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I’ve been wanting to share this for a while now—my personal perimenopause symptoms and testosterone journey. Because when you’re going through something like perimenopause, and your body is acting up in all the weirdest ways (brain fog, low libido, energy crashes, weird skin issues), it can feel like you’re the only one trying to piece together a solution that actually works. Spoiler alert: it’s all about finding the right hormone balance, and that journey? Let’s just say it’s been trial, error, and a lot of learning.
I’ve always been someone who’s willing to try things—especially when it comes to wellness. And I’ll be honest, I’ve had the unique privilege of being able to explore a lot of different options, in part because my husband is an amazing provider.
I like to share that just to offer some context around the research, testing, and investment details I’m sharing here. It’s really my hope that by sharing I can help other women navigate it all without the overwhelm (and without spending thousands trying to figure it out).
Let’s Talk Hormones, Perimenopause, and the Whole Vitamin Thing
So this is for the 43ish crowd who’s feeling like…what is even happening? This is actually one of those posts I wasn’t sure I’d ever make because I’m not really your “push all the powders and pills” kind of girl. If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably noticed I don’t regularly link to collagen mixes or trendy vitamin stacks. That’s just never been my thing. I’m a big believer that a lot of what we see pushed online is just clever marketing. I believe in metabolic flexibility, which basically means I don’t think your body needs to be on the same thing 24/7/365. And for me, that’s always shaped how I approach supplements and wellness in general.
But with that said, there are certain things that I’ve personally used for years that have genuinely made a difference in how I feel, especially as I’ve entered this fun, weird, unpredictable phase called perimenopause. So I figured it was time to share a little backstory, the things I’ve tried, what’s worked (and what hasn’t), and what I’m currently doing.
The Backstory: My Health Journey
Basically, I’ve gotten my labs done probably since my early 30s because I’ve always just felt there’s a huge importance to know what was happening in my body before the real hormonal rollercoaster started. Because as women, we all know menopause is coming at some point.
I’ve always been really estrogen high, but my testosterone was never low, just kind of in that normal range. But around 37 (which, by the way, was honestly one of my best years), I started to notice about two years after having my last baby Kinley that I was getting some weird perimenopausal symptoms. The biggest red flag? Sleep. I never had issues sleeping. I could sleep for 10 hours—like I go to bed at nine, and wake up at seven. At first I kind of attributed it to having the kids because they disrupted my sleep pattern so much for almost 5 years. But eventually, I realized it was something deeper.
More and more women I talk to are experiencing the same thing. We’ve been led to believe menopause happens in our 50s—but perimenopause? That starts way earlier than most of us expect. And the wild part? No two months are the same. You can have a few months where you feel totally fine, then BAM—you’re hit with a stretch of weeks where everything feels off.
I’ve always considered myself a healthy, balanced person, which is why I’ve tried away from a lot of different vitamins and supplements because it just really wasn’t needed in my body. I always felt that, in doing so, it would actually be an imbalance where there was already balance.
Why I Decided to Try Hormones
Fast forward to 2024. Life got busy. My kids are older now—less clingy, but somehow life is more chaotic with all the activities, the carpooling, the nonstop calendar shuffle. And I was struggling. Brain fog. Mood swings. I felt snappy, unmotivated, and honestly like I couldn’t function.
So I went to Swan Medical to see Dr. Castillo — he’s a hormone specialist. I really encourage women to skip the OB/GYN and find a hormone specialist. You can find them online. You can try and get referrals. Or you can do, “hormone specialist near me” searches but I do not recommend going to an OB/GYN because they will just stick you on birth control like that’s all they’re gonna do. And then they almost pretend like perimenopause isn’t even happening because their specialty is in reproductive health, so people need to keep that in mind like if you’re having trouble. It’s gotta be hormones specialist specific.
So in November, after reviewing my labs and symptoms, we decided to try a testosterone pellet—a tiny little insert (in the butt cheek, not anywhere else, let’s be clear. haha). It’s about the size of a grain of rice and delivers a slow, consistent dose of testosterone. I loved it. I felt amazing. Like, next-level great.
But—there were downsides. It wears off at the 3-month mark, it’s expensive, it requires appointments every quarter, and yep, it leaves little scars. So eventually, I tried switching to testosterone shots at home. Super easy to administer, but honestly? They didn’t work as well for me. I started to get acne and hair growth on my face so I feel like that is not an option for me. So I came off of them and started exploring other options.
What’s On My Vitamin Shelf (And Why I Rotate It)
Let’s talk about testosterone supplements—because while hormones are a big part of the picture, the vitamins you take matter too. I’m all about metabolic flexibility, which to me means not being overly reliant on one thing. I’ll take something for a month or two, then cycle off. I really believe the body can get used to supplements, and when it does, they just don’t work as well.
That said, there are a few I consistently stay on:
– B12 and Vitamin D: These are staples for me. They always show up low in labs if I skip them.
– Green Tea Extract: I don’t even know why this works so well, but if I stop taking it, I gain weight. Maybe it’s the mild caffeine? The bloating help? Either way, it’s a must for me.
Then there are my switch-in, switch-out vitamins:
– Fish oil: I rotated this with a good hair/skin/nails vitamin.
– Magnesium: This is a must for perimenopause symptoms like sleep and mood—every woman I talk to swears by it.
– Vitamin C + Zinc, and Ginger: Sometimes I take them in gummy form, other times I make my own juice shots with kale or lemon.
– Papaya Enzymes: Great for occasional bloating or heartburn. I used to rely on Prilosec but coming off that changed everything for my gut health.
– DIM: If you’re in perimenopause and can’t get to a hormone specialist, this one is worth trying. It’s helped balance things out when I needed a boost.
Let’s Talk About the Bathroom (Yup, we need to go there)
Can we just normalize talking about going to the bathroom? I never had issues until perimenopause hit, and suddenly, it was a thing. Sluggish digestion, bloating, and just… not going. My doctor prescribed Linzess, and let me tell you—it’s a miracle pill. No joke. One capsule, and you’re regular without having to down gross smoothies or weird fiber supplements.
If you’re waiting for a prescription or want to kickstart your gut health in the meantime, I’ve been sent Mag O too. It’s a gut cleanse you can find on Amazon that can be a gentle reset for your system.
Where I’m At Now with my Testosterone Journey
So here’s the honest truth: I’m still figuring it all out. I’ve paused the testosterone shots, I’m cycling my testosterone supplements, and I’m trying to listen to what my body actually needs. I’m even revisiting thyroid support
But the biggest thing I’ve learned? There’s no one solution. It’s a process. And it’s okay to pivot as your body changes.
Whether you’re deep into perimenopause or just starting to notice symptoms, I hope sharing my testosterone journey—and the ups and downs—helps you feel a little less alone. Try things. Track your symptoms. Talk to your doctor. And give your body grace along the way.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in your late 30s or early 40s and wondering what’s going on with your body—you’re not alone. Every woman’s perimenopause journey looks different, and honestly, every month feels different. That’s why my biggest advice is to pay attention. Get your labs done. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. And don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing online!
Before you check out these supplements, here are some other posts that you might be interested in: The Best Skincare Products & Routine I’m Loving Right Now, Mini Amazon Travel Finds, and Bathroom Organizer Essentials for the Beauty Lover.
