Dear readers, we’re at an age where conversations often touch on the subject of the menopause. Women wonder whether certain symptoms might be linked to hormonal changes, and the question keeps coming up: Should we take hormones when the time comes, or perhaps not?
Three years ago, our reader tried taking hormones, but it didn’t go well. She stopped taking them. Now, however, so much has changed for her that she’s trying again… and it’s working surprisingly well.
Dear reader, you say that at 48 you are now going through the menopause and have been dealing with „the ups and downs and all the rollercoaster rides“ for 6 years. Tell us how it all began.
It all started when I was 41; my cycle was irregular, with longer gaps between periods – sometimes 28 days, sometimes three months.
What happened next? Did you experience any further symptoms at any point? Was it then officially confirmed by a doctor that you were going through the menopause?
When I mentioned it to my GP, she simply said I was too young for that. But just to be on the safe side, we’d check your hormone levels and do an ultrasound. The ultrasound was fine, and a blood test was carried out. A few days later, I got a call: “I’m sorry, I was wrong – everything about your hormone levels points to the start of the menopause!”
She then recommended a few herbal supplements to help my cycle settle down again. It did eventually, but not as regularly as before. In November 2021, I decided to have a tubal ligation; in October – four weeks before the operation – I had my last period.
Back then, during perimenopause, you say you initially felt more like having sex than before. Did that surprise you? Were you able to act on it?
Yes, it was precisely in the period shortly after the operation that I entered a phase of ‘wanting more’, and yes, I – or rather, we – were able to act on it.
You say that you then suddenly lost all desire; how did you deal with that? Did you talk about it? Were you able to explain it to yourself at the time?
The whole phase lasted exactly three years, until early 2025. It frustrated me; I couldn’t explain it to myself. But I spoke very openly with my husband about it and he was understanding. Nevertheless, I somehow felt uncomfortable in my situation.
There were also typical symptoms such as hot flushes, weight gain, brain fog and mood swings. How did you help yourself? What was the most difficult thing for you?
In mid-2022, at the age of 44, I noticed the typical symptoms. Not continuously, but rather in bouts. However, the intervals between them grew shorter, so after consulting my GP, I decided to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hot flushes, weight gain, mood swings, forgetfulness, joint pain – particularly in the soles of my feet – and sleep disturbances became my daily companions, and at first I thought it was down to the COVID infection I’d had shortly before.
You’ve been taking HRT since January. What is it, what does it do, and how has your life changed since then? (There are also women who say it saved their marriage)
Since January this year, I’ve been applying oestrogen gel to my skin in the mornings and taking progesterone tablets just before bed, and yes, it has been a lifesaver. After just under three weeks of taking it, things were much better in so many ways: my mood no longer fluctuated so much, the pain in my feet had gone, the sudden hot flushes had completely disappeared, my weight had dropped a little and remained stable, and I now sleep through the night and fall asleep without any trouble.
You had taken these supplements three years ago, but stopped because the side effects were too severe – tell us about that…
I had what is known as status migraenosus, which is the term for a migraine attack that lasts longer than 72 hours. In my case, it lasted three weeks; nothing helped and I was eventually admitted to hospital with suspected sinus vein thrombosis.
Fortunately, this was not confirmed. However, it was assumed that this condition had been triggered by hormones. So I stopped taking everything again. Until January of this year, that is. Now, on my second attempt, I’m thankfully no longer suffering from these migraines.
How would you describe your condition right now?
Stable, relaxed, but I haven’t quite regained my desire yet. It’s better than it has been over the last three years, though. I remain hopeful and think it might also have been down to the dark season, which is finally over now. But I have to live with it and accept it. Luckily, my partner is really understanding.
What advice would you give to women who are currently going through the change?
Take yourselves and your bodies seriously, talk about it, because yes, sooner or later it happens to every woman. There’s also something liberating about it – I no longer have to worry about my period. Like, that it might catch you on holiday…
Talk to your partner, because he’s going through a different phase in life too. Hormonal fluctuations happen to men as well, but they aren’t burdened with symptoms as severely as we are.
If you don’t have a doctor you get on well with, find another practice, because the symptoms are sometimes too severe to simply sweep under the carpet.
