Am i in my menopause ? Periods awful

[Molly333]

Hi im 51 and for about the last 4 years have had horrible painful periods which are quite heavy. They are regular and not sonething i can manage without feminax ( first 2 days at least) . Am i not menopausal yet? How do you know as im really fed up of this ( today the pain was awful) . I went to see my gp about 18 months ago who wasnt v helpful except scared me away from HRT talking about cancer links. Im so fed up of this now

If you are interested in HRT then there are a lot of sources to read online, at menopause matters and even on Mumsnet menopause health forum.
A GP cannot refuse you HRT if you have the symptoms and do not have the risk factors ( previous cancers or cancer in family).
As for the increased cancer risk- yes there is an increase but no so much as is said as the increase is talked in relative terms, if it is said that increases the breast cancer risk by say 50-60 percent then in actual terms it is one extra women will get cancer out of 10000. You will get a lot of details when you will read the actual material.
If you think HRT is right for you after reading others experience and HRT sources then just ask your GP or change them if they don't want to prescribe.

Have I heard right that a coil is often recommended for heavy periods at this time of life ?

Yes, coil is the first line of treatment for heavy periods at any age but specially at perimenopause.
It also covers the progesterone part of HRT if women are interested in getting HRT. Normally heavy periods are first to show so a mirena is advised.
Later in the years as estrogen goes down and other symptoms like hot flashes , insomnia etc starts bothering then estrogen patches can also be prescribed.

No you aren't in menopause until you've been period free for 12 months, but you are definitely peri menopausal, as above posters have said a mirena will almost certainly stop your periods or at the very least make them a lot lighter. Find yourself another gp who is willing to discuss HRT or ask for a referral to a meno specialist (though this could take some time) Take a look at the menopause matters website and get informed about different types of HRT and their pros and cons.
If you are having symptoms that are impacting on your life then it's your decision as to weather you take HRT not your GPs it's your body and your choice.

Thank you everyone for your replies. i must admit i had considered a coil but am scared as a friend had one inbed . I will do reading i think . Out of interest has anyone found hrt helped heavy painful periods?

There's a wonderful Facebook group run by a campaigner for better meno treatment.

Menopause support network, linked to this menopausesupport.co.uk/.

Also this www.menopausematters.co.uk/

I'd recommend the fb group, many women have experience of navigating routes via Gp. There's been some new nice guidance recently. I believe a lot of the hrt issues are unfounded. You can also be referred to specialist clinics I think.

To add to what @Literallyfedup
Here are latest stats on increased breast cancer risk while taking HRT from the October 2020 BMJ study:

“Odds ratios for HRT types, adjusted for personal characteristics, smoking status, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, family history, and other prescribed drugs.”

“In recent oestrogen only users, between three (in younger women) and eight (in older women) extra cases per 10 000 women years would be expected, and in oestrogen-progestogen users between nine and 36 extra cases per 10 000 women years.”

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3873

“Use of hormone replacement therapy and risk of breast cancer: nested case-control studies using the QResearch and CPRD databases”

BMJ 2020; 371 doi: doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3873 (Published 28 October 2020)
Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m3873