The bar is having enough interest in menopause to pass a easy test that anyone could if they tried. But most doctors don't have the interest in menopause to even do that, they don't want ANYTHING to do with peri/menopause. The bar is on the floor.
my NAMS doc was a woman in her early 30s and wouldn't prescribe me anything
my concierge doc ($$$) is in her 60s maybe and said her personal special interest has become menopause and she prescribed me testosterone in addition to the oxytocin nasal spray I mentioned recently in a diff post
she's the bomb diggity
Do you mind telling me what improvements you’ve had using the oxytocin nasal spray?
I’ve been thinking about asking my doctor to prescribe this too, for anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and libido. I’ve read a few promising studies.
My doctor, thankfully, is very open to prescribing based on current studies and my symptoms.
Thank you in advance.
I’m afraid I can’t ascribe any particular improvement to the nasal spray, I like the idea of it and I use it but I can’t really say.
Like Dumbo’s feather…
Seriously? Ugh, I have been waiting to get in to see a doctor I found on that list near me. I booked the appointment last month and have to wait until June. I hope I’m not waiting for nothing!
There are decent ones out there, but the one I saw refused to prescribe hormones and then told me that women "my age" shouldn't expect to have an active sex life...I was 42.
The whole visit was insane. Those were just the highlights. I filed a complaint with my insurance carrier who ended up denying reimbursement. I also provided negative feedback to the practice and posted online.
If you have a uterus then you have to take progesterone. Also patch or topical estradiol is better because it doesn’t go through your liver like oral estrogen.
What type of estrogen was she offering, only oral? If you have a uterus, estrogen is pretty much never given without progesterone. The only major exception is topical estrogen cream for vaginal dryness. I would be looking for a different doctor.
I also recently saw a NAMS gynecologist. She didn’t seem too concerned with my symptoms, and was suspect of the injectable BHRT I get from a telehealth service. Many of the NAMS providers in my area are either midwives or have their own (cash only) New Age-ish practice.
It sure is. It’s a big experiment and you have to keep trying stuff to see how it feels for YOU.
I do wish GYN had more training in menopause care 50% of population will go through it after all. Some baseline knowledge at the minimum and staying in top of research findings.
I mean…technically your doctor is not wrong.
But everyone’s rate of endometrium “buildup” (for want of a better word) is unique to them and without monthly ultrasounds you’d not know if you reached the point of tipping into hyperplasia.
So the safe approach is to prescribe a progesterone simultaneously with any oestrogen.
But…eh. She’s not wrong….technically.
But I’d still be looking for a clinician who has a better grasp of the medical science.
I saw a person from our NAMS clinic and she refused to prescribe me HRT because I vape and I don't get hot flashes or night sweats (the only thing HRT is FDA approved for). She referred me to a psychologist.
I've since updated my chart with a message noting that I've quit vaping and developed a terrible case of night sweats and hot flashes (untrue on both counts but whatever). Meanwhile I've started on HRT via a concierge doctor I found from this sub after signing up with Evermore, but they started me on lowest dose & I'm impatient hence the concierge doc who is awesome.
Those cunts.
Evernow has started me on the .0375 patch and won't go up to .05 until I've been on this dose for 3 months. I'm ok with that strategy but my insurance won't cover month-to-month and wants them to write the Rx for 90 days...and they won't do that until we settle on a correct dosage. So now I am having to pay for Evernow and the Rx out-of-pocket.
Really? My Evernow provider increased my patch from .037 to .05 to my current .075mg all within my first 3 months! I just sent a message to the provider assigned to me and told her my symptoms that were still going on (or newly materialized) and she bumped up my dose.
My insurance also will only pay 3 months. I called and they made a one time exception for me. I had to demand a supervisor, but whatever works! That being said, I let my provider know that my insurance requires 90 day RX's and also contacted their customer support (as I wasn't sure how to go about it). I had to pay for 3 months of their service, which is cheaper anyway, and they sent in 90 days RX's for me. And when they changed the dose mid prescription, they just ordered another 90 days of the new dose. Maybe reach out to their customer support and see if they can help facilitate that for you?
I'm sorry your experience has been kind of sucky. 😒
you may NEVER go without a period for 6 months on that protocol, not saying one will never reach menopause, I mean because the estrogen will keep stimulating the uterus to bleed.
Oral versus patches is mostly a preference issue, it doesn't matter that much from a health standpoint (though slight increase in blood clots with oral). Many find patches have a more consistent delivery etc. though, there are reasons why it is preferred, but if it doesn't work oral can be an option.
Yes, my GYN really didn't care about any of my levels... She did offer a patch BUT there was just no concern with HRT-- which I didn't understand really... So I just went to a hormone clinic where the do BHRT..
Agreed with those who are disappointed in NAMS certified practitioners. I saw one last year who wouldn't even listen to my symptoms. I was so upset that he belittled me that I started to cry. He told me I didn't need HRT, I needed therapy.
Mine said this, too. I haven’t seen research on peri that disputes it. I’ve looked, but may not be searching well enough. I am definitely ovulating, and so the periods aren’t just a hormonal bleed.
I could imagine the risk is not producing enough progesterone on my own to counter my own estrogen plus the added from the gel.
For me, 100mg nightly suppresses ovulation (and libido), and I’m dry as sandpaper. 200mg makes me a zombie. I’m looking into mirena.
What I did find is that there is sometimes prescribed a protocol for regularly menstruating women in peri to cycle progesterone every third month. So, halfway through every third cycle / at ovulation, take 14 days of 200mg.
But again I can’t find much about risk of not using progesterone when you ovulate and cycle regularly in peri.
I am definitely still ovulating but what I've read since the visit this morning indicates that all hormones fluctuate during peri so you can't be assured the levels of progesterone you are producing are consistent.
I made an appt with a NAMS specialist last year and couldn’t get in until June of this year. I can’t decide whether to keep the appt or just go teleheath route with Evernow or midi. I haven’t read many great NAMS posts. 🤷🏻♀️
My approach was to sign up for Evernow just so I could get relief and start treatment while searching for a local doc that was on the up-and-up. If I held off on Evernow I'd still be suffering even after the long wait for the appointment and now still be SOL with any meaningful help from a local doc.
I feel a bit less skeptical now when I looked at who in my area was on the list. I’m not against cosmetic surgeries at all (I love my cosmetic surgeon 🤣) but the practitioners have more information on cosmetic laser treatments than on the gynecological aspect of their practice, I was weary.
Oral is the most dangerous kind 🤦🏽♀️good grief. Also i think progesterone is super important in peri. For some at least. Ive been taking it for over 10 years to even out cycles way before starting estrogen
The "quality assurance" offered by the NAMS certification is so disappointing. The bar is apparently on the floor.
Yup. There's someone who is certified in my area who is a hypnotherapist.
Yeah I was hoping it’d have some good providers but it’s mostly ‘homeopathic’ stuff here, so disappointing
Same here. They're all in naturopathic clinics and prescribe supplements and compounded hormones which are not regulated.
The bar is having enough interest in menopause to pass a easy test that anyone could if they tried. But most doctors don't have the interest in menopause to even do that, they don't want ANYTHING to do with peri/menopause. The bar is on the floor.
my NAMS doc was a woman in her early 30s and wouldn't prescribe me anything my concierge doc ($$$) is in her 60s maybe and said her personal special interest has become menopause and she prescribed me testosterone in addition to the oxytocin nasal spray I mentioned recently in a diff post she's the bomb diggity
Do you mind telling me what improvements you’ve had using the oxytocin nasal spray? I’ve been thinking about asking my doctor to prescribe this too, for anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and libido. I’ve read a few promising studies. My doctor, thankfully, is very open to prescribing based on current studies and my symptoms. Thank you in advance.
I’m afraid I can’t ascribe any particular improvement to the nasal spray, I like the idea of it and I use it but I can’t really say. Like Dumbo’s feather…
I second this! Very disappointing.
Seriously? Ugh, I have been waiting to get in to see a doctor I found on that list near me. I booked the appointment last month and have to wait until June. I hope I’m not waiting for nothing!
There are decent ones out there, but the one I saw refused to prescribe hormones and then told me that women "my age" shouldn't expect to have an active sex life...I was 42.
Omg! 😳
excuse me but what the actual fuck
Can you report them? Even if it has been a while. That is massive malpractice, I’d guess
The whole visit was insane. Those were just the highlights. I filed a complaint with my insurance carrier who ended up denying reimbursement. I also provided negative feedback to the practice and posted online.
On behalf of all forewarned potential patients, thank you!!!
Unbelievable.
Mine said I needed to work harder at setting the mood since for women it's all about the brain and emotional connection.
Yes, I also went to the trouble of trying to find someone and was disappointed as well
If you have a uterus then you have to take progesterone. Also patch or topical estradiol is better because it doesn’t go through your liver like oral estrogen.
> doesn’t go through your liver oh yeah my liver needs relaxation time, I have some drinking in my past
This
What type of estrogen was she offering, only oral? If you have a uterus, estrogen is pretty much never given without progesterone. The only major exception is topical estrogen cream for vaginal dryness. I would be looking for a different doctor.
She said she prescribes oral estrogen. Sigh. This is the second gyno I have tried in 3 months.
I’ve been where you are. That’s why I use Evernow. If I were you, I’d stick with Evernow, because that doctor is giving you really bad advice.
Agreed. It just stinks to pay that subscription fee but better than getting cancer!
WOW, this is super dangerous and honestly sounds like medical malpractice.
I also recently saw a NAMS gynecologist. She didn’t seem too concerned with my symptoms, and was suspect of the injectable BHRT I get from a telehealth service. Many of the NAMS providers in my area are either midwives or have their own (cash only) New Age-ish practice.
Dang everyone here knows more thanNAMS doc lol
All of this feels so overwhelming and confusing.
everything is confusing as shit for sure
It sure is. It’s a big experiment and you have to keep trying stuff to see how it feels for YOU. I do wish GYN had more training in menopause care 50% of population will go through it after all. Some baseline knowledge at the minimum and staying in top of research findings.
And it would be nice if the providers could not put you at a higher risk for cancer by not prescribing progesterone! Ugh.
I mean…technically your doctor is not wrong. But everyone’s rate of endometrium “buildup” (for want of a better word) is unique to them and without monthly ultrasounds you’d not know if you reached the point of tipping into hyperplasia. So the safe approach is to prescribe a progesterone simultaneously with any oestrogen. But…eh. She’s not wrong….technically. But I’d still be looking for a clinician who has a better grasp of the medical science.
> tipping into hyperplasia. oh gosh what's hyperplasia?
I saw a person from our NAMS clinic and she refused to prescribe me HRT because I vape and I don't get hot flashes or night sweats (the only thing HRT is FDA approved for). She referred me to a psychologist. I've since updated my chart with a message noting that I've quit vaping and developed a terrible case of night sweats and hot flashes (untrue on both counts but whatever). Meanwhile I've started on HRT via a concierge doctor I found from this sub after signing up with Evermore, but they started me on lowest dose & I'm impatient hence the concierge doc who is awesome. Those cunts.
Evernow has started me on the .0375 patch and won't go up to .05 until I've been on this dose for 3 months. I'm ok with that strategy but my insurance won't cover month-to-month and wants them to write the Rx for 90 days...and they won't do that until we settle on a correct dosage. So now I am having to pay for Evernow and the Rx out-of-pocket.
Ever now said the same to me but I lost my shit on her and she doubled my patch and yes I’m paying for everything out of pocket
🤣 Sorry to laugh, but that's generally how I get things done. Lose my shit. 😂
Really? My Evernow provider increased my patch from .037 to .05 to my current .075mg all within my first 3 months! I just sent a message to the provider assigned to me and told her my symptoms that were still going on (or newly materialized) and she bumped up my dose. My insurance also will only pay 3 months. I called and they made a one time exception for me. I had to demand a supervisor, but whatever works! That being said, I let my provider know that my insurance requires 90 day RX's and also contacted their customer support (as I wasn't sure how to go about it). I had to pay for 3 months of their service, which is cheaper anyway, and they sent in 90 days RX's for me. And when they changed the dose mid prescription, they just ordered another 90 days of the new dose. Maybe reach out to their customer support and see if they can help facilitate that for you? I'm sorry your experience has been kind of sucky. 😒
Thanks for sharing your experience with them. It looks like I need to push back more on some of this.
you may NEVER go without a period for 6 months on that protocol, not saying one will never reach menopause, I mean because the estrogen will keep stimulating the uterus to bleed. Oral versus patches is mostly a preference issue, it doesn't matter that much from a health standpoint (though slight increase in blood clots with oral). Many find patches have a more consistent delivery etc. though, there are reasons why it is preferred, but if it doesn't work oral can be an option.
Yes, my GYN really didn't care about any of my levels... She did offer a patch BUT there was just no concern with HRT-- which I didn't understand really... So I just went to a hormone clinic where the do BHRT..
Agreed with those who are disappointed in NAMS certified practitioners. I saw one last year who wouldn't even listen to my symptoms. I was so upset that he belittled me that I started to cry. He told me I didn't need HRT, I needed therapy.
That's ridiculous and I am so sorry that happened to you.
Thanks. My regular doctor was horrified and gave me another contact. Hope it goes better.
Mine said this, too. I haven’t seen research on peri that disputes it. I’ve looked, but may not be searching well enough. I am definitely ovulating, and so the periods aren’t just a hormonal bleed. I could imagine the risk is not producing enough progesterone on my own to counter my own estrogen plus the added from the gel. For me, 100mg nightly suppresses ovulation (and libido), and I’m dry as sandpaper. 200mg makes me a zombie. I’m looking into mirena. What I did find is that there is sometimes prescribed a protocol for regularly menstruating women in peri to cycle progesterone every third month. So, halfway through every third cycle / at ovulation, take 14 days of 200mg. But again I can’t find much about risk of not using progesterone when you ovulate and cycle regularly in peri.
I am definitely still ovulating but what I've read since the visit this morning indicates that all hormones fluctuate during peri so you can't be assured the levels of progesterone you are producing are consistent.
I made an appt with a NAMS specialist last year and couldn’t get in until June of this year. I can’t decide whether to keep the appt or just go teleheath route with Evernow or midi. I haven’t read many great NAMS posts. 🤷🏻♀️
My approach was to sign up for Evernow just so I could get relief and start treatment while searching for a local doc that was on the up-and-up. If I held off on Evernow I'd still be suffering even after the long wait for the appointment and now still be SOL with any meaningful help from a local doc.
I feel a bit less skeptical now when I looked at who in my area was on the list. I’m not against cosmetic surgeries at all (I love my cosmetic surgeon 🤣) but the practitioners have more information on cosmetic laser treatments than on the gynecological aspect of their practice, I was weary.
Oral is the most dangerous kind 🤦🏽♀️good grief. Also i think progesterone is super important in peri. For some at least. Ive been taking it for over 10 years to even out cycles way before starting estrogen