Is it possible to be 43 and NOT be perimenopausal

[Improbablywrong]

I don’t have any symptoms except that I feel more agitation around my period. Always been like that actually but just a little worse, although we do have other stresses.

Not a single other symptom. My periods are regular as clockwork and have not changed in anyway. I had a blood test done recently and all came back normal.

And yet every single friend I have (same age as me) is talking about perimenopause as if it’s 100% definitely that we are all in it and it is to blame for everything. Bad day at work? Perimenopause. Did a big fart? Perimenopause. Itchy armpit? Perimenopause.

I can’t relate and I find it kind of catastrophising very normal things. When the real symptoms come, how will they feel then? When I say oh no, I don’t think it’s perimenopause as I don’t have symptoms, they’ll list all these things that I don’t think are symptoms.

so, is it possible to actually NOT be perimenopausal as soon as you hit 40?

Yes. I’m 43, it’s not hit yet…

I'm 44 and I've not noticed any signs. I'm freezing today, I'd quite appreciate a hot flush!

Yes - I have a very high AMH, high Antral follicle count, all bloods eg FSH normal and very regular cycles with ovulation but the women in my family don’t have menopause till 58-62

Thanks. When I see friends, I start to feel like I must have been perimenopausal since I was 20 as I’ve always done big farts and been prone to skin irritation!

Definitely. I didn't notice peri-menopause symptoms until I was 50. Menopause came 5 years later.

It's broadly genetic so you should be able to gauge when you are due peri from your female family member's experiences. In my family, we plod along until late 40s so I am not expecting anything in the next 5 years. I have. however, been feeling increasingly fatigued in the last year and I am on OC so no way to track if my periods are still regular. I will probably do a cursory check with the GP at some point soon.

I definitely wasn’t at 43. When I was 48 I found myself a bit lethargic/ brain foggy with night time itching annd insomnia and so I take HRT which has sorted it. I think the problem is that it can be very gradual and start at a wide variety of ages, so it’s 💯 possible you’re not in peri at 43 but also completely possible that your symptoms are the early stages. But if it doesn’t bother you, don’t worry about it.

I'm 49 and haven't had any peri symptoms yet.

I'm 49 and no signs yet, or maybe just no strong symptoms - who knows!

Can't go by my mum or maternal aunt as they both had hysterectomies due to fibroids early 40's.

Everyone assumes I am menopausal though and I can't even have a good moan without it being attributed to that which is really annoying!

Everyone assumes I am menopausal though and I can't even have a good moan without it being attributed to that which is really annoying!

Yes this! Even my GP said all women my age are perimenopausal 😑

Peri can start up to 10 years before Menopause but it won’t for everyone. I’m 43, been having symptoms on and off for 2 years which have got progressively worse - joint ache, brain fog, insomnia, massive mood swings, etc. I started HRT 6 weeks ago and feel like a new person.

So whilst yes it’s absolutely possibly not to be in Peri at 43, don’t dismiss your friends’ symptoms- everyone is different and will react differently to the hormonal changes.

Some women sail through with no symptoms at all so it's perfectly possible. And there's a huge menopause commercial and media bandwagon trying to sell women stuff they don't need, so the pendulum has definitely swung from neglecting menopause to hyping it.

That said, I started taking HRT at 45 for insomnia/bone health and was pleasantly surprised how many other niggling problems cleared up which I hadn't realised were hormone-related!

It doesn’t bother me, I feel the same as ever. I just find it really hard when every normal interaction is put down to the perimenopause.

Ie - husband has been a right bastard that day and when I recount the argument -
”You’re probably perimenopausal”

cat has done a shit in the bath and I got angry
“you’re probably perimenopausal”

bloody yeast infection in armpit again (always suffered with this)
”youre probably perimenopausal”

it feels dismissive and a throwaway answer

This is exactly it. I feel like an ad campaign has taken over my friends!!!

Yes, of course.
45 yo here and nothing so far, but both mother and grandmother had their periods into their late sixties.
☹️

If you're having regular periods you aren't perimenopausal.

Exactly this . Ignore your friends.

You’d think so but the amounts of times I hear “you might still be perimenopausal, most women are and don’t know”.

I feel the same about the menopause, I luckily sailed through it 5 years ago, any small issue my friends cry menopause, I feel it takes away from people who really suffer.

43 sounds quite early for the peri menopause

I'm 52, and only just hit perimenopause.

I started to show signs last year when I was 47, so it is possible that you aren’t peri menopausal yet. I think as soon as women hit mid 40s everyone blames every symptom on the menopause, I know it’s happened to me!

The mental / emotional symptoms often come before physical ones. I have none of the physical ones (yet) but have noticed increased brain fog, anxiety, etc.

I'm 42 and no symptoms that im aware of. Although I've had insomnia a couple of time lately where I've never had this before. I did wonder whether insomnia could be a first sign.

Yelling I’m not fucking perimenopausal probably won’t help!!
I agree attribution of every minor illness is annoying especially as someone who menopausal due to aggressive treatment in her 30’s. I try not eye roll at the media and the hype around the menopause.