So when does peri start?

[Newsenmum]

Ive heard so much conflicting information and now Im not sure what I think!

Im 36! Is this a thing now? What should I be doing?

What should you be doing? Nothing unless you have symptoms or your cycle has changed. I’m 44 and been having symptoms since 41-hot flashes, irritatability, dry skin, sleep issues. I’ve been on HRT for the past 2 years and feel lots better.

I had never even heard of peri until I read it on Mumsnet so presumably made it through without noticing anything was up so I don't think you need to do anything but a decent diet and exercise will always help.

Didn’t notice my issues as peri until about 46. When I started HRT fixed some stuff I’d definitely had since 42!

What were the issues, if you don't mind me asking? The last few months my cycle has suddenly shortened to 21 days (always been exactly a month). I'm 37. Wondering if it could be peri or something else.

36 is far too early for perimenopause. Yes people will tell you it isn’t, and they’ll tell you they entered it aged 9 or whatever and yes, it absolutely can happen for some women BUT it is categorically not the norm and if you are having various symptoms then don’t try and make those symptoms fit in with perimenopause as a first thought.

it’s a way for women’s health concerns to be even more dismissed than they are already. Early to mid 40s is when you should expect to experience symptoms (closer to 45) and any sooner would be classed as early

to reiterate, it’s entirely possible to be in perimenopause in your 30s but don’t take that as a given because that way things get missed

Nothings happened to me so far. I'll be 50 in May.

Perimenopause is definitely a thing. The best thing to do is to educate yourself as much as you can about perimenopause and menopause. This is a great website to start from. There's an app app where you can track your symptoms and cycles.
https://www.balance-menopause.com/

My symptoms started age 40. Shit sleep, then worse sleep, lightheadedness, feeling hotter than the surface of the sun at night (but no sweating). I've been on HRT 2 years, I'm in my mid 40s, and I feel loads better.

About 45 for me and I’m 56 now and my periods have finally stopped.

I went to the doctor when my cycles started lengthening, but as soon as I started HRT my back and hip pain vanished overnight, I’d had that much longer. Plus a reduction in sleep issues, not fully gone but better.

41 for me

As with other PPs, I was diagnosed at 42 but was aware of cycle changes and mood and sleep disruption since about 38. First thing was my cycle shortening from 28 bang on every month to 21 ish, then I would just miss a bleed completely, then it went weird with anything from 14 days to 40 days and dismenorrhoea, pain and cramps especially on the longer cycles. It was when the flushes kicked in with a vengeance that I went to the doc, because I couldn't be dealing with that, and I had watched some documentaries and read stuff online and figured I wanted HRT, took months to get the Doc to agree to it - changed surgeries in the end. By the time I got it the moods were wild - I am normally a very calm and stable person but I was a mess of anger and tears by the time I got it. All of the worst symptoms just vanished within a couple of weeks. You'd be hard pressed to prize HRT from me now. I've been on it 10 years.

You don't really need to do anything.
I was in my early 40s when I started getting symptoms. Unreasonably hot and ran out of fucks to give, mainly. I got grumpy. Very grumpy.

I'm now 52 and haven't had a period in god knows how many years. 5, maybe more. Still running hot, still grumpy.

Honestly relieved to read this. I have a few friends who are late 30s and seem to relish in sharing ‘peri’ symptoms. For reasons I won’t bore anyone with I am terrified of menopause, I’m 38 and have started getting more painful periods, anxiety has got worse, skin is starting to break out and my first thought was god is it this it, is it starting already?? But my periods are still like clockwork, I’m still ovulating every month (according to my Apple Watch) so maybe I can relax a bit.

My cycles changed at 41 so I'm saying that age for me

Dry eyes.
Joint pain.
Not being able to sit down/get up without groaning.
Very heavy periods, shorter cycles. Became anemic as a result.
Hair falling out in clumps.
Brain fog. As in: can’t get your words out.
4 am wake up.
Short tempered.
Don’t care, one of a sudden, like, AT ALL.
Needed lubricant for sex.
Random hairs in random places.
Can’t tolerate milk anymore.
Bloated.
Feeling seriously depressed, despondent.
Random anxiety.

I sought help at 45.

i started my menses late (late teen) and similar to my mom had peri symptoms early and yes full on menopause by 52.

starting around 36 i could feel some hormonal changes hard to describe; decreased libido and irritability which remained throughout. the hot flashes came later as the menses stretched to the every 6 months, every 9 months, every 12 months eventually stopping. insomnia not until post menopausal along with most likely (not investigated) some vaginal atrophy.
i don't think there is much that was on offer when i was 36, i did discuss it with my gp who brushed it off. i worked with multiple gp's EVERYDAY, never ever did one suggest HRT (despite sweaters on off on off and same with windows open shut open shut) and some snipping comments.
anyway the flashes came to an end, i retired and didn't have to get up at 6am for work so sleeping in or napping mid day was fine.
no joint discomfort and some good multivits to cover the bone density issue.

I had no idea that “peri” even existed until Davina discovered the menopause. I kept a vague eye on my periods but I didn’t feel any great changes in my life. I have always had heavy periods and I have always been short tempered. When I was about 55, I started to feel warm occasionally and so I invested in cotton clothing and bought a fan. That’s it.

I am 49, no symptoms whatsoever. My sister has been in peri and now meno since 34, now 43.

For me it was early 40 but for most of my friends mid 40s which is more the norm I think. I had some gynae issues that they said would hasten the start of peri which they did.

I think people are so excited to have a new word (nobody had even heard of “peri” until about 10 years ago) that they overdo it. As pp have said. You get women in their 30s RELISHING talk about symptoms…. It seems statistically unlikely everyone in a friend group would be undergoing menopause prematurely!

Average age for peri to START is 47.5!

At about 28 according to the majority of mumsnet. Or if it's not that then it'll be early onset dementia

Keep yourself fit (cardio, strength and flexibility). Don't drink much.
I started at 40 (partial hysterectomy) and it's still hard a decade later. I've never had a hot flush but I've had every other symptom. HRT just makes me cry.

I think women start earlier than the NHS thinks, they just don't pay any attention to us when we go to the GP so no accurate data is kept.

45 for me, menopause over by 48/49

Some people like to make peri their entire personality/identity.

But then women are affected by it. I thought I was going mad with the anxiety, palpitations and panic attacks. Had a 24hr ECG, bloods, the lot
turned out I just needed HRT and within a week felt normal again. If people don’t talk about it, I wouldn’t have considered it