Menopause - at what point did you go to the Dr's?

[Frenchcremefraiche]

Did you go to the Dr's?

I'm 46. Pretty sure I'm in perimenopause. Not suffering much (so far?) - main issues are that I'm too hot and really tired. And grumpy but if other people weren't such idiots, I wouldn't be grumpy. Being grumpy is increasing my DGAFs so is that even an issue really?

I've not had a period for almost 3 months. I cant remember the last time I had sex so I'm not pregnant.

It's a fight to get a dr appointment so I'm wondering whether it's worth it? By all accounts it wont be much use. I dont feel like I need HRT at the moment. Is there anything they can do?

I went at 46 after a couple year of tiredness/fatigye, anxiety, aching joints, insomnia , stiffness. No issues with prescribing HRT as I’m over 45. A big concern for me was osteoporosis or osteoarthritis so i wanted to offset that and if my issues eased it was a bonus. I do feel significantly more energetic on it and I sleep better.

Why are you scared of taking it too early? What risk do you think that will bring? There is evidence that the protective effects of HRT dissipate if you start it too late but no evidence at all that starting 'too early' (which isn't a thing if you're experiencing perimenopause symptoms, it's clearly not too early!) causes any risk. If you're going by that '5 year' rule it's very outdated now.

Probably about your age OP and had various tests for I think FSH levels. I wasn’t offered anything apart from HRT when my periods stopped for good.

I tried Menopause Max, sage and other natural treatments before going on HRT. I had horrendous perimenopause symptoms, literally awful anxiety and crying loads. I also had brain fog, insomnia and other symptoms. HRT has been a game changer for me. I can cope with life now.

My mum’s friend was prescribed HRT when it first came out and was on it until she was 70. She persuaded me that it was safe.

I’ve got a younger friend (in her forties) who’s having a terrible time with perimenopause but is worried about taking HRT as there’s a family history of breast cancer.

For me it was when dh and the one remaining dc at home started to comment on the negative impact it was having. My main symptoms at the time were mood swings, crying, raging etc. I was having other symptoms too, but they were not too bad. I was 45 at the time and expected to have to beg but gp was amazing. I was sent for blood tests to rule out thyroid function problems just in case. I would say that it took a month or so to feel better but honestly I felt like I was getting myself back again. About a year later I needed to up the dose and it's not magic, I still get symptoms from time to time because hormone levels go wildly up and down during perimenopause but there is no way I would be without it now.

These were exactly my symptoms. In hindsight I’d been experiencing increasingly low mood for a couple of years but it was when the anxiety and insomnia started that the penny finally dropped. I started on HRT aged 46 and wish I’d started sooner.

Subsequently I learned that anhedonia, literally ‘loss of joy’ is one of the first symptoms of perimenopause, but it doesn’t get as much recognition as the physical symptoms (hot flushes etc)

Go to your GP @JanBlues2026 I was lucky, the (young, male) GP I saw listened to me and took my concerns seriously. I hope yours is also supportive.

I didn’t say anything about a “5 year rule”!
The problem is that I honestly don’t know if I’m in perimenopause at all as I’m still having regular periods, just heavier and I’ve got brain fog. I take Pregablin for GAD and that causes brain fog too.
I have to take medication already so I don’t want to add to the amount I take if I might not be at the specific stage yet.
My Nan had my Mum aged 48 and my Mum was in her mid-fifties when she noticed changes and went on HRT so given the possible genetic factor of a later menopause it doesn’t seem to me that I’m ready yet.
If I definitely am then of course I would start HRT!

Peri menopause as a stage can last around 10 years prior to menopause. And obviously none of us know what age that will come. Im in my mid 50s, still in peri

I really noticed symptoms around 49 but possibly before that too in all honesty. They just get more and more.

I dont have any physical symptoms, I have all emotional/MH symptoms. Only just started HRT so fingers crossed. I should have started it a couple of years ago really but dithered.

Also just to say, not sure if Im reading your post wrong but peri means the stage before menopause so you of course will have regular periods, as do I.

Menopause is when you have been 12 months with no periods.

I went into psychosis at 44 from anxiety so maybe hormones impacted it - I dont know

At the point when I was 3 years post-hysterectomy (even though i'd kept my ovaries), had been having hot flushes, was so anxious and depressed that I was starting to become suicidal, couldn't function in day to day life, and basically thought life wasn't worth living.

Fobbed off with Prozac.

Six months later, same thing.

Fobbed off with Sertaline and told to download the Headspace app.

Six months later, same thing.

GP took bloods, said my estrogen was "fine" and prescribed folic acid.

Two months after that and after the penny dropping when I read threads on here and watched women like Kirsty Wark and Mariella Frostrup talking about their experienced I finally saw GP number 4 who gave me HRT.

Yes. My GPs are utterly shite. I am not an exceptional case.

I never went. Just coped with the hot flushes and that’s was about it

if you can cope then don’t bother

I think we must have the same gp!

I’m not taking HRT yet-other than very rare periods I’m not having any noticeable symptoms apart from drier hair and skin. But I have spoken to GP about it. I’m having some treatment for something else and she says that we should review HRT when that’s resolved but there’s no rush.

I would certainly take it if I had symptoms but I can’t isolate any. I have a 6 year old and have just got divorced so it’s hard to identify if any of my stress and anxiety is hormonal though.

I've never been to the doctor about the menopause. My hot flushes weren't that bad. (Sometimes it was nice to be warm in bed!) I did get grumpy but haven't noticed that recently so I think I'm through the other side now. I do use yam hormone balancing cream, after reading a 'natural menopause' book (called Path to Power or something like that) so maybe that's helped with the moodiness.