I had an horrific time when hot flushes started with intensity just before I turned 50. My entire body, but particularly my face, would go obviously red and I’d perspire so much drips from my forehead would land on my glasses. Friends at work were supportive and joke “oh here comes another one”. It was multiple times per hour. Winter was just as bad as I would be so hot, the covered in perspiration and freezing. Cardigan on, cardigan off. Bed covers on, bed covers off. Very embarrassing. I tried lots of things, no caffiene, herbal supplements etc etc but in the end I went on HRT and am still on it 12 years later. I have tried a few times to come off it but only last about 5 weeks before they are gradually back and awful. I am due to try again soon. I have no side effects from them and for me it just has to be as it was embarrasing, exhausting and disrupting. Sleeping was interrupted all night

I have PMDD and I’m 38. During and after my last 2 pregnancies (5 in total) I found that my PMDD was really horrific. I was so angry postpartum. I’ve never felt so much rage towards everyone and after my outbursts the guilt and the tears would start and I’d beg for forgiveness and try to do better but would inevitably return back to a state of pure anger and irritation. Before my period I have insomnia, rage, hatred and a very short fuse, intertwined with bouts of crying. I try not to go out anywhere around this time of the month and keep to myself as much as possible just to avoid the outbursts. It’s very hard for my family and I don’t think my husband understands. I’ve tried many vitamins to help including vitamin B, DIM and 5htp supplements but nothing has really helped and I don’t want to go on birth control because it messes with my cycle so badly.