ah TIL! That makes sense, I don't have that quite yet. Do get the cramps though, but a good water bottle and chocolate helps often (for me at least).
Are the periods then sometimes worse, or lighter?
Perimenopause can change the timing, amount, and severity of your menstrual cycle, often making them worse, but not always. You may also notice changes in PMS symptoms, they usually are worse as well, but not always.
It's a phase before actual menopause. It's kind of your body transitioning into menopause.
I'm going to sound like an absolute shill, but through a lot of experimenting with the typical otc perimenopause/hot flash pills, they just don't work. What worked for me is traditional Chinese Medicine Geng Nian An Pian and a wild yam cream. My hot flashes were out of control, like 20 times an hour, just constantly rolling. And all the other symptoms. It was the end of the world and I was losing my mind. After a month, I felt like a normal person again. It's been 3 months since I last had a hot flash.