I am so glad this discussion is on here! I am 52, and was just told to go off the combo pill in August, after being on it nearly continuously since 17 when I picked it up in college. My blood pressure had started to go up last year, so we figured this was the cause. I had never had high blood pressure before - usually the opposite. I tried reducing salt and increasing exercise for a bit, but it had little impact. So, I was recommended going off or switching to the mini-pill progesterone-only. The first two weeks were fine, then I had a couple of weeks of constant overheating(no 'flashes', just constant hot). I read about how sometimes when you go off the combo pill, your insulin levels can be weird as your other systems take over estrogen and general thermostat regulation, so I cut out all the high spiky insulin foods(think sugar and white rice along with the rest of the online lists of foods to avoid) and reduced some caffeine, and the heat problem turned off completely. Now it has been three months of progesterone only, and I can see my skin aging, and hair growth slowing. I had been having a lot of brain-fog issues the past few years, and those have not changed, sadly. It's very annoying, and I hope that part at least sorts itself out by 60. Bonus and unexpected - my internal base stress level has gone down. It's just easier to cope. I have added rice and sugar back with no problems, and overheating is completely gone. I am sleeping better, although now I have weird little dreams, when I have never been one to remember dreams much at all. I do not have more energy, and some of my hand strength is just gone. Also, mentally, I find I am more detached from things and people, but not in a depressed or destructive way. More the feeling of having a choice about being involved or not, rather than having an immediate reaction (like wanting to scream at the grocery clerk that eye-rolled when asking a valid question). Hoping I am just done, but it's too soon to tell. I get mild cramping with no period, and some spotting during the week I would have normally had one in the '4th week off' time. But it's too soon to write off periods altogether. I am hoping most of the worst of it was masked during the past 5 years. But...I do have female relatives that didn't hit menopause until 56-65. One would have thought with half the planet going through this in their lives that there would be more medical study and progress on this in the last 50 years, but apparently no. lol I think starting a better workout routine and nutrition plan is next on the agenda. Wondering how much of my personality and priority-setting is hormone related. Will be interesting to see who I become now. Maybe my ten year old self has a chance again. :) She was fun.

Jerri, I haven't checked into this Forum for awhile and have only now seen your post asking those who started using progesterone cream to give an update. It's a pity that the original thread will eventually disappear because it's reached it's limit of 100 posts. A lot of valuable information will be lost when it slips off the end of Page 10. I used AIM Renewed Balance when I first started using progesterone cream. I was quite happy with that but was convinced by posts on this Forum to try PhytoProlief. I bought three bottles of it so I gave it a very fair trial. I am now back on AIM. My hot flashes and night sweats returned when I was on the PhytoProlief so it obviously wasn't for me, although I didn't have them as often as I did when I first started having hot flashes and used nothing, which was every 15-20 minutes 24 hours a day. I haven't tried any other brand. I use very little of the AIM, less than the 1/8th teaspoon recommended and I now use it 21 days per month. I am almost 56 and have been perimenopausal for 14 months now. I don't suffer like some ladies do though, my only symptoms being erratic periods, night sweats and hot flashes although the last two are under control now. I still have periods every 2 to 3 months. I keep thinking/hoping each one will be my last. My friends are amazed that I didn't start perimenopause until just before my 55th birthday and that I am still having periods at almost 56. They all went through menopause in their 40's. The only difference between me and them is I had a tubal ligation at 36, I've never been pregnant and I'm a vegetarian. Whether these things mean anything, I don't know. Some people think that vegetarians live on soy but I rarely eat/drink anything made from soy. Reading the bad press it's been getting lately, I'm quite pleased that I've never liked it. Another thing I would like to add is that I also take Promensil - one a day. This is derived from red clover. I've tried each one without the other but using both the cream and taking Promensil appears to be a good combination for me. I know everyone is different. I'm pleased I found my "balance". Good health Barbie

Dear Megs2, I am not a doctor but have been through so much with menopause too much to get into. If you read some other topics you will see my story. I just started with bio-identical hormone replacement pellets. You should look into it. Just google it and you will open yourself up to a new world. Just started 5 weeks ago and feel a difference already. Prior to beginning I was on estrogen patch for 2 years. I also take 100 mg of prometrium every night and still do even with pellets its important when you have all your parts. Hoe you will look into it and good luck. Let me know how you do. lostnj

I had a radical hysterectomy when I was 43, I am now 66 so for 23 years I have suffered from debilitating hot flashes, sweats and insomnia. I was on estrogen patches for 15 years but stopped them for fear of getting cancer, so the hot flashes, sweats and insomnia started up again. Three months ago I started seeing a Naturopath and she started me on Phyto-B and within days, my symptoms were gone. It is a balance of progesterone and estrogen which is bio-identical to what our body produces so it doesn't have the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. I am also hypothyroid and had adrenal fatigue which was contributing to the insomnia and terrible fatigue during the day. I am now on Armour Thyroid 60 mg a day and adrenal support, which has helped me tremendously. I will never be 100% because I also have Lyme Disease, which is probably why my thyroid and adrenals were not working properly. Whenever you are chronically ill, it puts stress on the endocrine system. For anyone who is reluctant to try Phyto-B, I encourage you to try it. You have nothing to lose, but the hot flashes and sweats and you will probably even sleep better. I am taking 4 pellets in the AM and 4 pellets in the PM, less than that and I feel the symptoms creeping back in. I will be on it the rest of my life because it has been a blessing for me after years of suffering. I am single and feared being in a relationship again, because of vaginal dryness and pain, but that has all gone away as well.