To think I’m going through perimenopause at 26

[Purplegrape88]

Is this even possible? I am having lots of the symptoms. My periods are all over the place. Sometimes have none for months then got one that lasts a few days. Goes away and then comes back a week later and lasts for ages then none for months again. Mood swings, brain fog sometimes, dry skin, night sweats and trouble sleeping. Could it be this?

Have you had any blood tests yet? It might be hormonal and peri or something else like a thyroid problem. Friend when through menopause at 36 and her peri started years before that- so its possible at 26, but more likely another problem. It might be an issue with the pituitary also. Another friend had a benign growth on hers. She didn't need surgery and went on to have 4 children.
Please see your GP and get checked though.

Hi @Purplegrape88 That must be horrible and worrying for you, but why haven't you been to see your doctor about it. They really are the only people who can tell you what is going on, and that will be after taking blood tests etc.

If it did turn out to be the Peri but you hope to have children in the future they should take some of your eggs to put on ice. If that is the case then speed really is of the essence, so please see you Dr ASAP. Good luck OP, it could be something really simple, and easy to treat. 💐

Get your thyroid tested.

It’s possible, but extremely unlikely. Many symptoms of perimenopause can also be found in other conditions, for example, when I was very anaemic, I too couldn’t sleep, had anxiety, foggy brained, my hair and nails stopped growing, I felt emotional and my periods were a nightmare (although that was more related to the fibroid that was causing me to be anaemic). Have you seen a doctor?

Get your full blood tests. Periods are a signifier of health and if yours are as described there is something not right going on.

Get checked for poly cystic ovaries and endometriosis, both are more likely at 26.

Get a blood test. I have a friend who went through peri menopause in her 20s and periods fully stopped for good when she was 29. It was really hard for her.

Thanks everyone. Sorry I should have said in my OP. I haven’t actually been to the doctors about this specific issue but I will do. I did have blood tests not long ago and my TSH levels were normal but looking into it, a lot of my symptoms do relate to underactive thyroid. Not sure if it’s possible though if my TSH levels are normal?

I have gained a bit of weight without any major changes in my diet too

Iron levels were slightly low but nothing too major

At 26 it's far more likely to be PCOS. Ask for cycle day 3 FSH & LH bloods and an ultrasound scan

If you havn't mentioned any of your symptoms above, particularly your seemingly random periods, to a doctor previously, then the blood tests you had might not have covered whatever is causing these distressing symptoms. Please do get checked out very soon, and by a doctor - no insult meant to nurses who mainly do a brilliant job in the community - I just hope that your surgery makes it easier than mine to actually see a GP...

Hey, did you ever get any answers. I’m 29 and going through the exact same. My thyroid is also normal. Surely this can’t be menopause at our age? But it does worry me

I’ve got Endo and PCOS and it sounds very similar to my experience

Peri menopause can last for over a decade before menopause.
If it is happening at your age it’s very important not to leave it as it puts you at higher risk of cardiac issues and bone density problems.

after a couple of years of fighting because I knew something was definitely wrong I was diagnosed with early menopause at 37. I now have hrt to avoid the cardiac/bone issues but the bonus has been help with some of the symptoms but iv been told to think of it as a medication rather than an optional treatment to help with symptoms.

i was told that less than 1% of people go into early peri/menopause before the age of 40 so it’s unlikely but it is possible although at your age there are other things that have been mentioned here.

there is a condition which is basically the same as early menopause called Premature ovarian insufficiency.
this site might be helpful for you as it’s created for younger women than the typical menopausal age.
www.daisynetwork.org

I would definitely go to the gp But expect that they could be quite dismissive so you may need to fight and you will almost certainly need to get the two blood tests and even then may not get a diagnosis but don’t give up. Something is going on even if it’s not that so don’t drop it!

good luck @Purplegrape88 come back and chat to us if you need support and also there is a menopause section here on MN too if you need it.

Sounds more like thyroid.

so to add. I had all your symptoms but my thyroid levels were fine. So I was able to discount that pretty quickly.

From my understanding though Peri cannot be diagnosed with blood tests? I personally have had my hormone levels checked which were all within normal range for my age and time of cycle. But I was informed this can change day to day or even different times of the day