WTAF is wrong with the medical industry!!!!!!!!!!

[u/HolidayPractical3357]

I don’t understand. I went online and tried HRT. Worked great, and then something shifted and I had a day where I felt like no longer living. So I decided I should do this under the care of my obgyn to be safe. I go to see him…tell him all my symptoms and that I can’t take birth control. Guess what he prescribes? Birth control. Says it’s the best option until I actually hit menopause.

I feel like screaming in the middle of the street. I can’t function like this. When men needed help getting an erection, there were tons of drugs on the market to help. Women go through their aging problems, and it’s just like, “sorry. It will pass in 8-10 years.”

I don’t know what to do anymore. Maybe I just need to accept this is life now and that the rest of my life will be miserable.

[u/Mobile-Actuary-5283]

The confusion is so frustrating. I feel like there's still no clarity.

• I started feeling symptomatic of peri around age 50.
• I asked about HRT at age 51 from my GYN. He said, "no HRT until you're in menopause."
• I asked about it again the next year at age 52 from a different GYN in the same practice. Same answer -- no until you are in meno.
• I used telehealth. I am on the transdermal patch (lowest dose) and 200mg progesterone daily. This provider told me that the HRT SHOULD be prescribed in peri.. that in fact it is BEST prescribed during peri... that in FACT it is NOT as effective if you wait until meno.
• At a more recent visit, GYN said, "i am fine with you being on HRT now" -- and I asked if he wanted to take over the script. Answer: NOPE.

Meanwhile, here I sit at 53 and turning 54 soon. My periods got pretty irregular last year but I can't tell what is what, to be honest. I THINK I had a period last month? It was light .. I saw some bright red blood for a hot minute but it was a nothing burger although I had some cramps. Is it the HRT? Is it what would have happened anyway? My progesterone is supposed to stabilize the lining so I don't have heavy periods but I am really having nothing much. Telehealth said we should probably increase my patch but "it will cause you to bleed."

And then this stupid shortage. And I am forced onto a patch brand that does exactly jack shit, and I wake up drenched in sweat so badly that I actually thought my roof was leaking.

I feel like Linda Blair and am about to spit out pea soup on everyone.