u/Just_Airport_7651

So I restarted a low dose of testosterone (about 5mg a week, or less than 1mg a day.) And my Doctor mentioned that I may notice that I need to increase my Oestrogel dose after starting...because they both use the "same receptors." She said I would notice this once I start. I am only about 6 weeks into using the testosterone and on day 23 of my cycle and have noticed some night sweats and hot flashes coming back. I also feel more intense "period flu" leading up to my bleed. A lot more than I ever usually feel. So yes...I definitely noticed and am going to increase. I read online that it's not the same receptors that estrogen and testosterone use, per se. But that they compete for SHBG. Did any of you notice this when starting testosterone? Is this a common thing? Or have any of you noticed this or been told this by your doctors?

I am curious about anyone who has tried a Mirena IUD and was still having regular periods beforehand. I understand that the Mirena does NOT supress ovulation, although it can in a small percentage of women. And I understand many women still get a light period or no period at all. So my questions are:

1. Do you still get the menstrual cycle fatigue even if your period is greatly reduced or gone?

2. Do you still get the pre-menstraul/menstrual anxiety but just with a lighter or no period?

3. Has it helped your Leutal phase at all (days 18 onwards to your bleed or when the bleed would be)?

4. If you don't get a bleed, can you track your hormonal ups and downs through your cycle or do they feel flattened?

5. What have been the benefits / drawbacks?

I am currently taking transdermal estrogen and progebel, and my Dr says I could continue the Progebel for sleep/calming at night even if I get the Mirena. I just have hellish luetal phases and am wondering how you felt and what it did versus didn't help. Thank you for your insight on this!

I'm 45. I've been on hrt since the end of November, 2025. I started at 2 pumps Oestrogel and 200mg continuous Progebel, and am now at 3.25 pumps Oestrogel for the last 5 weeks. I split the oestrogel dose am and pm (12 hours apart,) and take the Progebel 30 minutes before bed with magnesium glycinate. I still get a period every 28-30 days like clockwork, and before I do I get a migraine for anywhere from 2-7 days. And it just reallllyyyy sucks. I know I need to wait a few more cycles on this Oestrogel dose, but I am wondering if any of you with menstrual migraines tried the Mirena coil with your hrt regimen...and did this stop your bleeds? Help your migraines? Help at all? I also have long covid,...it's really one hell of a story. But the hrt has helped me beyond what I could take the time to explain here. I cannot function or work part time (which I am doing now since I'm still recovering from long covid,) without it. I couldn't sleep at all without it. Bascially I would be a shell of myself and literally bedbound from the long covid/dysuatonomia without it. But the pre-menstrual migraines still really knock me out. Any insight or experience with combining the mirena + your hrt?