To think I could be menopausal at 40?!

[sparrowscrack]

Any advice or opinions appreciated as this is all new to me.

I am 40 with two primary school age DC.

Over the past few years my cycle, which was always on the short side, has got even shorter most of the time and can be as little as 21 but occasionally up to 27/28 days. Last month after my period ended, I had a further week of daily spotting, which is highly unusual and something I have never had. I am now on day 31 of what should be my next cycle and nothing. No period, no real premenstrual symptoms.

Other things I have experienced over the past year are insomnia in the form of waking early and not being able to go back to sleep. I am waking up feeling hot at night but haven't had a hot flush and weather has been unusually warm.

Should I see my GP about last month's spotting and this month's missing period? I have a really strong family history of osteoporosis and am really worried to be menopausal at this age. DH had a vasectomy several years ago so it would take a miracle for me to be pregnant.

I started getting long and short cycles at 40, missing several cycles at 43 and had my final period age 46. Apart from the occasional hot flush and slightly more severe PMT I didn't have any other symptoms. I can't have HRT so didn't see my GP.

Could the combined pill regulate cycles that are haphazard as a result of perimenopause? Just wondering. I assume not because no one has brought it up.

VanGogh sorry to hear you have had such a hard time, especially with depression. It is really tough to deal with. Have you reviewed things with your new GP? It sounds from previous posters that the GP approach varies a lot. Maybe there is something from a hormonal point of view that might help with your mood, if you feel that is related. Best of luck

I believe my own mother was late 40s though not sure about the lead up to it. I'm not sure I want to get into a discussion with her about it though, I wouldn't usually talk to her about this sort of thing.

I had peri-menopausal symptoms, had the blood tests done, they came back 'within the normal range'. As I'd not had them done prior to all this, I have no idea what normal for me is.

After discussing all this with a more sympathetic GP I went for the Mirena. Seems to have sorted most of the symptoms.

I had early menopause with no real symptoms except no periods. So could be

I'm 39 and been having menopausal symptoms for at least 18 months.
Going to see the doctor about it this week.
I know it's nothing ovarian cyst like or fibroids as have had my ovaries scanned several times in the last 2 years.
My mum started early too.
I have :
Night sweats
Hot flushes
Aches and pains particularly around the pelvis
Longer, heavy, painful periods with flooding
Terrible PMS which I never had before
Crying and generally feeling like shite

You know ladies if you are perimenopausal you can be prescribed HRT (that's in NICE guidelines) also if you start younger with symptoms it's more important to start because you are at higher risk of Osteoporosis.
Obviously everyone has their own thoughts on HRT and not everyone can take it due to other factors.
I am hoping to get it because I am sick of being a lunatic and I will probably end up divorced if I don't.
As my grandma would say "there's no good age to be a woman"

super I’ve just been prescribed the low dose combined pill for most of the above symptoms but I’m afraid I’ve yet to start it.

I have high hopes though! I have had an increasingly erratic cycle for the last few years and my, ahem, ”irritability” levels are off the charts.

Sorry, I should mention I’m 42.

I started the menopause at 37, just before becoming pg with dd (14) and was all done and dusted by 40, having gone a full year with no sign.

I’ve been on hrt since 37. My doc stressed the importance of the protective properties of hrt when you’re younger - that and I was bloody suffering too! Panic attacks, painful sex, moody, hot flushes etc etc.

I was in Wilko earlier and they had a home menopause test for a couple of quid (no idea how reliable that would be).

But my DM's periods started going nuts in her early 40s and she didn't actually hit menopause for another 10 years, so it may just be part of a long and tedious process.

Yes def peri menopausal.
As others have said Gp will do nothing until your periods have stopped completely for at least one year.(in my experience)
There are lots of symptoms.
Nerve pain.
Sensitive teeth.
Tiredness.
Vaginal dryness (no one even GP ) told me I would experience this in my forties.it presents as an itch like thrush but without discharge.
Insomnia.
Sensitive bladder.
Heavier periods.
Mood swings.
Hot/cold feeling.
Restless legs.
Unexplained rashes and itching.
Becoming sensitive to products you have always used such as moisturisers, body lotions, shampoos, shower gel.
Sweating

Thank you all. there's no good age to be a woman I'm sorry I had to laugh at that. This thread is certainly supporting that point of view! Astonishing to hear how early it all starts for a lot of people and yes I wonder if I will have a number of tedious years of this stuff. Perhaps that's better than the full-blown menopause though. I really need to look into the osteoporosis side of it though because my family history is really clear.

I have the merina, and I'm not sure I can have HRT as I am allergic to progesterone. My plan is to finish the CBT and then see the GP as at least I can say I've tried. But my god it's annoying! (the CBT that is, it's so patronising)

Of course gps prescribe hrt in perimenopause

I know lots of women with regular (ish) periods on it.

Its perfectly possible and you can have your hormone levels tested. I forget the names but a quick google will let you know and also let you know what the levels should be. If they are low you may benefit from hrt although pre menopausal.

HRT maybe depends on age and symptoms. My GP completely dismissed it for me

Hmm, this is interesting. I've been getting absurdly itchy occasionally which I thought was hormonal and also feeling very hot a lot recently - when I've previously felt the cold easily.

VanGoghsdog its interesting to hear your experience of CBT and I'm sorry to hear you haven't found it helpful. I had it a few years ago and found it incredibly, life-changingly useful and not patronising at all but I think I had a brilliant therapist doing it. From what I've heard, a huge amount depends on the therapist and how highly qualified they are.

I will ask my GP if my hormone levels can be tested so that will at least provide a baseline.

I've been talking about it to DH and he is now worried that his vasectomy might have miraculously healed itself but my understanding is that its about a one in a million chance and I am much more likely to be just getting on a bit. I'm not wasting money on a bloody test.

I had no period after 36, took me a while to realise it was missing! Never went to the doctor, what was the point, and never had any symptoms. I'm 70 and still going strong, hope that's not famous last words!

Stopped at 36 wow tilly! Sounds like you took it in your stride. Great to hear you are still going strong, long may it continue

I'm 40 and my usually regular cycles have recently shortened by 3/4 days. I do suffer low mood and have been back and forth to gp about that in the last year and have ended up being treated for thyroid problem but mood still isn't the best. Spoke to my mum at the weekend and she revealed her periods had stopped at 46 so I guess I could be peri menopausal too. No other real symptoms to speak of so guess I'll just keep an eye on it. Being a woman is great isn't it!

I'm 36 and currently peri menopausal. Symptoms exactly as @maverick66 post. I've got an appointment with my gp on Tuesday to discuss treatment. So it's entirely possible.

Sparrows, do go back to your dr,I was about 36 when I couldnt bear it any longer, fuzzy brain, absolutely exhausted, irritable, awful symptoms but still having periods. I had to be insistent about testing but frankly, without hrt, I dont think I'd still be here.