To ask how old you are and what your perimenopausal symptoms?

46

Not sure about periods b/c I have mirena coil. But….
Itchy skin, particularly legs
Hip pain from sitting.

Rage
Weight gain (but could also be working from home beside the kitchen weight)
Sleep issue, although magnesium does help

The short answer for many people is: HRT sorts most of it out.

Likewise I exercise 4 times a week, eat well, rarely drink atm and have had multiple blood tests to ascertain if my poor sleeping is related to something else - I’m the right age for it too (50) so I have no reason to to think it’s not

Speaking for myself, I'm fit and I eat really well, and I don't have a stressful life. Also, some of the symptoms I had, such as vaginal atrophy, dry eyes and night sweats, were nothing to do with fitness or diet. I also did a lot of research and reading so I was fully informed on what could be and what might not be perimenopause. And lastly, after 3 years on HRT, all my symptoms have resolved, so I can be confident that what I was experiencing was perimenopause.

Just to add, I'm a wholefood eating, vegan, very low drinking runner.

Someone else asked this earlier. I try and keep an open mind on any issues I experience with my body/health.

The lack of periods, hot flushes and night sweats are more than likely perimenopause. Everything else I honestly don't know for sure.

48, started HRT in about June due to:
Joint pain/stiffness
Reduced energy (formerly excellent runner, but now on a steep decline)
Slight vag dryness
Slightly less bladder control
Zero libido for sex, and diy orgasms feel weak
Feel unusually snarky and unaffectionate towards DH

Already had mirena, so GP prescribed transdermal spray, which doesn't seem to have helped much, other than less vag dryness. Added testosterone a few weeks ago, which is sort of helping with libido: thinking of sex more often, and some sexual dreams, but still don't want to shag DH 🤷

I mean I can't speak for everyone here but I'm not unfit (for my age), I exercise four times a week, I eat well and barely drink and I have an unusually high tolerance for stress (actually prefer a bit of healthy stress to total lack of stress). I've also in the past year had a clean bill of health (had a health scare so got a battery of other tests). I'm sure these are menopause symptoms.

How do you know these are all peri symptoms and not due to another reason like bad diet, being unfit, normal aging, stress?

Ditto on the lack of alcohol tolerance - it’s quite disappointing that I can’t even really enjoy a glass or two of wine without it wrecking my already awful sleep

51: initially night sweats, difficulty sleeping and brain fog. I am going to sound like a smug wanker but HRT and regular exercise (yoga and running) keep it largely under control. The exercise in particular has made a massive difference: if I let that slide at all it creeps back up.

And I've also totally lost my alcohol tolerance. Used to like a bit of a drink: now I find as little as one unit leaves me feeling awful for the following 24 hours; tired, snappy, unable to concentrate. Actually seriously considering stopping altogether as it no longer brings any benefits to my life.

You know that's just luck, right? There's nothing a woman can do to guarantee an easy menopause.

50 and still having regular periods but becoming more unpredictable, e.g one month I missed one completely and another time only 2 weeks apart. Main symptoms are tiredness, particularly bad at ovulation and menstruation, and irritation mainly aimed at my husband. I've never been a swearer but I'm swearing all the time. I don't suffer aches and pains but I take a daily magnesium tablet and I'm sure that helps. I also can no longer tolerate alcohol, wipes me out so I very rarely drink now. Did try to get HRT but have told it should be a last resort for me due to significant family history of breast cancer.

Age 51. Been on HRT for 3 years and it's resolved all my symptoms.

I use oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone and vaginal oestrogen.

I had many of the symptoms listed on this thread. HRT has given me back "me" again, plus a revived sex life, which I'm rather thrilled about.

I'm 44. Had some irregular periods last year so doctor said peri but periods have settled back down since. I'm full of rage though!!

Those of you with vaginal dryness, vaginal itchiness or urinary symptoms, this is vaginal atrophy and if it's not treated properly it can lead to horrific symptoms.

I recommend the book 'Me and My Menopausal Vagina' because a lot of women just don't know how horrifying it is what vaginal atrophy can lead to. The poor woman who wrote this book left it too late to treat her vaginal atrophy, and she can't even stand knickers touching her vulva, and sometimes can't even sit down, it's that bad.

The supplements being recommended from Holland and Barrett etc will only mask the vaginal dryness and give a surface "wetness". These supplements will not deal with replacing lost oestrogen in the vaginal and urinary-system tissues - the loss of which is what causes the awful symptoms of vaginal atrophy. You need localised oestrogen for this, which is a very low-dose oestrogen you insert into your vagina.

48

Periods every couple of months. Hot allll the time. Over everyone’s bullshit and fantasise about running away to a desert island with the dog.

42
dry hair and dry ridged nails
dry, itchy skin
anxiety
digestive issues
painful periods
shorter cycles (used to be 32 days now every 26 days)
vaginal atrophy - itching, utis, frequency and urgency, weak bladder
weight gain
General meh feeling . No spark

47

Brain fog
Anxiety
Insomnia - made worse by anxiety
Horrendous periods and flooding
Spotting
Itching
Lack of libido

Tried HRT but it made me feel suicidal! Want to try another but every time I go to GP I get anxious and BP monitor goes up and down and stresses me out!

I also seem to have the frequent peeing thing in recent weeks. I thought possible uti bit tests show nothing and a google tells me it is another menopause sign. Where do it end.

46
Emotions all over the place. One day I am a sobbing mess the next full of rage.
On meds now for anxiety, on the mini pill so no idea about periods. Night sweats and sleep pattern is dreadful too which is why I am awake at this hour having woken up with a feeling like my body is covered in salt or sand or something just that awful sweaty feeling but then get out of bed, strip and then freezing but cannot go back to sleep. Not sure if I am peri or just a lunatic at times.

42

Haven’t given much thought to being peri-menopausal, but my periods - for the first day or 2 I get horrendous cramps, nausea and ridiculously heavy bleeding 😭

No that is total bollocks. Some of those things can help but still there is a huge element of luck.
My sister and I are both vegetarian & lactose free.
Both fit, both eat very healthily (few UPFs etc). Neither of us have ever been on the pill or coil. (She is a Lesbian, DH had the snip and condoms before that). She has had no symptoms at 53 and now menopausal, I have had been plagued by severe symptoms since I was 43. Joint pain, severe periods, flooding, mood swings from hell, no libido, insomnia, anxiety.
Lifestyle can definitely help but it isn't the only reason!

Early 40s - not sure if all are hormonal changes or just age.

Receding hairline but more hair on face.

Leg hair has become thicker and darker and more prone to ingrown hairs.

Fatigue.

Sweet tooth.

Caring less about what people think of me.

Have also noticed waxier, itchy ears.

weaker bladder.

Running speeds are now slower.

It’s alarming how bad some people’s symptoms are. I knew that I’ve had an easy time so far (49), but I didn’t realize quite how awful it can be. How did women manage before HRT. ☹️