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

Now fully into menopause but the perimenopausal symptoms were wildly erratic periods (anything from 3 to 16 weeks) for the last ten years, along with menstrual migraines.

49 - regular & pain free periods but got much more tired than usual and blood sugar went all weird. Had nagging background anxiety. Taking very low HRT 1mg and it’s sorted it out

46 next week:
upper lip/chin hairs (lovely!)
uhm... itchy undercarriage
gaining weight more easily
occasional insomnia of a different kind to what I've had before - very tired and feel totally ready to drop off, but just can't drop off, or keep waking up. Tends to happen two nights in a row, every month or two
getting more contact allergies - eg now can't seem to wear watches or, @JMSA, earplugs/ear buds without it causing persistent itching. I got a bad infection and dermatitis exteriosa in the ear (I think it's called) beginning of this year and that dermatitis keeps recurring, hydrocortisone cream helps when it flares us.

I have no idea what's happening with my periods, I have been on contraceptive implant since youngest was born 12 years ago and I almost never get any bleeding or period symptoms.

I was in Peri for about 4 years - symptoms evolved from alternating crying / rage to severe anxiety and poor sleep - then a long period of feeling just flat & meh.

HRT has been a gamechanger, but have increased the Oestrogen dose over the years. Also take a small amount of Testosterone.

Everyone get onto the Balance website - read all the free guides and listen to the amazing podcasts that include the latest evidence and research. Read the NICE guidelines. HRT is body-identical now, no different to your own natural hormones. Makes oral contraceptives look appalling! There are lots of different options to try. HRT massively reduces the risk of Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Dementia, Bowel Cancer & Diabetes - current research suggests that in women, HRT is better / safer in preventing cardiac events than Statins. I think that in 10-40 years time there will be a massive difference in morbidity and quality of life between those that do and do not take HRT. There are safe options available to almost everyone.

Yes, terrible problems! I attributed it to AirPods but I haven’t used them for 6 months! Had a horrific ear infection and things haven’t been right since. Tinnitus, itching, ear wax build up, loss of hearing.

If the menopause is to blame for that too, that’s really irritating. It’s been a really tough year with my ears, my infection took 2 courses of antibiotics to clear it and I had to have a week off sick which is very unlike me. And the pain was horrific.

Headaches during my period (which I never used to get), occasional migraine, obsessive behaviour, hormonal rage, low mood, dry/less elastic skin, overly hot at night if the room is anything other than cold, and anxiety. Isn’t being a woman FUN?

Fortunately my GP surgery has an excellent menopause specialist nurse and I’ve been offered HRT already. Just need to get on an organise it.

A weird and random one, but is anyone else having issues with their ears? Mine are itchy on the inside and filling up with wax really quickly (to the point where my hearing is very badly affected). I used to be able to have them microsuctioned annually, but now need to have it done every few months.

49 and not had a period for 9 months so I might be post menopausal, or nearly.

Symptoms: periods far more irregular. Sometimes 2 weeks apart sometimes 3 to 6 months apart. But lighter.

Stiff joints when I get up.
Thinner hair probably. But I lost a lot following Covid so that’s partly why.

That’s it.

49. Mild physical stuff has started over the last year or so but it was the mental side of things that sent me to the GP.

Anxiety ramped up MASSIVELY last year - did CBT which helped a bit and took CBD oil daily which helped a bit - then by this summer it was ADHD symptoms that made me go ask for HRT. Couldn't concentrate at work at all and even at home/doing more practical stuff I just couldn't get anything finished without getting distracted. Never had ADHD diagnosis or anything before but having read a bit, it seems that it's quite common for the drop in hormones to trigger more extreme symptoms.

Am 57 and still having periods. Brain fog and feeling hot. Not much else at the moment. Perhaps tired after work but that may be normal for most people.

I am 49

brain fog
anxiety
weight gain
tiredness
aches and pains
dry gums/ mouth
vaginal dryness/ soreness
mood swings mostly crying!
sleep problems
spots!
irregular periods
migraine
hair loss
palpatations

I have had PEs so GP won’t prescribe HRT wanted to give me prozac!! so I am saving up to go privately- the brain fog and anxiety are really affecting me!

I'm 42, I think it all started when I was 38 and having hot flushes with a young baby so was dismissed as a post partum thing. Been on hrt two years, totally transformative. Menopause specialist believes I am now towards the end of darned thing - early for it all.

Periods went haywire, 3 weekly, horribly heavy. Furious or tearful, anxious, felt out of control. Dry hair, nails, joint pain and fatigue and brain fog ( although I also have other health conditions contributing) . Issues with histamine/ allergies increased. Tummy area weight gain.

Almost forgot about my body temperature, I'm either too hot or too cold. I can go to either extreme very quickly.
And the most recent, irregular and heavy periods.

I'm 47.
Looking back, my symptoms probably started when I was around 42.
Anxiety,
Brain fog,
Low mood,
Rage,
Feeling overwhelmed and incompetent,
Dry itchy skin, especially at night.
Headches.
Poor sleep, I wake up several times a night, and I cannot lie in as my whole body aches.
Joint pain, constantly.
Thinning hair,
Weight gain,
Weak bladder.
I am also becoming more antisocial, and really can't be arsed with anyone's bullshit.
I've been on HRT for about 2 years, and my symptoms have definitely improved but havn't gone completely. I do wonder if I need a change.

And low libido and vaginal dryness
Weak bladder control

49
The rage and irrationality
Anxiety and really unsociable
bad fatigue
really heavy irregular periods that can last weeks at a time or a few days
Gastro issues
sore knees
the sweats and my body is like a hot water bottle most of the time so spend my whole time arguing with family that the windows have to be open and heating off
brain fog and can’t focus on tasks

it’s horrible and can’t even take HRT as it sets off my bloody trigeminal neuralgia pain

I'm 52. My only symptoms so far are that my periods are more frequent (were always irregular), some spotting and that, for the first time after a lifetime of insomnia, I go to bed before midnight, sleep a solid 6 hours and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day in the early morning.

I used to have to drag myself out of bed in the late morning while counting the hours till I could go back to sleep. I'm loving it, and hope it lasts when the whole thing plays out.

46. Periods have got slightly closer together and my tolerance for stupidity has decreased considerably. Nothing else so far.

41- wasn’t sure if these are peri signs but reading this could well be. in the last year or so had a few months where my libido went crazy high - down to below normal.
Absolutely awful sleep, occasional waking up sweaty, ridiculous anxiety, rage about work (honestly wouldn’t usually bother me), itchy skin and starting to get randomly hot and bothered. I’ve started magnesium and magnesium sleep lotion about 6 weeks ago and the sleep and flushes seem to have improved.

I'm mid 50s & not sure I'm done having periods yet.
I'm happier & more confident with better self-esteem now than at any time before in my life. This mood has grown & sustained itself more & more for last 10 years.

I definitely can't eat as much as I used to. I used to clear a 16" diameter plate no problem but not nowadays.

I just started getting HFs. They aren't annoying. A lot of them are obviously triggered by something annoying. Like if I'm struggling with a sudoku puzzle, that could bring a HF on.

My sleep is terrible since I started having babies (20+ years ago). I had to learn to wake up quickly if I woke up at all, & I can't seem to unlearn it, even now.

Is all.

44, RAGE!!!!

I'm 52. Several years of very heavy periods, just beginning to be a bit irregular now. Poor sleep (wake early). Sporadically itchy skin. Digestive issues, but not sure if they have anything to do with perimenopause.

I'm 39. I suffer with vaginal atrophy, hot flushes, my sleep pattern has completely changed and my anxiety is through the roof when I'm ovulating and when my period is due

Also meant to add, I’ve just started taking magnesium glycinate in the hope of sleeping better

Yes. The constipation has been horrendous...cramping the lot..severe cramping too... sweating with passing movement. Gp said its peri and quite common. I had colonoscopy etc.