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Original poster

To think perimenopause is an overused buzzword?

332 replies

Furning · 03/02/2026 20:10

My friends and I are mid to late 30s. A lot of them are now claiming they’re perimenopausal, and if I mention I’m hot, or I've forgot something, or cant concentrate, they rush to tell me it’ll be perimenopause.

If they are struggling to lose weight, or forget what they’re saying, or anything at all negative happens, it’s because they’re perimenopausal.

I know some women might be in their 30s, but surely not most? Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:25

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 03/02/2026 23:18

@Nevermind17average duration of perimenopause is 4 years not 10. So the half of women get it before age 47. Not 41.

Exactly!

OP posts:
StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 03/02/2026 23:25

Furning · 03/02/2026 23:24

Can. It would be unusual to hit menopause before 45. It would be unusual to have perimenopause symptoms for 10 years. Not many women in their 30s are perimenopausal.

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Honestly I don’t know why people WANT loads of 30s women to be in perimenopause. Millions of women that age are still having their kids! It’s like they’re desperate to be older than they are for some reason.

Extrachoc · 03/02/2026 23:25

LamonicBibber1 · 03/02/2026 22:53

OP must be a GP, what with their faux-baffled dismissal and rude ignorance about peri 😂 Also, do they know that baseless rage leaking out all over innocent women can be a symptom of peri...? Lol. Just saying 😉

The Victorians couldnt even look at a table leg without having a fit of the vapours about it's suggestive nature. In the 1960s girls were deeply ashamed about doing PE on their period in case anyone knew. Rape was hushed up. Unbelievable now, in 2026.

But times move on, OP. Those darn pesky women living in their own bodies (and armed with all the information and other people's openness and experiences online) are ACTUALLY ALLOWED to publicly discuss peri now. ( I know, disgusting, right?) Next they'll be wanting equal rights, abortions, the end of FGM, god it just never ends....

I suggest you shut up and go live your life. Other women's medical experiences are fortunately nothing to do with you (unless you really are a GP, in which case it's never too late for a career change, have you considered working for Reform or moving to America and finding the tradwives to hang out with or something?) 😂😂 Laughable. Beneath contempt.

Edited

Hear, hear!!!

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:24

RottenBanana · 03/02/2026 23:04

And perimenopausal symptoms can start a decade plus earlier. Soooo, if you get to menopause at 45, you could be experiencig symptoms from 35. Or earlier.

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Can. It would be unusual to hit menopause before 45. It would be unusual to have perimenopause symptoms for 10 years. Not many women in their 30s are perimenopausal.

OP posts:
Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:23

Auroraloves · 03/02/2026 23:04

Menopause is different to perimenopause! 51 is the average age in which periods stop, Perimenopause is the time leading up to this when the hormone levels drop and symptoms start appearing

if you are going to post about this in a forum like this please find out the facts.

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Clearly something in this post has suggested I was mixing up perimenopause and menopause. I wasn’t.

OP posts:
Nevermind17 · 03/02/2026 23:23

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 03/02/2026 23:18

@Nevermind17average duration of perimenopause is 4 years not 10. So the half of women get it before age 47. Not 41.

But who is measuring those numbers? As I said, I’d had symptoms for years that doctors didn’t put down to perimenopause but they obviously were with hindsight.

BlackCatDiscoClub · 03/02/2026 23:23

Furning · 03/02/2026 23:18

Yes?

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You seem to be mixing them up a bit. It's best to be clear on it. Its not common to have been without a period for a year aged 45. But its common to experience perimenopause in your 30s and 40s.

TheUsualChaos · 03/02/2026 23:22

You clearly don't like your friends very much OP.
I hope they all ask their GPs about starting HRT when they feel they need support.

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:22

Nevermind17 · 03/02/2026 23:01

Yes, but half of all women will be younger than 51.

But if the average is 51, that means the average onset of peri will be around 41. Obviously half of all women will be younger than 41, and half will be older. That’s a lot of women in their mid/late 30s.

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No. The average length of perimenopause is four years, not ten. 95% of women reach menopause after 45. Not many women are perimenopausal in their 30s, never mind mid 30s.

OP posts:
Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:19

YorkshireGoldie · 03/02/2026 23:17

Again, menopause is not the same as perimenopause!

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Fucking Hell. I know. I know all about it because my friends will not stop banging on about it.

OP posts:
StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 03/02/2026 23:18

@Nevermind17average duration of perimenopause is 4 years not 10. So the half of women get it before age 47. Not 41.

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:18

BlackCatDiscoClub · 03/02/2026 23:11

Menopause is complete absence of menstruation for a year.
Perimenopause is the escalating hormone fluctuations that occur before menstruation stops.

Edited
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Yes?

OP posts:
Lou7171 · 03/02/2026 23:17

Applecup · 03/02/2026 22:53

I think there is sometimes a shift in your hormones and period patterns when you are in your 30s but that doesn’t mean you are in perimenopause. It seems today that everything has to have a label. You can’t have a heavy period, forget a name or feel hot without people labelling you peri menopausal. Anyone who likes a tidy and clean house is now OCD and someone who is struggling with multitasking is suddenly claiming they are ADHD. It can get a bit ridiculous.

Agree with this. Everything now needs a label, everything is branded.. normal life transitions are cake worthy milestones.

I get why you find it annoying op. There's a risk it becomes a catch all explanation which might stop some women looking at other causes of symptoms.

Also, yes some women may get symptoms in their 30s but most won't.

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:17

TheUsualChaos · 03/02/2026 23:09

Women experience symptoms of perimenopause to varying degrees of severity and the age of onset also varies. Mid to late 30s is entirely normal to be experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.

Women are finally able to have a clearer understanding of what is happening to them due to declining hormones through their 30s , 40s and 50s, rather than just be made to feel like they are failing or have a multitude of other issues which they are prescribed medications for which they don't need, rather than the hormones that will actually help them.

I expect they are relieved to know, that they aren't going mad or it's all in their head and just want to relate to other women going through the same changes. Because it's not the hush hush subject it used to be.

But by all means, you carry on and put them all down OP!

BTW the information on the NHS website etc is not very good and anyone worth their salt in women's health now recognises that perimenopause often begins in mid to late 30s for many, many women. The early signs are usually far more subtle than irregular periods which is why they are usually overlooked. It is commonly things such as, cognitive issues (forgetfulness, trouble focusing), weight gain or exercise not helping lose weight as easily, mood changes(low mood, irritable), sleep issues (insomnia, waking at 3am), skin and hair changes (dry skin, hair loss). It goes on and on. Hormones effect every system in our bodies.

Perimenopause is not overused. We are finally realising just how much it affects us and it can last for well over a decade of our lives. It needs to be talked about.

But forgetting something or sleeping badly, having dry skin etc are all very common. Experiencing these things now and then is not automatically perimenopause.

OP posts:
YorkshireGoldie · 03/02/2026 23:17

Furning · 03/02/2026 23:10

Only 5% of women experience menopause before 45.

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Again, menopause is not the same as perimenopause!

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 03/02/2026 23:16

BigButtons · 03/02/2026 21:07

Thing is that it is being talked about MATTERS. it MATTERS that women's issues are starting to be taken seriously. if you think it is funny or annoying then you clearly have not lived though decades of being ignored just because you are a woman. Lucky you.

Are they being taken seriously though? Because to me it just looks like another way of calling women hysterical, hormone-led and in physical breakdown from 30s-retirement.

YorkshireGoldie · 03/02/2026 23:14

Teaandwater · 03/02/2026 23:04

I agree. I'm 45 and don't have any peri symptoms.

You are the same age as me and you are very fortunate not to have experienced any of these symptoms yet.

I agree with @TheGoddessAthena that your comments are minimising, it’s hit me like a sledge hammer.

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:13

BlackCatDiscoClub · 03/02/2026 23:08

Ultimately, the researchers concluded that 'a significant number of individuals aged 30–45 years experience perimenopause-related symptoms'.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a64249940/young-women-menopause-symptoms/

Well yes. But there is a huge difference between 30 and 45.

OP posts:
Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:12

TheGoddessAthena · 03/02/2026 23:06

And? So what? Because you aren't having symptoms everyone else who is having symptoms is what? Lying? Whingeing? Just needs to bloody shut up and get on with it?

Fucks sake.

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My friends appear to be having perfectly normal things such as dry skin in winter or forgetting a word and saying it must be peri. Nothing else needed.

OP posts:
BlackCatDiscoClub · 03/02/2026 23:11

Furning · 03/02/2026 23:10

Only 5% of women experience menopause before 45.

Show quote history

Menopause is complete absence of menstruation for a year.
Perimenopause is the escalating hormone fluctuations that occur before menstruation stops.

deadpantrashcan · 03/02/2026 23:10

Contrarymary30 · 03/02/2026 20:46

Plus the fact that everyone's children are ND . I didn't really get any symptoms which I could say were due to the peri or menopause itself except the odd warm flush .

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🙄

Original poster
Furning · 03/02/2026 23:10

Nevermind17 · 03/02/2026 23:01

Yes, but half of all women will be younger than 51.

But if the average is 51, that means the average onset of peri will be around 41. Obviously half of all women will be younger than 41, and half will be older. That’s a lot of women in their mid/late 30s.

Show quote history

Only 5% of women experience menopause before 45.

OP posts:
TheUsualChaos · 03/02/2026 23:09

Women experience symptoms of perimenopause to varying degrees of severity and the age of onset also varies. Mid to late 30s is entirely normal to be experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.

Women are finally able to have a clearer understanding of what is happening to them due to declining hormones through their 30s , 40s and 50s, rather than just be made to feel like they are failing or have a multitude of other issues which they are prescribed medications for which they don't need, rather than the hormones that will actually help them.

I expect they are relieved to know, that they aren't going mad or it's all in their head and just want to relate to other women going through the same changes. Because it's not the hush hush subject it used to be.

But by all means, you carry on and put them all down OP!

BTW the information on the NHS website etc is not very good and anyone worth their salt in women's health now recognises that perimenopause often begins in mid to late 30s for many, many women. The early signs are usually far more subtle than irregular periods which is why they are usually overlooked. It is commonly things such as, cognitive issues (forgetfulness, trouble focusing), weight gain or exercise not helping lose weight as easily, mood changes(low mood, irritable), sleep issues (insomnia, waking at 3am), skin and hair changes (dry skin, hair loss). It goes on and on. Hormones effect every system in our bodies.

Perimenopause is not overused. We are finally realising just how much it affects us and it can last for well over a decade of our lives. It needs to be talked about.

TheGoddessAthena · 03/02/2026 23:08

Teaandwater · 03/02/2026 23:07

What an over reaction on your part.

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What a patronising and minimising post on your part.

Nobody gives two hoots that you are not having symptoms. Good for you. But thousands are.