To ask: at what age did your peri/menopause symptoms peak?

[PeriPeriQ]

Asking here for a larger sample.

Those of you who are now post-menopausal:
At what age were your symptoms at their worst? Or did they never peak, and just kept worsening forever...

I'm praying that they improve at some point, but I also just want to know the truth.

47 now. This is hell.

I'm 52. For me peri started about 5 years ago:
rage
frizzy hair
dry skin
dry eyes
reflux
painful sex
zero libido
complete lack of interest in anything (I especially have a complete lack of motivation at work)
feeling freezing cold all the time

I am on HRT: 4 pumps of gel, progesterone, testosterone, vagifem.

I still have most of the above symptoms even with HRT but the rage has stopped. My testosterone levels are low even on testogel.

I haven't had a period for a year, but that is because I went on continuous progrsterone (on advice of menopause specialist). Before that they were still regular as clockwork but shorter/ lighter. So I don't know if I am actually menopausal yet or not. But I'd say symptoms are peaking now (at least I hope they are not going to get worse). It's been bad for about 18 months now. I really hope this is not it forever.

I am 53 soon, some of the symptoms have improved in the last six months (poor sleep, itchy skin, weak bladder, less pain and symptoms around ovulation (though I miss the sudden confidence mid cycle) , sex drive has very slightly returned but not my interest in men I find them mainly annoying and tiresome

My motivation has improved slightly but what is worse is the sudden feelings of doom that will just engulf me

periods are not as regular and not heavy not I have the coil

Can't wait for it all to be over

Started at 46 and didn't know what was happening. Anxiety, rage, gum disease, tingling fingers. More rage. Panic attacks.

Had menopause at 52. Started yo feel so flat and joyless in addition to everything else. Cracked and got HRT at 54.

Symptoms increased- vaginal atrophy, no libido, no organisation, loss of balance. Increased HRT to max dose at 56, now fine.

Worst thing ever for me. Just horrendous.

Started at 41 and had terrible rage, night sweats, insomnia, brain fog. Worked full time shifts for emergency services with 3 children aged 5, 3 and 18 months. It was horrific. Went on HRT as I had bloods done which helped show my hormone levels. I’ve had my HRT doubled and finally feel back to normal as an exhausted mummy as opposed to walking zombie!! I’m 43 now!

I’m 35 and I’m dreading what’s around the corner. 😭

I cannot resist joining these threads as my peri intrigue increases as I soldier through.

I m 46, still getting periods, but erratically .

I would say I ve been actively experiencing perimenopause for 3 years, and even before then had some early indicators. Hormonal cold sores for the last 6 years.

I Went 5 months without a bleed last summer, then 3 months with monthly(ish) periods, since the New Year it's been erratic. Nothing in April, On 16 th May I got a very light period, only lasted 2 or 3 days. However on the 4th June I couldn't sleep at all, the next day I had a throbbing headache, underarm pain, frizzy hair, sore nostrils, sore throat, spots, chin hairs. 6th June, the period arrived, it was incredibly light but the pms was unreal. It s as if my body had to surge to actually shed the very thin lining. I was achey, my nostrils were sooo painful, my underarm sooo tender, every hair on my body surged and sprung out and every minor blocked pore turned into a pimple. 🤣🤣😅, what a beauty. I m hoping this is the peak.

I don't get hot flushes, I get cold flushes.

Thankfully I work from home, and can hide under a blanket on the couch and sip tea for large chunks of the day.

Are you in the uk? When my GP was taking too long to sort out hrt I went to Boots online and got 3months oestrogen gel and progesterone pills prescribed to me in 3 days flat.

I’m 46, the last year my periods have been all over the place , 17 days , 40 days , 28 , currently the longest and on cycle day 72 ! No real symptoms otherwise though, waking up sweating a couple of times at night and slight brain fog but I’m guessing I haven’t peaked yet and there’s worse to come 🙄

@growsomeballswomanI’ve had these. Usually if I’m overly tired. Do you think it’s definitely menopause related?

52/53
Now 55 and periods becoming irregular and benefits of hrt are steady - feel quite cheerful, joints hurt less, on top of vitamin/mineral deficiencies and other minor health niggles.

43/44, so 6 or 7 years post menopause. The insomnia had reached the point where I woke from a crappy sleep between 2-3 am several nights a week and before 4 am the rest of the week. Brain fog was so bad I was losing words mid sentence, didn't feel any joy or care about anything, was so stiff I couldn't get stuff of bottom shelf in shops and joints painful. Once I finally realised this was all hormone related I asked for hrt and life is so much better

Those of you on testosterone, did you get this prescribed via NHS? And did they do a blood test to check your levels?

i’m in Scotland. Didn’t know boots did tests? Have looked into private clinics it new gp (waiting on records transferring) won’t take my seriously,

Boots didn't require a hormone test from me to get standard hrt, I just had to fill out a very lengthy and through questionnaire that got reviewed by a GP. I had already had a health check at my own GP, including a general blood test for cholesterol, plus blood pressure, weight, etc. So I knew I was healthy. I just needed hrt, but they were making me jump through all these hoops, and my symptoms were so bad i just simply couldn't wait another 4 weeks to go back and get another appointment! Anyway, I'll be going back to my own GP for a repeat prescription, using Boots was just a necessity at the time.

Boots do have a blood test for testosterone levels though, and can prescribe testogel for women and men, which is useful to know.

Is there anyone whose symptoms got worse and then improved without them starting hrt? Or while they were already on hrt?

55 years - just periods stopped - hair got thin! Not on any medication - just take a multivitamin 57 now -

My symptoms started in my early 40’s, have always been a slave to my hormones.
pms, postnatal was hard (probably depression but not diagnosed) so I was dreading menopause.
was proactive and tried to get ahead of it, went on hrt at 45 added testosterone at 49.
It’s been a rollercoaster because my own hormones are at play also. Am still quite up & down,50 now and not as settled as I had hoped, I am am looking forward to the day my own hormones stop and I can solely rely on the patch and progesterone.

*had a uterine ablation so don’t get periods

BBC what's up docs did a good episode on hrt https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d0cs

You can buy a test at the pharmacy for a couple of quids to prove your doctor wrong.

probably about 51 was the worst. HRT just made me worse - I was an absolute emotional wreck. Getting a less stressful job and doing all the things that are meant to help with stress is what worked best- good diet, exercise, prioritising sleep. I love the gym! Still in perimenopause and tend to get exhausted more than I’d like - but I surely must be coming to the end of it soon!

@PeriPeriQ im 47 too op and glad you've asked this as was wondering this myself.
im having an awful time with anxiety at the moment. I have an event to attend tomorrow and my anxiety about going is through the roof, so much so that I have lost my appetite. It wouldn't have bothered me a few years ago and I'd have been really looking forward to it, not now as I dread and have anxiety and overthink everything.
Brain fog, achey joints, clitoral atrophy, I have the lot. was told by the nurse at my GP surgery last week that I will not be prescribed any HRT because im not yet suffering from hot flushes.
so suffer on it is for me. I hope things do not get worse than this. I miss my old self.

'was told by the nurse at my GP surgery last week that I will not be prescribed any HRT because im not yet suffering from hot flushes.'

For the love of sanity! I'm so sick of these health professionals who know jack shit about women's health and are not following the guidelines. I've been peri for about a year and a half and have had a long list of symptoms, but not one hot flush!

Its definitely an investment, and I know it's just not possible for everyone, but Newson Health really know their stuff and follow the NICE guidelines. I had an excellent experience with them and would highly recommend

Had regular periods until 54 and then skipped a month.
Next month period was from hell - had to go and collect DD1 from Uni 5 hours away and wore a tampon, a pad and a pair of incontinence pants in case i got caught in traffic! 🙄
That was my last period and 3 months later had my first hot flush, 55 was my worst 6 months, hot flushes, night sweats and put on 9lbs out of nowhere and then it was all over before I turned 56.

I'm on HRT at 41, and it was no trouble at all to get it prescribed. I want it mainly for aesthetic reasons at this point (skin, hair, breasts), as there are only one or two signs currently that peri is creeping up on me (sleeping issues, very high sex drive).
I'm adding this not to gloat but in frustration that it really is down to the luck of the draw with which GP you get.

Symptoms started when I was 46, with the odd hot flush, trouble sleeping, low mood. Nothing too bad for about 2 years when things went crazy. I got hit with just about every symptom going - regular hot flushes, insomnia, uncontrollable anger, crying at the drop of a hat, weight gain, aching joints, itchy skin, hair started getting thinner, tiredness, low libido, brain fog. After trying every supplement going, I finally went to the gp and he recommended HRT. What a game changer! Within 3 months of starting on it, I was just about back to myself. I took it for 3 years and then there was a shortage in supply so I stopped and apart from difficulty sleeping, all other symptoms have stayed gone!
Im 56 now and feel fantastic.