Perimenopause- help. Is there a test?

[Silverbook]

Not strictly AIBU but it has caused me to be V unreasonable!

Perimenopause...is there a test that can be done? I'm either going crazy or starting the PM. When i say going crazy I genuinely feel like I am.

I'm 42 and for no reason have recently (last 4ish months) been experiencing-

• awful brain fog (I often can't remember the names of pupils in my class or how to spell simple words).
• mood swings
• very irritable, with everybody.
• unable to find joy in things I used to love
• waking during the night/harder to get to sleep (I've ALWAYS slept a solid 8 hours with no problems)
• low mood for no reason

I literally just caused a fall out with my husband because he took today off work. He was supposed to be working, told me this morning he wasn't and I was totally unreasonable by saying he "never plans anything" and is "disorganised".

I regularly exercise, drink plenty and eat a healthy diet. I'm very physically fit and healthy but I feel as if mentally I am balancing on a knife edge.

You can have a blood test, mine came back normal but doctor explained they aren't reliable so has put me on a trial for HRT gel. I've not tried it yet.as been poorly.

If you're still having cycles, single blood tests can be pretty useless as your hormones vary wildly from week to week.

I'm the same age as you. Started mini pill that stopped my cycles and PMT. Then started oestrogel & utrogestan to see if symptoms improved, with help of GP who understood (this is trial & error who you encounter).

You are peri. Not much you can do yet. Have an initial chat with your GP so you can start thinking about your options.

And my blood tests came back normal too. I've been on HRT for 2 years at 42 yrs old.

The biggest difference is sound sleep.

What do you mean not much she can do? Surely she can start HRT if she wants to?

Agreed, I'm 44 with most of those symltoms and some more and GP took 5 mins of listening to suggest HRT. I haven't got it yet as I needed to see a uro-gyane first (he also immediately told me I'm definitely in peri-men).

You should read around the menopause board theres a ton of info about what HRT you can go for.

If you start the menopause under 45 NICE guidelines say that you should have HRT, to protect from health issues. Some GPs see themselves as gatekeepers of HRT. Not getting HRT had a massive detrimental effect on my life. Within weeks of starting my anxiety went and I got a nights sleep etc. Read up before your appointment just in case.

I'm having some peri symptoms too. Also 42. My mirena has been in for 4 years and apparently that's the limit for HRT purposes and I'm starting to get some bleeding. Going to go to the GP and discuss getting a new coil early and also discuss HRT in general. I'm not sure if I'm at the right stage for that but I don't want to let the grass grow.

You can't reliably test for peri-menopause because it's characterised by wildly fluctuating hormone levels so a single blood test doesn't tell you much at all. But the symptoms you'd describe sound quite like peri. One additional thing to look out for is whether the symptoms change with your menstrual cycle - it can help to keep a symptoms diary.

Given your age your GP should do some blood tests, not hormones but to rule out other conditions like thyroid issues. If the tests show you're otherwise in good health it can be worth asking to try HRT - if it alleviates your symptoms after a few months then that's another clue that it is peri.

I have all the symptoms you have, plus hot sweats at night, I’m 44 and not had a period since August, do I just get on with it ?. I’ve not been on any birth control for 15 years now.

Superdrug have a test you can buy online. I know everyone says it can be inaccurate but I'd really like to know too!

If under 45 FSH tests can be done to diagnose perimenopause, however as mentioned hormones fluctuate wildly during the monthly cycle so this can be tricky. The choice to take HRT is very individual. If under 40 HRT or combined oral contraception would be advised unless contraindicated to help maintain bone health. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosis-of-perimenopause-and-menopause

Depending on symptoms (periods and family history can also be discussed) other tests might also be suggested if it’s thought you’re deficient in anything. menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=16056

It's up to you whether you go HRT or not. I'm going to give it a go and keep my fingers crossed.

My GP just listened to my symptoms and said "sounds like peri menopause, would you like HRT?" She said the tests were so inaccurate as to be pretty pointless. If things improved on HRT then yep, it was peri.

HRT changed my life. I still have plen ty of symptoms but they are so much milder and don't stop me enjoying my life like before the patch.

@Dogsgottabone ….it’s very very difficult to get an appointment at my GP at the moment, I’ve been taking some supplements from Holland and Barrett for a couple of months…..I’m managing to cope with the symptoms at the moment as it’s been gradual and I’ve always been a bit up and down anyway and snappy!….but as I am under 45 and periods stopped completely I was a bit worried it might be something else rather than peri.

Your choice if go on hrt, very similar symptoms to me. I went amd asked gp for hrt. Has made a massive difference. I didn't have to push for it but if you do decide on it before you go, look at guidelines abd write down symptoms

I've just started HRT after a chat with the nurse prescriber at my GP surgery. She said there was no need for a blood test and prescribed it for me there and then based purely on symptoms. I have a gel to use daily and tablets to take at a certain time of my cycle. Only been on it 3 weeks but so far so good.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I know absolutely nothing about HRT/other options so I’ll do some research and speak to my GP