Menopause support: Introduce yourself and connect

Welcome to the new support group dedicated to menopause! I’d love to hear from some of you who have shared your experiences before: @gravity3, @naturegirl5, @blueskies1530, @marjou, @orion7962, @laura1970, @meingan, @bjklemme, @sbrown293, @missbeverly, @grannyl, @joydeb35, @cbp123, @slarson14, @seapen, @jkmjkm, @bethieb, @vivi75, @ramsgirl, @kisu, @gigglemama

Check it out. There's new group on Mayo Clinic Connect dedicated to the menopause transition, including perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/menopause/). Your discussions have been moved to this new group. Be sure to follow the group to get notified of new posts.

So let’s get connected. Take a moment and introduce yourself. If you’re post-menopause, what’s one tip or coping strategy that has helped you most? And if you’re newer to this journey, what’s a question you’d like to ask the group?

Thank you for creating this group! I'm 49 and recently had a hysterectomy. I had a difficult perimenopause, learned a lot along the way and am still learning how best to care for myself in this new phase of life.

@klp

Excellent!!!

@gravity3

Went through menopause at 38.
I am 77 now. One month I had a normal period and the next month nothing. I never had symptoms. Nothing. Just gone.

I was put on a merina IUD after my second child at age 36. My periods gradually decreased and then stopped altogether, not uncommon. When I had it removed at age 46 my periods did not return and labs showed I was postmenopausal. Never had any symptoms, or they were too subtle to notice

Hello everyone, my name is Ellie. I am 64, going through post-menopause. The symptoms seemed to have come on so suddenly, mild before but full force now. My OBY/GYN wanted to put me on Estrace cream (Estradil) last year, but I was concerned as my sister had some negative reaction to it. My girlfriend is 7 yrs older than me, and she is on a low dose, 1x week. I'm not sure what to do. I get concerned about the side effects and risks as outlined on the websites. My mother at age 86 got breast cancer and the physician told her she was on estrogen too long and believed it may have contributed to it; we really don't know what contributed to it especially at that age, does not run in the family. I know there are other options out there and I understand FDA just removed the black box warning on HRT but I'm not sure what to do.

@ellieg
You are asking some of the same questions I asked over the years. I know many people were concerned about the hormonal replacement effect and the possibility of an increased risk of breast cancer. I had to determine the risks versus the benefits. Seeing I had surgically induce menopause at 40 due to total hysterectomy, I took HRT. The benefits and ability to function influenced my decision. Without HRT, hot flashes affected my quality of life.

I developed breast cancer in my early 60s, years after stopping HRT. No mention of HRT being a reason. There are so many things that put you at a higher risk of breast cancer, it is hard to pinpoint a specific reason I developed it.

After breast cancer, Gyn did not recommend Estradil cream for vaginal atrophy (another symptom of menopause) due to estrogen. But two years ago, research showed that Estradil did not increase your chance of breast cancer or recurrence, and started Estradil cream.

Just because your sister had side effects does not mean you will. The only way to know is to try. Your concerns and questions will lead to a good discussion with your GYN provider.

What type of symptoms are you having?

Hi,
I'm PML which are just my initials. I'm 79 but went through menopause in my 40's. I gained weight, my hair turned curley and it was always straight and even now at age 79, it isn't gray! I blame all this on the changes in my body from menopause. I also had heavy periods at times where I had to wear 2 pads. Finally the periods stopped but sometimes started up again. I also developed some shakiness in my body at times but then it would go away. I couldn't drink coffee or pop without feeling sick when I had always drank both most of my life. I discovered that drinking a lot of water and orange juice helped me. Also eating healthy food helped. No frozen dinners etc. Finally everything settled down and I was back to normal. So there is hope for the future! No more periods! My hair stayed curley and still isn't gray but I can live with that.
PML

Hi, everyone! I'm 75 y/o female encouraging women to advocate for women's health and hormones. Please consider making a comment to the FDA about Testosterone Replacement Therapy for women. Do you want women to have access?
Here is an example of what you can say.
Testosterone is not solely a male hormone. Women naturally produce testosterone, and declining levels are associated with loss of bone density, muscle mass, energy, cognitive function, and overall health not just changes in libido. Despite this, there are no FDA-approved testosterone products formulated specifically for women in the United States. Women who medically need testosterone are forced to use male-formulated product's off-label or compounded preparations, leading to inconsistent dosing, safety concerns, lack of insurance coverage, and inequitable access to care.
AS the FDA considers regulatory changes affecting testosterone products for men, I urge the Agency to explicitly consider the impact on women's health. Regulatory classification directly influences stigma, prescribing practices, research investment, and insurance coverage.
I respectfully ask the FDA to support research and approval pathways for female-specific testosterone formulations, and to formally recognize testosterone as an important hormone for women's overall health, not only for sexual function. Women deserve safe, standardized, and evidence-based access to a hormone their bodies naturally require.

Once on the site click Green Link, "Make a Public Comment"
Copy and Paste link below for FDA site
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/11/2025-22466/food-and-drug-administration-expert-panel-on-testosterone-replacement-therapy-for-men-request-for

Thanks for posting this kisu.
I have been on bhrt for a year now. My pellet contains both estradiol and testosterone. I am a strong advocate for including testosterone with hormone replacement therapy.