To ask what was the first sign you had that you were entering menopause?

[OldFan]

Just wondered really as I think I might be getting it IDK.

Do you mean perimenopause? If so, appalling body odour, followed by weight gain, loss of sense of self, and being hot, all the time. I would also break into a sweat simply walking across a room. Then the hot flashes started.

Perimenopause is different for everyone - some sail through without experiencing any of issue, some experience many, others all. And at the same time, to varying degrees of severity, from minimal impact to debilitating. This is the most comprehensive list I have found to date (although dry mouth isn't listed and is absolutely a result of diminishing oestrogen levels).

Oh God.
I'm not even 40 yet, is this why I've been signed off work for depression?

Sense of dread and being overwhelmed. Exhaustion. Aching joints. Crying all the time. Nausea/sense of fullness/difficulty eating or craving sweet things. Difficulty going to sleep then waking at 4am for no reason.

I even had a couple of spells of random rage and my period has been a couple of days late the last couple of months.

My issue is I had an endometrial ablation 15 years ago so haven't had a 'period' since, so haven't had the obvious sign of periods stopping.

I'm convinced I'm experiencing the menopause (I'm 53):
Joints seem to ache & hurt all the time
Anxiety worse than it's ever been, hands shaking, lack of confidence
itchy skin
sudden sweating during the day (I literally have to go to the toilets at work and dry myself with tissue)
sudden weight gain just around my tummy area even though I eat well
forgetfulness worse it's ever been
Lack of energy & feeling exhausted...

Do you think a doctor would do a blood test to confirm?

Not a stupid question. It is different for everyone. I'm three years post-menopause and if I stop HRT, all my symptoms return within days. However, HRT protects my bones from osteoporosis, my cardiovascular health and brain, so there's no real reason for me to stop taking it, more so as I am under 50.

PS. The one year without a period = menopause is for those over 50. If you're under 50, it's actually two entire years without a period = menopause.

All of those are definite perimenopause tells.

Blood tests are largely redundant because they are only a snapshot of that particular moment in time. Doctors are advised to diagnose based on symptoms. Read up on the NICE guidelines.

Yes there is a blood test, I talked to the GP and Im having one next week!

Mood swings and anxiety

No, there isn't for Peri, and if your doctor ordered one it proves how little they know about properly diagnosing and treating peri-menopause. During peri, your hormone levels are all over the place, making blood tests wholly unreliable. Taking bloods would only be useful to look for other issues like thyroid function, iron, and vitamin levels.

Nothing other than periods stopped finally after a year or 2 of random cycles. No idea when I went in to peri menopause or how long it lasted. I had my youngest DC at the age of 40 so possibly missed the signals due to breast feeding for 2 years and general lack of sleep etc. No other symptoms that I noticed. I haven't had a period for nearly 3 years now.

My periods stopped. No other symptoms.

This was the same for me. I also suddenly developed a bad temper I'd never had before.

Peri menopause: the most debilitating, nausea inducing headaches, coupled with utter bone tiredness. Came most months around day 4 of period. Lasted anything from 2 to 5 days. Couldn't get through the day without napping.

Then cycle became irregular. The headaches continued as before but became more frequent. At their worst, I was literally out of action for half the days each month. I wanted to go back to work (was a SAHM) but couldn't figure how I would be able to hold down a job.

Menopause: as others have said, doesn't occur until you stop your periods. I had one or two at about 5 to 6 month intervals, then that was that. The headaches continued on but with much less frequency and intensity. I am now 8 years past menopause. I can't be sure I won't have another headache but they have gradually got to the point where I just feel a bit tired and fuzzy headed.

Never had HRT. Can say to those who ask if the peri symptoms stop immediately, no, not straightaway, but they gradually slacken off. Apart from the headaches, I had vaginally dryness (still got) irritability (still got but that might just be me, ha!) mild hot flushes (no more), insomnia (still have occasionally).

Anxiety.

I was all smug about my great mental health before 40...

About 3 years before seeing a dr I started having painful /achey legs at night. M then gradually a few other 'classic' symptoms but I do think the legs were the first

Periods that just didn't stop. Or very little space between them.

All of this the same here except insomnia was an early symptom.

The insomnia progressed to waking up v hot at night (no sweating)

That progressed to occasional hot flushes but only just as I was crawling to the Gp and was happily given hrt.

Regular throughout, give or take 3 days. But early on much heavier and later on barely there

I think the progesterone starts to fall first and then the oestrogen. But it's also a roller coaster for a while

The thing is that for some menopause is the end of all the symptoms, or they have none during peri ,but they can kick off again 15 years later - colleague said the other day it's been getting worse recently and periods stopped 12 years ago.

Fuck me.

Anger, crippling anxiety, intolerance, mood swings, sleep disturbances, impending sense of doom.

All of the above been going on my entire life, so at least I won’t see the menopause coming 🤣

My periods are still regular as clockwork at 43. I am dreading them going haywire as I have awful health anxiety as it is.

Periods were always like clockwork.
i then turned 49.
For a weird few months they became MORE frequent.
Then I had one of two that were really far apart.
Then got the classic hot flush thing (always preceded by the feeling of impending doom for 1-2 mins).
Then periods stopped.
Flushes/doom very bad and insomnia.

Officially went a year without periods when I was 50.
Flushes/doom have carried on, sometimes worse than at other times (eg terrible in that hot summer last year). But in the main, they’ve really dwindled away. I’m now 56.

Haven’t gone down HRT route due to family history of breast cancer.
And nowadays I don’t feel that bad so don’t feel I would benefit from it, although I do appreciate this could bite me on the bum for preventing other conditions.

PSA - Just a heads up for anyone with endometriosis (so lots of us) thinking they may be too young to be perimenopausal....

There's a study that was published last year which found that those with endometriosis are something like 50% more likely to go through early menopause (before 45).

Most GPs don't know this. When I went to my GP with crippling anxiety, headaches and fatigued at age 40, saying I thought it could be perimenopause, he just told me I was too young and prescribed anti depressants.

I've got stage 4 endo and had operations on my ovaries but I don't think he even checked my notes or thought through the implications. It took me 2 more years of suffering unnecessarily to ask (privately via Bupa) for HRT. It's largely fixed the issues, although I have to keep increasing the dose.

It's shit, absolutely shit.

Brain fog.

Periods stopped, skin flare ups like acne, dry skin,low libido, dry mouth, irritable with everything, fatigue so I conk out on the sofa in the evening but then can't sleep at night ......going to the loo in the night, forgetfulness.......and my whole body aches- every muscle or joint hurts. I'm like a 90 year old when I get off the sofa!
Such fun!!

My first 'symptom' while my periods were still regular as clockwork was dry skin on my eye lids.

I'm wondering if my, what I can only compare to what I've read, agoraphobia or bathmophobia (due to my fear of heights) could be linked to peri-menopause. Places that I had been in lots of times before like shopping centres, I suddenly because acutely aware that I was on an upper floor and most modern centres have glass panelling so that you can see down to the lower levels. This freaks me out at the moment. I used to be able to manage lifts/elevators that were glass but now I struggle. I am thinking that it must be related to peri-menopause.

Like everything to do with hormones its a v individual. I didnt have issues in peri, maybe disturbed sleep but i also had a small child and demanding job, things got much worse after periods stoppped and i started HRT about 6 yrs after periods stopped when i realised what the root issue was, id never had the hot flushes or rage.
Another thing to bear in mind even without symptoms is that oestrogen helps with bone density and afaik assists in preventing plaque buildup in the heart