Perimenopause

[Creole]

Anyone on here experiencing this? Just been told by the doc, as my cycle has been getting shorter than normal.
I understand it can last for up to 10yrs. I am 37yrs old with one child.

Yes, me! Actually I was thinking only the other day of starting a thread called 'Menopausal Mumsnetters' or something along those lines.

I'm a bit older than you (44) but have been experiencing infrequent symptoms for nearly 2 years now, including a shorter cycle (which has been a real surprise as I'd always thought the cycle got longer).

Do you have any other symptoms?

Ooh, I'm not sure about the cycles, mine seem to have become regualr as clockwork 28 dayers since having DD - or maybe they're getting shorter, must chart - but I have noticed I get more BO now than before all through my cycle (before it was just around periods), plus I've suddenly got spotty adolescent skin, but with wrinkles. Could these also be symptoms or is it just me? I'm "only" 41 btw.

I don't have any other symptoms, but I will pay more attention to it now.

I went to the doc thinking there was something seriously wrong.

My periods have been very heavy for a fews yrs now, but thats it.

Ah well, just have to leave with it, don't think I want any more kids anyway.

Is a shorter cycle really a sign of perimenopause? Or could it be something else or even just completely normal (hopeful emoticon)?

I think I might be too - although I am 48.

Started to have hot flushes when we were on holiday, which weren't at all what I expected - hadn't realise they could actually wake you up!

Haven't had any since then, but cycle is not behaving itself - suddenly went 42 days rather than the usual 28-30!

Skin is not brilliant either, but then it's never been great and is certainly dodgy around the time of my period. But spots have been getting more horrible and tend to come back in the same place.

Sorry for hijack but have been wondering about seeing doc about this. Periods are erratic, can be light or heavy, definitely more PMS and worse skin. Are these signs of menopause?

I'm 40 and my cycle has become very erratic over the last 2 years, along with the occasional hot flush (especially in the middle of the night).

From a perfect 28 day cycle it now varies between 14 & 40 days.

My PMT is either murderously dangerous or non-existent, there seems to be no middle ground.

I have occasional outbreaks of acne across my shoulders, which hasn't happened since I was a teenager.

I have had loads of blood tests and the doc says my hormones are fine so I am officially not perimenopausal.

I hate to think what it will be like when I am!

Strawberry, your symptoms do sound like the perimenopause tbh.

In the last 2 years I have experienced the following:-

Shorter cycle
Spotty chin
Night sweats
PMT (never had it before)
Heavier and/or more painful periods
Greasy hair (this is a new one. My hair has always been dry and coarse but now can turn greasy practically overnight - fry chips in it type greasy too)
Irritabilty/mood swings

There is no pattern at all. For example, I can have a night sweat 4 nights in a row, then nothing for months. Or periods can be regular for several months and then 2 in one month.

Tis very annoying.