To think perimenopause is an overused buzzword?

[Furning]

My friends and I are mid to late 30s. A lot of them are now claiming they’re perimenopausal, and if I mention I’m hot, or I've forgot something, or cant concentrate, they rush to tell me it’ll be perimenopause.

If they are struggling to lose weight, or forget what they’re saying, or anything at all negative happens, it’s because they’re perimenopausal.

I know some women might be in their 30s, but surely not most? Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with it?

But that's just because more people used to use the terms wrongly, and now they've learnt to use them correctly. The definition of menopause is having had no periods for a year. Perimenopause is the run-up to that happening - which can be a decade.

And it's crap. Joint pain for me, and everything smelling so much stronger than it used to (a mildly nasty smell almost makes me vomit). Phantom smells - especially smoke. Sitting and sobbing during my period - which never used to affect me emotionally at all. And being so bloody cold all the time.

I think it's helpful that we are discussing menopause more openly now, including perimenopause. I am only 39 but I haven't been on hormonal contraception for many years so I know my cycle has been pretty much exactly 29 days for a long long time yet lo and behold, this past 18 months or so it's been reducing down to sometimes as little as 25 days between periods. Clearly something is happening...

Thank you. It's miserable isn't it?!

I wish women who get it easy could just be grateful rather than dismissing other women's experiences.

I think you are confusing two points here.

Yes it is unusual to be perimenopausal in your 30s and you are within your rights to be annoyed by people using it as a reason. If you are having excessive tiredness, anxiety, depression and a myriad of other symptoms in your 30s then you need blood tests to rule out lots of other medical issues too.

However, general discussion about perimenopause is a GOOD THING. Women need to read/hear that it's not just irregular periods and hot flushes. It can also be insomnia, brain fog, anxiety, itchy skin, repeated UTIs, joint pain. If you're aware of that and start to experience those symptoms, you might reach the Ah-ha moment sooner than I did.

The highest number of suicides in women occurs during the peri years.

But yeah, I’m sure they just got on with it.

Yes, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. And hearing other women say it’s not that bad, just get on with it, is really upsetting.

I didn’t realise itchy skin and heat intolerance to heat were down to dropping estrogen until this thread. That’s exactly why it’s helpful to talk about these things.

Wait till the itchy skin affects inside your ears, now that is an invisible form of torture!!

And when the drop in oestrogen thins any obstetric scars you have from birthing tears!

I hear you.

I had such an awful time, I had had a hysterectomy so it should have been top of their list to consider for a woman aged 48 yet I still was prescribed antidepressants (twice) and folic acid (wtf?). It was a total battle and I was so unwell and unhappy. Women who "sail through" should have the common decency to realise their experience is not universal.

Welp, this was me at 35 so yes, its a thing!

I think it is a GOOD thing that women's heath topics are getting more attention. I agree that some women are weirdly keen to join that club and attribute every symptom they have to 'perimenopause' from the age of 35 onwards (aka everyone in my book club).

I am 49 and besides irregular periods I haven't experienced many symptoms yet luckily, I am also glad I haven't thought I was in peri for the last 15 years. I know older friends who didn't get any big symptoms until they were in menopause around 55. So I am well aware I may get major symptoms yet.

Knowledge is good but part of that knowledge is realizing MOST women do not go into perimenopause until their mid 40s or later. Yes SOME do but that is unusual.

Yes, the ears, that’s awful!! I’ve also had a frozen shoulder.

I think we're just allowed to talk about it now so it's pouring out if the woodwork. Peri has wrecked my life so it's nice to know whats going on.

And the dry eyes...

Well yes, clearly.

It’s not a new buzz word, it is a word which describes the time leading up to periods eventually stopping. There is now more understanding of the changes that happen (perimenopause) to women that can start in the 30s, I think it’s best not to minimise it.

Unless you are a GP and have access to the blood records and their symptoms, I’m not sure you can say that none of these women are experiencing perimenopausal symptoms

Mounjaro sorted my shoulders out in a way that HRT didn't. My understanding is that it helps a lot with chronic inflammation.

You’re kidding me! You’ve had a hysterectomy and they didn’t connect the blindingly obvious dots?!?! Oh my, you poor thing! And when they ignore us, it increases the rage (at least in my case, ha!)

They did not remove my ovaries. So therefore I could not possibly be in menopause.

I know. I was angry once I figured it out. Two of the GPs who prescribed the antidepressants (which did fuck all) were middle aged women.

I agree. One friend seems to have dragged out that excuse for everything (allergies, feeling hot, feeling cold, forgetfulness, anxiety, putting on weight, tiredness, sleeplessness...) for over 10 years - and probably will for many years to come.

My point is that often women aren’t listened to, certainly not in my case and clearly with other women on this thread too.

I’d suggest that it’s not so uncommon for women to start peri in their 30s, but actually it’s more uncommon for women to be listened to by the medical professionals who should be aware of the symptoms of peri.

Because most women in their 30s are not in perimenopause. They just aren’t.

I have no idea if I’m getting an easy ride through menopause because I am in my 30s.

How horrendous, I’m sorry to hear that.

Yes, I’ve been to numerous sorties and found a number of female drs were less understanding than men.

I even had one who said I was not in perimenopause, but when I went about another issue, she said it must be down to peri…what? WHAT?!

Maybe other women’s friends in their 30s keep blaming every tiny thing on perimenopause and it’s getting right on their tits too.

The menopause is a 24 hour length of time, so there's never been much to say about it really. Peri and post menopause are years and decades long so along time to be suffering and miserable if having symptoms in either stage