What were your first signs of peri?

[Cloud44]

I’ve not long turned 40 and I’m wondering if I’m in the early stages of peri or if I’m too young / over thinking it.
The symptoms seem to come and go: not as much energy as my mid 30s, lacking a bit of motivation, occasional aches, lower libido than five years ago, occasionally forgetting things then I remember.
What were your first signs? Any recommendations of little tweaks I could make / vitamins to research before the symptoms become more regular?

Insomnia in my late 40's

Then brain fog late 40's

Followed in the next few years by night sweats early 50's

HRT evens it out but I'm now fully menopausal my libido has evaporated. I'm also getting fat.

At 43 two periods in six weeks, cycles getting shorter and periods getting longer. Flow less predictable. .

Incontinence.

Brain fog and night sweats. Both gone with hrt

Rage

Dry eyes .
Dry skin and less greasy hair
Bad mood, felt like permanent pms.
Cycle gradually getting shorter.

Now I get bleeding/ spotting between periods.

I'm 43 this year and have noticed in the last 2-3 years intermittent drenching night sweats, PMS rage at ovulation time rather than at the time of period. Slightly shorter menstrual cycle. Period cramps have got better ?! Cystic acne on jawline, fatigue. I have anxiety anyway so that's not changed.

BMI is 21, I exercise and eat healthily. Don't drink alcohol. Hormone profile was done by GP two years ago and she said it was fine then. Definitely think I'm in Peri as my mum started at 40 and went onto HRT in her late 40s.

Two periods a month, wanting to divorce my husband and wanting to bang my head against the wall to relieve the pressure as I felt like my head was going to explode.

First symptoms were irregular periods and night sweats in early 40s. Went on to HRT pretty quickly and had a good couple of years. Started to get more energy and improved diet and did weight training. Two years in started suffering from acid reflux (poss due to oestrogen loosening lower oesophagual splincter) and cystitus. Started on estrol cream down below and testosterone which seems to be helping with reflux although early days.

For those of you the other side how long did the peri symptoms last and do you feel better now?

It feels like I am on a constant tightrope at the moment and have to be 100% on track with diet, exercise and balancing hormones to not feel rubbish.

Symptoms may be associated with perimenopause, but can also be caused by other factors including stress, lack of sleep or poor diet. It is important to see your doctor for a more accurate assessment of your condition and receive personalized advice, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise. activity, healthy eating and stress management, and talk to your doctor about taking additional vitamins or minerals.

Hello AI, thank you for your thoughtful contribution.

Early 40s and have noticed I don't get sore boobs before my period any more so I've been caught unexpectedly a few times. Bleeding is also heavier so I've gone up a Tampax absorbency level! Simultaneously, I've experienced rapid and alarming onset of forehead wrinkles and sagging skin. I put it down to peri.

Rage,anger,hot drenching night sweats and such painful tender swollen breasts all started at age 39!

First was sleep problems (late thirties) awake for 2-3 hours every night. I had no idea it was peri, I just thought I had a lot on my mind. Very very dry eyes at night. And in last year or so (mid forties) horrible night sweats. Night clothes and hair drenched. The trickle of sweat running off me actually wakes me up. I keep fresh clothes on my night stand. It’s yuck. Memory worse than it was but try not to worry about that. Family history of breast cancer so avoiding hrt. I run and don’t eat meat not sure if that helps. I’ve tried vit d, magnesium, b12 and more I’m sure. Didn’t notice anything making a difference.

Thank you everyone - the joys of being a woman!!

Just came here to say this, all this to look forward to 😑

Not everyone suffers as badly as others though. Also, many experience these symptoms more towards their late forties/early fifties rather than a decade before as some say they do on here. Not disputing them but it isn't the norm to be fully menopausal or peri by the time you are 43 for example.

Well my symptoms started at 38, it’s the norm in my family. Hopefully others don’t start that early.

My first symptom was vulval dryness, I'd get micro tears that would last for a week at a time but usually after my period, so dry anyway. My temper was shorter than usual too.

My peri started quite late, late 40s. Since going on HRT including Ovestin most of my symptoms have disappeared.

As a previous poster stated, cleaning up my diet, losing excess weight has helped but that may not help everyone.

I'm big into simplifying my life and also a monthly massage too.

Rage and anxiety! Quite extremely. It came on over a year or so and luckily has mostly gone now although I'm still less tolerant than I once was 😄

I'm 39 and just started hrt its defonitely not too early it can be a 10 year window of perimenopause so you might well be starting with it. My synptoms have been:Horrendous moods, shouting at husband/kids waaay too much and very harsh about things I normally could be patient about, very snappy at everyone. Absolute exhaustion and no motivation (I'm not the kind to ordinarily just sit on the sofa but that's all I want to do often now, thankfully the kids keep me up and running but it's only because I literally have to) periods are random and huge clots, headaches, vaginal dryness. And randomly feeling freezing cold when everyone else is hot, occasional flush but mainly so cold. NOt to mention the lack of brain power, I forget everything nowadays and am forever wondering what I'm looking for in the cupboard or why I've walked into a room
I've left the car boot open over night, oven being left on etc...my poor husband must be exhausted going behind me constantly checking so I don't set the house on fire or get burgled. It's awful and I wish we didn't have to go through it.

My first one was itchy ears. My periods are all over the place, I can’t sleep past 5am and I’m lucky to make it through the night without needing to use the loo. I ache all over, sometimes I’m exhausted before I even start the day, I can go longer between hair washes though so that’s quite good actually! Oh and Rage, pure Rage.

I’ve stopped drinking, I no longer smoke, and I’m popping the vitamins for breakfast. I’m determined to not let this get me down!

I’m only 40!

Weight gain, night sweats, and weird periods. Light one month, floods the next

What vitamins do you take @AmazingBouncingFerret ?

Lighter periods to non existence.
Length of next cycle not consistent.
Vaginal dryness a couple of years back which co incided with diabetes diagnosis.
Would say weight gain.

I took a home test in 2021 and it told me what I didn’t really want to see back then but I never completed the 2nd part of test and then reviews read it wasn’t so 100% .
Asked nhs for blood test early 2023 and got told no
Had no idea they can tell just if not as easily by scan. It shows in the ovary/ovaries.

More recent and I kind of hope it means it’s advancing
Period lasting 7+ days (really unusual for me)
Night sweats
Under active thyroid out of quilter after many years of control.
Cognitive Issues
Short term memory issues
Mood issues
Aches and pains
Bladder issues and bowels problems - up for debate as a fibroid.
Spine condition which largely happens to the elderly population, if the nhs got that right.

Nan went through the menopause at 39 but isn’t around to ask and Mum had the full hysterectomy inc cervix and never entertained menopause.

Sadly I’ve found the doctors just want to tell you don’t worry about it until much later in life. Apparently you don’t know your own body. One even in 2019 said most of his patients had their first baby in their 40’s in our county so all was good 🤷🏻‍♀️ (gynae isn’t his specialty by the way I later found out) to be fair a neighbour when I was a little girl found out she was pregnant late in life rather then as she thought menopausal.

Pluses:
It could shrink a fibroid so I’m now wishing it hurries up and one day I wake up free.
I’m just glad I’m not finding it hard to comprehend.

I'm not sure if I'm in peri yet either but presume I am (I'm 51)

Yes to the following BUT I've also put on a lot of weight in the last 5 years (after losing it - too much wine, too little exercise, too much snacking) so partly put it down to that (and some of it definitely is). I've got all of what you describe: not as much energy, lacking a bit of motivation, occasional aches, lower libido than five years ago, occasionally forgetting things then I remember. Periods are still regular although cycle slightly shorter (26 days rather than 28) - they have changed too...I think. Heavier on the main day and more watery the rest of the time?

I definitely felt a lot better a few years ago when I was lighter, not drinking as much and eating more of a wholefoods plant based diet...and doing more exercise. I'm trying to change habits back again now and lose some weight.