To ask if this happens at 40?

[CobaltQueen]

I am about to turn 39 and know someone who is 41. She says she has been in peri menopause since 2020 and the following has happened-
Not being able to remember simple information such as names.
Smelling bad despite washing regularly.
Make up looking bad as ageing so much the same looks don't work anymore.
Amongst many more. Is this really the norm once you hit 40?

It's not been my experience and I'm a few years into my 40s

Not in my experience, I’m just out of my 40’s and none of this occurred for me, it was my best decade actually.

That seems quite early, but obviously it does happen. I’m 42 and haven’t experienced any symptoms. Most of my older friends seem to start getting them in their late 40s / early 50s.

I hit menopause age 38 due to hysterectomy. Went onto HRT and l was the best I've ever been.
Skin/ hair/ nails were greatly improved.
My libido went through the roof.
I was at my happiest .. HRT was my miracle.

I'm nearly 46 and I can't remember as much as I used to but that's because I am stretched in every direction. Make up still sits fine - its my perception of how 'perfect' it should look that's been influenced (negatively) by social media. Smelling - no, not a bit of it. Doesn't sound normal to me.

Peri menopause usually starts around a decade before the menopause and her symptoms are completely normal for some people and never experienced at all by others. Some people don’t have any symptoms at all and some start younger than 40. There is no normal with the menopause.

It’s very individual. What has happened to your friend is not definitely going to happen to you, or when you are 40. You might have a whole range of different symptoms and they don’t come on till you’re 50.

It depends. Lots of women have an early perimenopause.
Not sure why this is in aibu, but what age was your mum? Or do you have older sisters? That can be useful as a rough guide to when to expect it.

No it’s not or it certainly doesnt have to be like that - tell her to eat well, exercise and get more sleep! Oh and reduce stress - haha!

I did find when I hit peri/meno my sweat smelled a bit different than usual. It did pass though.

My aunt was more towards her early fifties rather than 40. Never mentioned anything about smelling bad/different or memory issues at 40 though.

I now have to use soap to wash as shower gel doesn't work - only in the last few months. Recurrent UTIs due to atrophy 🙄. Snoring. Bursitis. All linked to perimenopause apparently. FFS.

I'm now on HRT pessaries.

I'm 55 and through menopause now, I don't smell any different and my memory is as good as always.
I think a lot of women are convinced that everyone goes through peri/menopause exactly the same and of course this will happen to you too, it's not true. Mine has been a bit of a breeze other women have a horrible time. No one can tell you what yours will be like.

None of the above. And am studying for a masters so no memory issues yet.

I'm 49. Most of it's true. I wouldn't say my make up looks bad. Maybe not as good as before but not bad.
The only thing I haven't found to be true is smelling bad! I sweat a lot less than I used to. When I was young and more hormonal I was a very sweaty person. Now I can even wear tops two days in a row.

I got peri symptoms at about 42 and was done by about 49. I'm now 64 and none of what was in your opening post has happened to me.

I do have to work a bit harder on the maintenance: hair, hands, teeth, feet, skin care, etc.

I can't believe you are 39 and are having to ask if this is the norm once you hit 40. No it absolutely not the norm. Just read any of the many websites/mnet posts/Davina mcall articles etc etc and get yourself educated.all manner of symptoms relating to peri can occur ,or may not and at age will vary from woman to woman. I was pregnant at 40.only just at peri now in early 50s with some symptoms.

The only one I've found is the makeup one, but that's been the case since my late thirties.

It's not a massive issue - I've just had to swap to tinted moisturiser and cream blush.

Not to me.im 44

I'm 47 and all that pretty accurately describes me at the moment.

No - I'm 48 and have had brain fog and memory loss recently, but having oestrogen again has helped. I've recently started needing reading glasses. I was having vaginal atrophy symptoms until I started taking oestrogen after several years on the progesterone only pill.

I'm in much better health than when I was 38 and vastly more confident in who I am, and much happier in general. I had menopause symptoms age 38/39 but that was because I had developed endometriosis after five years of no pill and the copper coil. In my case having my own hormones in charge is not a great idea.

I'm 60, I've gone through menopause, and the only thing from that list I had was forgetfulness at times.

I think it was due to having a very full on job in my 40s, where I had to be 'on it' all day. I'd go home and be so worn out I'd forget my children's names! I'm glad to say my memory improved again, and that rarely happens now.

My symptoms all hit at around 45. I felt "young" until then.

Yeah that's it. My brain is so busy it just goes "No more!" at times.

I tune into what's going on with me so much better than ten years ago.

I feel much younger at 48 than I did at 38, I have so much more energy and am a lot fitter.

Not at 40, started at 45