Perimenopause

How is it diagnosed exactly, blood tests?

Blood tests are not necessarily used for diagnosis, especially over the age of 45. Symptoms should be enough to diagnose. Symptom lists are available online and its best to tick one off and bring it to the gp so you can actually remember what your symptoms are! I ticked the list off but forgot to bring it - forgetfulness being a symptom of mine. In perimenopause your levels of oestrogen fluctuate a lot so you could have a high reading today and a low reading in a few days. Progesterone is the first hormone to deplete and can do so from mid 30's onwards. This can result in heavier periods which a lot of women will experience into their 40's.

If a woman would like to try HRT, the best thing is to start low on oestrogen and work your way up. You will also be prescribed progesterone/progestin alongside the oestrogen, though if you have had a hysterectomy you may not need progesterone. The progesterone/progestin element is primarily to protect the womb lining from thickening. Its a trial and error situation to get the dose of HRT correct for each individual, so while I could use a 25mg oestrogen patch, my friend of the same age could be on a 100mg patch.

Its definitely worth learning about and finding out how the depletion of our hormones can affect us both physically and mentally. HRT is a very individual choice and its not something everyone will want or be able to use, but it can be life changing for many women.

My GP didn't even bother. She said there was no point given that the hormones fluctuate during the month.

I am on the mini pill for years, and don't get periods, so couldn't even judge by that.

She said based on symptoms she would start me on hrt, within 10 days I felt the affects. Great stuff.

I can empathise with you on that. I have crohns disease and at times it was hellish. I just hope I have an easy ride through menopause. I know my mum had an awful time, but that was many moons ago. Best of luck and health .

Yeah, that's the thing, your levels can be fine, so if you have other symptoms what could be causing them?

I was honestly delighted with my GP

If it works for you then that's good, the hrt has been brilliant for me.

Whatever works for us is the important thing ,😊

Is there a good multivitamin supplement for pre peri etc.,?

Anyone else have spots appear all of a sudden? I’ve always had good skin, never got any spots but 6 months ago a few appeared and now my whole lower face is pretty much covered in them and they don’t go away but just keep building. Googling it and the images for perimenopause acne looks just like my face. Had never really been aware of peri to be honest - 39 and I didn’t think I’d have to worry about menopause stuff for about another decade. I also have heart palpitations which I had no clue were a symptom until recently. These are my only two symptoms really - I’ve always had brain fog on and off but I eat a high sugar diet so have tended to attribute it to that.

My gp isn’t great so I might look for a specialist clinic or something.

I'm 42, and believe I'm perimenopausal.

The frequency of my cycle is getting shorter and shorter, I'm down to a 22 day cycle some months. I read that this can happen before they start to space out. I've always suffered with oily, blemish prone skin but it's gotten a lot worse, and my hair is visibly oily after 1.5 days. I began suffering with anxiety really badly this year too, to the point that I had to go on meds, which I never thought I'd do.

Oh ladies have not been on boards in a while but was just browsing and I swear I could just cry now!! Why when our systems just get to normal something changes… I am early forties (first time writing that one down :) ) and I asked the doc last year if she thought I might be peri and she said no, too young..

I started taken the clean marine menomin and will say they defo helped with the mood swings the last year and all else, but this last month I have felt like utter shite to be honest.. My periods are in between a 30 or 33 day cycle, the night sweats are there no matter what i wear to be, sex drive is more or less every now and again, and the feeling of just failure with all.. I am generally a very happy person just this last two months feels like trying to catch a breath.. After reading all I am defo going to get to the doctor to maybe get bloods done, and some help…

There are a lot of women who hit the menapause age having issues with thyroid. I know good few. So yes something to check.

Just to reassure people that it may not necessarily be hell for everybody -it's very individual.

I'm 55 and still have a regular period. I was always heavy but they are now really floods. I attempted ablation but unsuccessful as I've a retroverted uterus. I manage but tge first 2 days are tough.

At this age obviously I'm in perimenopause. I have mild symptoms. Occasionally wake up in a low grade sweat. Occasional mild irritability. Occasional mild digestive issues. I manage by: sea swimming all year (I'm not new to it, grew up at the sea and always swam, but it really helps). Sleep naked - I always did anyway. Loads of exercise, I trailrun a bit, cycle a bit, kayak a bit, yoga a bit and started strength/conditioning. It really, really helps. Manage my weight as best as I can, eat unprocessed food 90% of the time, keep alcohol limited as it just makes sweats worse. As much sex as I can get - amazing help. Take loads of time for myself whenever possible and no guilt. I'm not on hrt so far and feel fine.

Be wary of expensive supplements - check the label, most of them contain basic vitamins/minerals which you can buy cheaper and make the supplement up yourself with. I take kelp every day and find it great.

If you live near the sea and one of those saunas which are everywhere now - do it! You will feel the benefit, I swear. Finnish women who use sauna all their lives have statistically milder menopausal symptoms.

Came here looking for this thread. This is a long one so apologies in advance. So I'm 48 and while I've been peri-menopausal for the last 4-5 years it's been at least 6 months since my last cycle and I think I can safely say that might have been the ONE :) I say this as I just recently started experiencing the hot flushes and while I've had ALL the other symptoms, I never suffered hot flushes until my cycle ceased.

I have sisters, older and younger and they are all on HRT. I remember years ago my younger sister who was about 42 at the time convincing me I must be suffering hot flushes as she couldn't bare it but I genuinely hadn't at that point. They all have private healthcare however so most likely a better relationship with their respective GP's and obtaining HRT or discussing these issues is I imagine easier for them. I'm on a medical card and haven't seen a GP in over 7 years. (long story)

I've always taken supplements and swim regularly, I've used magnesium powder and B vitamins religiously to manage energy levels, aches and pains and brain fog and find selenium + zinc necessary not just for hair and skin but for keeping things well oiled and regular in general. Krill oil finishes off my daily portion of pills. I started taking 1/4 aspirin daily for inflammation but my stomach is not well adapted to it and I added licorice root extract to my daily regimen to ease these issues and discovered that it has additional benefits for peri/menopausal symptoms. (licorice roots contain compounds that activate estrogen receptors to boost levels of the hormone in the body.)

So I started looking into vitamin products specifically designed to cater for all these issues and started using menopace by vitabiotics a week ago after reading reviews which suggest that it has benefits for women suffering hot flashes. (they were on special offer in H&B) The first two days I was Sick sick, the worst night sleep in a long time, migraine on waking and nauseous like morning sickness. Old symptoms like back ache and spasmodic sensations crept back in on top of the flashes and emotionally I was wrecked. I was about to give up on the third day when I caved and took some paracetamol and since then every symptom has quieted and lessened each day to where I can safely say the hot flashes are practically imperceptible. I'd say maybe an 80% reduction. My appetite seems to have resolved itself and I'm starting to rest better. It does feel like a natural alternative to HRT, it clearly is having an impact on my hormonal levels and while it took a bit of adjusting seems to be working very well for now.

Don't know if anyone else has any experience with it but thought it might help someone out there.