Hi Katie54321
![welcomemm :welcomemm:](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/welcomemm.gif)
You are fairly young to be peri-menopausal - and good that you are taking action early - although there was probably no need to go privately since the NHS has a duty to investigate and treat you for early menopause especially at your age!
However ..... glad you had a good consultation. How irregular have your periods been - I mean have you started skipping them and going longer than 4 weeks between them yet - or perhaps they have been getting shorter?
Yes you are right that the physical symptoms - flushes and sweats usually disappear quite quickly - so if you haven't been getting these then it is less easy to tell if the gel is working as the emotional changes are more gradual. Oestrogen actually can have an almost instantaneous effect on mood - think of your menstrual cycle and how up and down you can feel - but it also has longer term effects through physiological and biochemical changes. The dose you are on should prevent the mood dip caused by low oestrogen during the last part of the cycle and the first part of the new one when oestrogen is at its lowest. Is the idea to suppress ovulation have you been told?
Whereabouts in your cycle are you at the moment?
Do hang on for a while longer and hopefully you will reap the benefits very soon - treating reproductive depression with oestrogen is one of Prof Studd's specialities so at least you are in good hands!
Hurdity x