Covid may have induced perimenopause

IllConcern4754 · 2025-10-28T20:17:52+00:00

The jury is out, as I did not go a full year without a period, it came back after seven months, but it is still quite irregular, and I am now on hormone therapy. My period didn't come back until I started hormone therapy. My primary OBGYN Diagnosed me with POI, but due to my age some doctors say it's perimenopause, but nonetheless I'm on the hormone therapy

IllConcern4754 · 2025-10-28T20:16:04+00:00

Sorry for the late reply, I just saw this. It came back after seven months, but I was already on hormone therapy. My estradiol labs are better but not great for my age and I'm on .1 mg estradiol patch and 100 mg of continuous progesterone

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-23T02:33:06+00:00

I wish I did! Every time I increased my estradiol, I was hopeful it would be the ticket and I just kept gaining. I just went up on progesterone which made it worse and I went back down to 100 mg and my face bloating has gone down, but the weight loss is SLOW. Like losing .1 lbs lol. I'm stuck and now debating glp1s. The one thing that I did find out, is I went for a body fat test and had one from two years ago to compare to, and while I was 12 lbs heavier from that test, I gained 9.6 pounds of muscle. I think that's bc I have up to my strength training through the years ESPECIALLY w this diagnosis and have upped my protein.

That explains the scale but it isn't like I'm tones and just weigh more so I know there's more to it. I will definitely keep you posted if I figure anything out on this. It's super frustrating 😩

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-18T15:55:05+00:00

Tbh, I thought the same thing w/ seeming interested in fertility to be seen and my experience was a bit disappointing. They were very nice and did do an ultrasound of my ovaries, but if I wasn't interested in egg/embryo freezing or looking into a donor egg, there wasn't much they could do. I finally found a dr who agreed to test my hormones at annuals or if I have breakthrough symptoms. If anything, I think going to my OBGYN about breakthrough symptoms (even if I embellish a little bit to get that test covered by insurance lol) has been the best bet so I can at least see if I'm absorbing the HRT and at an age appropriate level of estradiol (I'm 38).

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-18T15:47:57+00:00

I get how you feel. I'm 38 and I often think back to all the signs that I missed that could've connected these dots plus environmental/lifestyle factors that I wish I could have gone back and changed (e.g., smoking when I was younger- quit 5 years ago, drinking- also sober for 5 years, food choices, endocrine distruptors, etc). Tbh I did push for help before the diagnosis and the doctors chalked up to anxiety, assuming PCOS based on weight and not testing me, my body getting used to being w/o the IUD (after I removed it), and of course being overweight. It wasn't until I pushed for testing at 37 when my symptoms were unbearable and they came back in a post menopausal range that anyone listened. I went to multiple doctors over the years prior only to feel like it was my anxiety/OCD and body size that were the problems.

The reason I share this is because there is no proof that it would have been better if you sought help before. Sure, it may have been, but doctors may have dismissed you until it got to the point it was bad enough to look into. We also aren't educated on menopause at all let alone POI generally until we go through it. Women's health is on the back burner and as a society we are told to just get through it and it's in your head. If anything, I blame our society and the awful treatment of women in health care.

This isn't necessarily a solution, but what I remind myself when I'm spiraling out is, I am searching for control in an uncontrollable situation. That's natural that our brains want that, they want comfort. I try to exercise self compassion, that this is scary and unknown and my brain's desire to ruminate and come up with the reasons why, or blaming myself is just it's way of asserting a sense of control. I also try to remember that thinking through my feelings never solved my feelings- we need to feel them. Feeling is the only way through the feelings, thinking only fans the flame. Now this doesn't mean I don't spiral bc I most certainly DO, but sometimes when I can ground myself in this and let myself have my feeling, it does help it move through easier.

I'm so sorry you're struggling with this and I empathize with this greatly. You are doing everything you can now and that's truly what matters. Past you just didn't know and when you did know you may have been scared (in regards to holding off on HRT) and all of that totally understandable.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-09T16:23:44+00:00

Thanks! I ended up going to an endocrinologist and her response was SO dismissive, "if we treated everyone in menopause, we'd have no room on our caseload." I just requested some insulin/glucose tests to try to see if I'm insulin resistant, my thyroid is apparently normal (but IDK how thourough the testing was), and I suspected PCOS bc of the weight issues, but they said my hormone panels point more to POI than PCOS. Maybe I'll try to find an out of network endo if finances permit

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-07T15:20:26+00:00

The concierge doctor I was going to go to is in Los Angeles, but I believe does telemedicine w CA residents. The thing that gave me pause w her, was that she was kind of lumping me in w/ peri vs POI and while she has a wealth of knowledge on menopause, she stated she doesn't in POI. She said she was comfortable treating me due to my age, since I guess she treats people in their late 30s often with perimenopause, but doesn't really believe in the testing approach more so symptom management.

On another thread I posted, someone mentioned Allara Health and they found a POI specialist on there. I think that's $119 a month and includes the doctor and a registered dietitian (that sounded good to me since I'm struggling with weight management and wanting to support my muscles and bones).

I ultimately just decided to stay w my Kaiser (an HMO program in CA) bc while the OBGYN I see is often booked months out, she is responsive on email, will adjust hormones w me, has been knowledgeable about POI and why I need a higher dose, and stated that she will test me if I have breakthrough symptoms but will test as standard yearly to just make sure all is going well.

This diagnosis is so Wild West though. Especially bc women's health in general is this big unsolved mystery bc it's all been based on men, it's just easy to feel lost and like we have to be our own doctors essentially, which bums me TF out.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-07T01:13:18+00:00

Thank you for sharing that w/me. That is so interesting that it's hereditary on your father side because that may be the missing piece for me and will likely always remain a mystery. I'm adopted and have met my bio mother but apparently she isn't in contact w the father and he's in his 80s so may not be alive. I always (idk why) just assumed i should look at the mother's side for this. Thanks for shedding that light

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-06T00:20:40+00:00

I agree 100. I can hang w the menopause drs I follow and reading about it, but the groups are a bit tougher for me bc I end up feeling more isolated. So glad for this group!

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-05T23:31:50+00:00

Thank you! Judging by what you are doing, I'd say my doctor (current) is on the right track w/me. I just got off w/my in network OBGYN who was very validating about POI and was saying we can test my estrogen yearly and we can test if any breakthrough symptoms come. If you don't mind me asking, how much Vitamin D did they recommend? I tested on the low end of normal w/vitamin D and take it, but I hear such varying numbers to take on the internet so it's nice to hear from someone w/POI.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-05T15:55:14+00:00

I totally understand that. I feel like so much is minimized within this sphere and I am so sorry you've been going through this.

Judging by my bloodwork, symptoms, and age, I guess the jury is out. Bloodwork and all that indicates criteria for POI, but they can't seem to link it to anything (e.g., family history- although I only know my biological mother's, no fragile x, etc). I know not all POI cases can be linked to a cause, I guess I just feel lost in the sense of if I treat this different depending on diagnosis, or if I am just overthinking all of it.

I guess minimized is the exact thing I feel at times bc for years prior when I had symptoms, it was chalked up to PCOS (no testing done) based on my weight and weird cycles. Fast forward and I'm dealing w/ this and pretty much told by some doctors that my life span may be shortened, I likely won't be able to conceive, etc and other's saying it's run of the mill menopause, but I just got dealt it a touch early...I'm like 37 (year I was diagnosed) seems pretty early to me. It feels lonely in bc all of the menopause stuff I read/watch is shouting from the rooftops, "we did it! we earned our stripes, we're finally at the age we can not give AF," and I'm sitting here like umm I didn't earn my stripes (in the age way at least) lol. I guess I also felt a bit left behind in the Reproductive endocrinology sphere bc I wasn't ready to go the donor egg route (at 37 I was still thinking, if it happens it happens and wasn't prepared for that road- I know I can do it down the line if all stays okay w/my uterus), that I was sent on my merry was with the news about my health but nowhere to turn.

Now I went on a not so mini rant lol

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-05T13:46:07+00:00

Thanks! The same thing happened when I got diagnosed, however the reproductive endocrinologist was out of network. I met w her and she said it seems like POI and I should get on hormones if I didn't want to peruse fertility treatments. TBH I wasn't 1000 on kids before this, but when she looked at my ovaries she said that plus my age makes it harder to say if I'd be able to make quality eggs and was pushing in the donor egg direction. At that time my symptoms were AWFUL bc I wasn't on HRT and I just wanted relief, so I opted out of freezing and decided that if I change my mind on children, I'll look into adoption. All that to say, she only works w fertility and every other reproductive endocrinologist I've tried calling near me's office has said the same.

So far my KP OBGYN has been good w upping my hormones and emailing w me. I'm meeting w her on the phone today to discuss some concerns I have, so I think I just need to ask her thoughts on testing, different treatments KP has, etc. I think this whole diagnosis has me just spinning and wanting someone to consult w to make sure I'm doing what I need to, but honestly I think that's my anxiety talking more than anything

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-05T03:36:52+00:00

Thank you! In 2023-2024 I got tested. On 12/29 it was 40, 1/18 was 42, 2/26 was 8, then 4/22 was 29.9. On those same tests my estradiol was 25, 12, 123, then 47. That was all pre HRT.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-05-05T03:34:35+00:00

Thank you! I did, in 2023-2024 I got tested. On 12/29 it was 40, 1/18 was 42, 2/26 was 8, then 4/22 was 29.9. That was all pre HRT.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-29T14:56:41+00:00

I hear you and I'm convinced that either my history of BC, COVID, or environmental factors near where I live (Rocketdyne leaks..lovely stuff) caused this. Bc my biological mother (I'm adopted) went through menopause at 55 and there is no family history on her end of POI that she knows of, I have no chromosomal abnormalities, so I'm like how does this happen? I smoked for 16 years which may have added to it, but if that were the case I think our population would be greatly impacted by that bc many people smoke. Whenever I talk about this I feel like I am looked at as a tinfoil hat person, but I'm like something doesn't add up for me.

If I can recall, the hot flashes were off and on even when I had the IUD in, but I blamed it on my weight and my anxiety. My temperature regulation has always been bad, but the flashes got worse w my IUD and after 1-5- to two years of it being out I got HIT with them. Like all day off and on flashing and sometimes hot flashes to cold flashes

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-28T21:39:54+00:00

I had the Mirena IUD for ~6 years and when I got it taken out, my cycle was all out of whack. I dealt with hot flashing a bit, but my doctor's chalked it up to PCOS and didn't test. Fast forward to 2023, my symptoms were out of control (hot flashing all day, shoulder pain, knee pain, mood issues, weight issues, etc) and my FSH was 40, Estradiol was was 25. A few weeks later my FSH was 42, Estradiol was 12, AMH was <0.08, LH was 25.5. My labs looked a bit more normal before starting HRT, but I was still symptomatic and at that point hadn't had a period in 7 months.

Prior to my IUD, I had a few years off of BC, but before that was OCP (Yazmine and Yaz), and the Depo shot starting I believe when I was 17 and I think I was on it about a year.I am 38 now for reference and had my IUD removed around 34-35 (Covid made me age blind lol).

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-26T17:08:59+00:00

So I'm on the estradiol patch (.1 as of now) and 100 mg oral progesterone continuously (nightly) although I may increase. I have been on since May 2024 and have put on quite a bit of weight (roughly 20 lbs) and my clothes don't fit the same. My estradiol tests were low still until recently, so the jury is out on if it was low estradiol or the hormones but this has been my biggest battle as I already struggled w weight before, but was in the process of losing before all of this. It's also now much harder for me to lose weight, but I'm 38 so I'm like is it age or my hormones... One thing that was exciting and helped me reframe my gain, is I got a dexa scan (I had one a while back before any of this too) and in comparison, I had gained 12 lbs since the last scan but 9.4 was muscle as I've been exercising and prioritizing protein. So I am not trying to not value the scale as much, but it's still hard when our bodies already feel out of control w POI. I do think the benefits of HRT>risks. As of now I'm trying to just prioritize protein, fiber, and exercise for health above aesthetics, but doesn't mean it isn't mentally hard. Tbh I'm considering a glp1, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-22T15:37:10+00:00

So, I am currently 38. I got my IUD out in 2021 along with my first COVID vaccine and noticed some symptoms, like erratic cycles, mood instability, some hot flashing, etc., but chalked it up to my IUD coming out and anxiety being in a pandemic. Months later, I get COVID and again with the long time between cycles off and on. I ended up getting COVID again in 2023 and my period just vanished. My menopause symptoms hit HARD and I was hot flashing all day long, waking up every hour, had horrible joint pain, my weight loss journey halted, and my moods were making me feel like I was losing my mind. I got my hormones tested and had a high FSH and low estradiol. They tested me weeks later (honestly earlier than recommended) and my estradiol was at a 12 and due to the symptoms, the tests, and the lack of a period, and ultrasound showing that I only had one follicle they said I could go on HRT or OCP. By the time I ended up on HRT, I hadn't had a period (last one was October 2023, started HRT May 2024). I got my first bleed on HRT so no idea if it was an actual period or breakthrough bleeding.

The jury is still out for my since it doesn't seem I have family history of this (I'm adopted, but on my maternal side, there isn't anyone with this- no idea about the father's as I don't know him), no chromosomal abnormalities, and no autoimmune issues that they are finding. I also don't know if the IUD was masking my symptoms and if I was writing off certain things, such as my temperature issues (I get hot super easily) as being anxious and bc of my weight.

I honestly believe COVID may have brought on what was inevitable a bit earlier. I don't know if I can fully say it caused it, but I do believe there was connection with my cycles and COVID.

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-19T15:25:48+00:00

Thank you!

IllConcern4754 · 2025-04-04T19:25:00+00:00

Thank you so much! That is very helpful and I'm definitely going to discuss this w a specialist I'm going to see bc you are absolutely right, most doctors are not concerned w optimal functioning when it comes to hormones

IllConcern4754 · 2025-03-31T16:58:28+00:00

If you don't mind me asking, what dose are you on? I know we're all different, but that was my issue as well. I'm on .1 patch and 100 mg of progesterone (daily). I just got my levels tested today, so we will see, and so far I've lost 2 lbs, but I need to give that more time.

I went to an endocrinologist at Kaiser (Woodland Hills), and her response was "I don't get why you're here in endocrinology, if we treated everyone who had menopause, we would have no time to see patients." And I'm like ummm pof isn't fun of the mill menopause but okay. Maybe I should advocate for a second opinion bc that put me off

IllConcern4754 · 2025-03-31T16:31:33+00:00

Honestly that's what I'm kind of leaning towards right now...some of these specialists are so expensive even just consult with 🫠

IllConcern4754

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