u/RelevantAir8475

Has anyone else completely spiraled trying to figure out hormones, birth control, IC, possible endo, etc.? Because I feel like I accidentally entered a full-time research project 😅

I originally went to a urogynecologist because my bladder symptoms seemed VERY linked to my cycle. She kept recommending hormone suppression and I honestly didn’t understand why at all. After spending way too much time reading experiences from other women, especially around endometriosis, things started making a little more sense.

I actually messaged my doctor again yesterday and she confirmed she is suspicious of possible endometriosis… which surprised me because that had never really been clearly communicated to me until I directly asked.

Since I felt confused and wasn’t getting much guidance, I ended up talking to multiple providers trying to understand my options:
- tried Slynd (horrible for me personally)
- got prescribed another birth control that I picked up but never took
- asked an NP about micronized progesterone
- even talked with a naturopath while waiting on labs/results

At this point I’ve learned it’s apparently very normal to:
- see multiple doctors
- trial different birth controls
- react differently to different hormones
- feel confused during the process

But honestly now I feel overwhelmed because I have no clue what direction to even go in anymore.

Would genuinely love to hear from anyone who’s dealt with hormone-related bladder symptoms, endo, birth control trial-and-error, or just feeling completely lost trying to piece all of this together.

For those who have tried Natazia, I'd love to know why you chose it, if it helped, and if you stopped taking it the reasoning behind that decision?

New Here: Realizing my periods aren’t normal. They are heavy with clots. I have to grin and bear when a cramp comes on, usually followed by bowl movement with pain and chills. I always thought this was normal period cramps and IBS.

Since having my first child, I’ve made comments like “I’ve felt periods cramps worse than how I felt during labor.” I did use medication at some point with both labors but seriously my periods are worse than labor was.

Has anyone effectively managed symptoms with natural progesterone or birth control. I tried Slynd and had a horrible reaction.

Six days until my period starts. Cramping, Frequency, urgency, leaking, incomplete bladder emptying, pelvic pressure, vulva pain— heavy/pressure achy feeling, vagina dryness, and itching. I won't be able to complete tasks or sleep because I’ll be needing to run to the restroom every 20 minutes and this will last for about two weeks and intensify with my period. This sucks. That's all.

Has anyone experienced relief from birth control or bioidentical progesterone/HRT? My flares are hormone related. Slynd helped my symptoms but I had an adverse reaction. Looking at other birth controls and possibly just taking natural progesterone instead of a progestin which is found in contraceptives.

I’m asking because it’s been a HUGE uphill battle to get progesterone prescribed to me. I’m 36F.

36 almost 37f currently struggling with vasomotor and peri symptoms at 9 months postpartum. I’ve been struggling with low progesterone for years. How do I get a doctor to prescribe HRT? Doctors keep throwing birth control at me and I have ZERO interest in synthetic hormones.

36F recently postpartum after my second child. Starting in my 30s I’ve been having worsening symptoms around ovulation and before/during my period including pelvic pressure/heaviness, bladder urgency/frequency, difficulty emptying my bladder, vulvar/labial aching, heavy clotting periods, diarrhea during my period, low back/pelvic pain, and a heavy inflamed feeling in my pelvis. Now postpartum, I also get hot flashes, hives, and intense irritability/anxiety around these hormone shifts.

Interestingly, I had major symptom relief postpartum while breastfeeding and not cycling, then symptoms gradually returned once ovulation/cycles resumed. My urogynecologist thinks hormones/ovulation are a major trigger and started me on Slynd, which actually improved my bladder symptoms almost immediately, though I did not tolerate the medication itself due to it being too activating for me. Do for checked my pelvic floor and said it feels healthy and the tone is good.

I don’t have infertility, pain with sex, or debilitating period pain, so I’m unsure whether this sounds more like adenomyosis, endometriosis, IC/pelvic floor dysfunction, or just hormone sensitivity. Curious if anyone with adenomyosis had a similar presentation.

Has anyone here experience late allergic reactions to medications? For examples, I took amoxicillin my entire life with no issues until one day I developed hives after an extended treatment.

Recently I developed burning hives a few days into taking Slynd a synthetic only birth control.

My hives can be triggered by just about anything but there's the daily hives I get when I don't take a histamine and then the hives I get when there's an allergic reaction. Make sense?

Anyone in Socal have suggestions on doctors who can properly diagnose and treat MCAS?

Those without typical Endo symptoms, what are your symptoms? How did you end up with a diagnosis or here, and what has helped?

My symptoms and Previous Diagnoses:

- IBS and diarhhea during periods

-IC responding to birth control and antihistamine treatment. Slynd immediately resolved my pain.

-Symptoms linked to luteal phase

- Heavy periods with clots

- Heavy pelvic pain during periods but I can function (maybe pushing myself too hard?)

Symptoms I lack:

- fertility issues
- debilitating pain like extremely painful cramps
- irregular cycles

I'm in my mid 30’s. Possible MCAS. My periods have become heavier through the years. Assumed it had something to do with increased estrogen or being a healthier weight. I was underweight in my late teens and 20’s due to an ED.

Best,
Erika

I’m starting to wonder how connected my hormones and histamine issues are. I recently weaned postpartum and once my cycles returned I started getting major flares around ovulation and before my period — bladder urgency/frequency/IC symptoms, pelvic tension, hives, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, etc. While breastfeeding and not cycling, I felt dramatically better.

I started Slynd and noticed almost immediate improvement in my bladder symptoms, sleep, mood, and I even skipped my usual antihistamines one night without flaring. It made me wonder if ovulation/hormone fluctuations were heavily triggering mast cell activation for me.

Has anyone with MCAS or histamine issues had significant improvement from ovulation suppression or bioidentical progesterone/hormones?

36F, recently postpartum/weaned. I’ve had severe cycle-related symptoms including hot flashes, irritability/rage, insomnia, bladder urgency/frequency/IC-type symptoms, pelvic tension, and hives that seem to flare around ovulation and before my period. Interestingly, I had near-complete symptom relief while breastfeeding before my cycles returned.

I recently started Slynd and noticed almost immediate improvement in bladder symptoms, sleep, mood, and histamine-type symptoms. It made me wonder whether my issue is more related to sensitivity to hormone fluctuations/ovulation rather than a true hormone deficiency.

Labs previously showed normal testosterone, non-menopausal FSH, and normal thyroid function postpartum. Curious if others in endocrinology/hormone spaces have seen similar presentations or responses to ovulation suppression or bio identical progesterone alone .

I started Slynd and noticed almost immediate improvement in symptoms. My bladder symptoms calmed down, I didn’t need my usual antihistamines, my mood improved, and I slept better. I know it could still be coincidence since I just started it, but it is very clear my symptoms are being driven by hormone fluctuations.

Has anyone else with PMDD, IC/bladder symptoms, hot flashes, or cycle-related mood issues responded really well to ovulation suppression or progesterone-only birth control or just needed bio identical progesterone. I’d prefer to be one a natural vs synthetic hormone. Curious what ended up working long term for others.

I started Slynd (progesterone only birth control) and had almost immediate improvement in symptoms. My bladder symptoms calmed down, I didn’t need my usual antihistamines, my mood improved, and I slept better. I know it could be coincidence and I’m still giving it time, but it made me wonder if my body is extremely sensitive to hormone fluctuations and/or responds well to progesterone support.

Has anyone in functional medicine explored switching from hormonal birth control to natural progesterone and still maintained symptom relief? Curious especially for people with PMDD-type symptoms, histamine issues, IC/bladder flares, hot flashes, or cycle-related inflammation.

My son weaned 3 weeks ago at 8 months and ever since I’ve been dealing with hot flashes, rage/irritability, and feeling emotionally all over the place. My cycle also came back and my symptoms around ovulation/period were miserable. My doctor prescribed Slynd to help suppress ovulation and stabilize hormones, but I’ve never taken birth control before and I’m anxious about risks/side effects. I’ve also looked into HRT and supplements because honestly I suddenly feel perimenopausal even though I’m mid-late 30s. Curious if anyone else had a big hormone crash after weaning and what ended up helping

I’m in my mid 30’s and I’m experiencing hormone fluctuations at 9 months postpartum. My estrogen is low - experiencing heat intolerance and hot flashes. Has anyone else experience these symptoms? What did you do to treat if anything. My son stopped nursing 3 weeks ago and I started a GLP1.

I’m in my mid 30’s and I’m experiencing hormone fluctuations at 9 months postpartum. My estrogen is low - experiencing heat intolerance and hot flashes. Has anyone else experience these symptoms? What did you do to treat if anything. My son stopped nursing 3 weeks ago. A med spa doctor said a few months back I might have Hashi’s but my labs don’t show that.

Tomorrow I’m seeing my urogynocologist who is part of the same practice as my OB. They are good doctors but part of a big medical group that has a good reputation but I feel the care is lacking. I’m worried about going in and not really being heard or getting effective treatment.

Here’s my issue. I was diagnosed years ago after continually thinking I had UTIs - after becoming more aware I realized symptoms are the worst before my period. Like clockwork start around my ovulation window.

Later I got pregnant and my IC was AWFUL. I wanted to rip my bladder out to end the pain.

HOWEVER, my pain went away postpartum almost immediately for months. I am now postpartum for the second time and had significant relief the second time around. All my symptoms were completely manageable!

I feel like my pain and symptoms are triggered primarily by hormones. I didn’t need PT, specials diets, etc during my time of relief. Now that my period has returned I am significantly uncomfortable.

I want to cry. All I can feel and think about is my bladder because it’s so irritated! Can’t sleep or do anything in peace. After, so much relief I realize how horrible my periods are and all this pain truly is.

Any advice on how to get more than a referral to pelvic floor therapy and bladder instillations?

For those with IC that is triggered by hormones what has helped you? Any experiences with an IUD? I’m terrified of birth control but willing to give it a try if it means my quality of life will improve.

Update: Felt a little rushed but doctor did an exam said my muscle tone and pelvic floor feel great. She agreed my IC seems to be triggered primarily by hormones so we are going to stop ovulation with Slynd. Doc did say conversation is fluid and we will work together. She also recommended switching to hydroxosine from Claritin and that we could try pain meds but she was concerned due to my current medications and the side effects. Doc also stated that HRT would likely make my symptoms worse. However, if I don’t do well with no estrogen we could add an estradiol patch. I prefer natural hormones over synthetic but again I neee birth control because natural progesterone won’t shut down ovulation. I’ll continue to update this post.

Almost 9 months postpartum and I’m still experiencing hot flashes and mood swings. I recently stopped nursing my son and my period returned a week ago. Considering taking HRT or birth control to manage symptoms. Is it normal to still experience hot flashes at this point? Would love to learn more about mom’s using an IUD or HRT postpartum. I’m in my mid-thirties.

Hey, wondering if anyone else gets this.

Right before my period I get bad IC flares that feel like a UTI, plus this weird heavy/full pressure in my vulva/labia during my period. It’s not really cramping, more like low pelvic pressure. Relief once period ends.

I’m already on Zoloft + an antihistamine.

Has anything actually helped you with this?

• IUD or birth control?

• Pelvic floor PT?

• Any meds for the pre-period flares?

Just trying to figure out what’s worth trying. During pregnancy my IC was horrific but greatly improved for about 5 months then returned :(