I had a similar thing happen to a friend of mine who started Rapa (3 mg) after being on HRT for years. She experienced several high estrogen symptoms as well as severe fatigue and depression, which were very unusual for her. She stopped the Rapa after about three months and all symptoms went away. I’m still unclear on the mechanism.
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Not sure if this article by Blagosklonney has been shared but it gives a good explanation of why Rapa may help delay menopause and why we should consider thinking of menopause as a disease.
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Below, from the new Athena Dao, started by Laura Minquini recently. A new group helping to increase funding into research on countering female premature female fertility aging, and related womens health issues.
https://twitter.com/athena_DAO_
ReproductiveHealthReport.pdf (4.2 MB)
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I contacted the researcher that presented this at the conference (and hoped to get the image of the old ovaries vs. ovaries from rapamycin mice - but no luck), and I’ll post the study when it gets published. I also asked him the question you brought up. Here was his response:
Thanks for the keen interest, and the manuscript is currently in preparation for submission hence I am unable to share any of the images until they are ready.
As the meeting was an academic meeting with clauses attached, I was able to share unpublished data at that point, I seek your kind understanding and hope you can continue to follow our work. I will keep in touch once our manuscript gets accepted. Just to share, even at menopause, there are still very low number of ovarian follicles although these could be of poor quality.
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Thanks for the update. I look forward to seeing the study once it’s released.
A post from another thread today:
I am 64 in menopause for 7? Years the Rapamycin seems to be reversing menopause, I have been having hot flashes mood swings and spotting! (source: this post )
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I’d be curious if she’s taking HRT. Those symptoms could be due to high estrogen (spotting) or low estrogen (hot flashes). My understanding is that some follicles exist until about ten years after menopause but after that I’m not sure how you’d “reverse” it. It would be interesting to get her hormone levels checked!
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Would you mind sharing which hormone tests exactly? I’m 7-8 years post menopause and after being on rapamycin only 1 month I’m having some interesting changes already. I’d like to start monitoring my hormones. Thank you
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No I am not take HRT or any hormones!
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Oh thank you for responding! And for sharing your story! If you get your hormones checked (estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, FSH, LH) I’d love to see where they come back, especially if you have any labs from the last few years when you were menopausal but not taking Rapa.
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I usually like to see estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA if menopausal and taking hormones. FSH and LH are nice to have as well. And, of course, if you happen to have previous labs then that’s helpful for comparison.
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Hi Amy, a question from a guys perspective. Are there any tests that you think might be appropriate for guys taking 17-alpha estradiol to validate that in effect its getting into the body?
People are starting to try it: 17-Alpha Estradiol - Another Top Anti-Aging Drug
And since you’re obviously up on the whole hormone testing issue - I was wondering if you’ve ever done hormone testing on men (other than TrT type applications)?
Hey. Yes! I’ve not tested specifically for 17-a estradiol but have definitely tested for regular estradiol as well as testosterone, FSH, LH, DHT, DHEA, etc. It might be helpful to check inflammatory markers like CRP in someone taking 17a Estradiol since there’s some animal evidence that inflammation goes down.
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I started rapa over a year ago…. I started at 1 mg once per week, but have worked my way up to 5mg once per week now.
Before rapa, I was experiencing periomenopause symptoms…. Lighter periods that came once every 2 - 3 months or so… I think… I wasn’t really keeping track….
Now I didn’t start taking rapa for fertility…. I never even read anything about rapa having an impact on extending fertility…. I just wanted it for longevity….
I have started noticing when I got to my higher dose (5mg) that my periods have returned once a month…. And they are no longer light as well…. Btw- I’m 48 now….
I’m glad to see this post, because to be honest, I was getting worried…
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@AmyK nice to see you here also 
!
Do you follow a certain stack and timing with supplements and medications? Dr. Mindi Pelz recommends to fast only in the 1st half of a cycle. Now this would translate into taking rapamycin and certain polyphenols only in the 1st half.
My personal stack looks as follows: The day I take rapamycin, I’ll fast and I’ll take fisetin, resveratrol, spermidine and quercetin. Sometimes I use this day as a starting point for a longer fast of 4 days in a row. If I don’t fast, I’ll at least keep my protein and sugar intake low.
After 4 days of taking rapamycin I ramp up my protein intake, supplement with collagen and once a month do a microneedling session during refeeding.
Now, do I have to pay attention to my cycle and not take rapa in the 2nd half?
Many thanks to all of you, this forum really helps!
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I think your plan makes sense. I don’t fast (I’m already thin and don’t want to lose muscle) but I do plan my more difficult/heavier weight training on the second half of the week if possible (furthest from my Sunday Rapa dose).
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Why do you start your fast when you take Rapa? Rapa mimics starvation. If you fast in addition to taking Rapa, it’s like double fast.
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Lara, there does seem to be some overlap in what rapamycin and fasting does, but there also seems to be significant differences. For example in muscle:
Distinct and additive effects of calorie restriction and rapamycin in aging skeletal muscle
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29714-6
So, its not unreasonable to do both.
More of a discussion here: How Rapamycin Extends Lifespan (mechanism and implications) Discussion
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I try to deactivate mTor with rapamycin. If I eat high protein at the same time, I fear that mTor gets turned back on.
I’m just guessing, so could also be too much.
Same with additional supplements in the fields senolytic, mitophagy, autophagie, energy,… There is just not much data and we kind of have to guess how to stack or combine.
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