@sl303
I have used BHRT progestereone topically on my breasts for years. I had cystic breasts which the progesterone eliminated. Perimenopause is a time which often has very high estradiol levels with a much lowered amount of protecting progesterone probably due to the lack of ovulation and the subsequent loss of progesterone. Bottom line higher estradiol rates can be dangerous for women, especially with their breasts.
I personally use saliva tests to check my progesterone, estradiol and testosterone levels.
I seem to continue to make my own estradiol; so I only use progesterone, testosterone and estriol topically/vaginally. Without the saliva test I am sure that my doctors would have given me estradiol which I believe would have set me up for problems with my breasts.
My sister had a similar situation; she went a different route than I did without the saliva tests and progesterone/BHRT. She eventually had a breast cancer. She had surgery and is taking an estrogen blocker. She is doing as well as one can with her hormones totally blocked and all the problems which that is causing. I do not know if progesterone and BHrT could have changed this story for her. I am encouraging her to consider progesterone in another year when she may no longer take the estrogen blockers.