Any ideas? Doctor won't see me yet!

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Hi ladies, I'm frustrated!

I've just turned 40 and haven't had a period since 11th November, all pregnancy tests negative. I've talked to a locum on the phone in January who told me to contact them again at the end of january/beginning of February if still nothing. Had an e-consult this week and my GP said 'I see you talked to a colleague recently about the same thing, we could do some tests but they'd probably all come back clear, could it be stress? Contact again if it hasn't changed in 4 weeks'. That pissed me off and if anything stressed me it's that!
I've had no signs of menopause approaching at all, aside from one or two periods over the past few years all have been on time,with a 28 day cycle when off contraception.
My hormones seem to still be around - increased discharge, boobs have become firmer although seem firmer some days than others, had clear jelly discharge in December followed by two spots of pinky brown spotting. Tiring easily (although recently had covid and that could be the cause there), sluggish bowels,wind and bloating. I've gained 7lbs in weight for no reason. No idea if any of it is related to the other.

Saw the nurse a couple of weeks ago for nhs health check and she couldn't do anything then but told me to get back on to my GP as 'that's weird' and obviously they aren't being very helpful.

So if anyone has any ideas on what could be going on and what I can do it would be appreciated. It's starting to get to me as I can tell something isn't right but my doctor doesn't seem in the slightest bit interested!

I am sure I have read covid can affect the cycle, could be that.

Have you talked to or seen a woman GP? If not then I'd ring later this week and ask to speak to a woman. You don't have to say why you would prefer it and when you speak to her you don't have to say that you thought she'd understand or any thing like that. If you've already tried a this then I would still ring back. Say you are worried and you'd like to talk about the tests they mentioned. Men doctors I've seen in the past only seem to care about potential pregnancy so you could always say you are worried about the risk of pregnancy when you don't know why your periods have stopped.

Thanks. The locum I initially talked to was female, she didn't have much to say other than pregnancy tests are accurate, asking my male GP for advice and then coming back on the phone to say call back end of January. sigh

With regards to covid, I didn't have that until 27th December so doubt that would be the cause

That's extremely rubbish. Keep trying until you get someone better and if you can't then maybe start a compliant. Men wouldn't be ignored like this. You've not changed pill? I think mini pill/progesterone only can stop periods. I'm sure you'd have thought about that though.

Im sorry to sound like a very basic HCP but is there any chance you could be pregnant?

Sorry, I've just seen you have tested of course. Kicking myself, sorry.

In all honesty op the very start of the perimenopause was going 3/4 months without a period. Then all normal for 8/9 months. I was all done by 49. Flushes, etc started about 45.

Might be worth having your thyroid checked or asking for a full blood panel.

yes i would thing peri menopause into menopause. irregular cycles.

I don't seem to have any other symptom of peri though, aside from the lack of periods? No hot flashes, no problems sleeping or night sweats, certainly no dryness (quite the bloody opposite!) etc etc. Hmm

I didn't either in the early stages and at 43 the peri test came back negative. It may just be the beginning of your body winding down. I'd miss a few months and then everything would go back to more regular than normal for several months. Then I'd miss another month or three. Over time the gaps got longer and the phases of periods shorter.

Seems early at 40 for menopause. You could book a scan at one of those private places to see if you are pregnant if this actually a possibility?

My periods stopped out of the blue age 42 with no warning and no classic menopause symptoms. My GP was entirely uninterested. I was later offered HRT. I'm 48 now and that was it.

It could be early(ish) menopause or the start of peri-menopause or it could be something else. Your GP should totally see you and do some tests to rule out other causes.

Maybe it is then? I thought it made you more dry etc.
Sore boobs for the past 4 days now so maybe I've finally got a period on the way!

Well, my boobs have been sore/tender contuniously since my last post a month ago, one occasion of a leaky breast. Had 2 days very light light brown bleeding 3 weeks ago. Contacted doctor again and he replied via email yesterday with 'nothing of concern here if you notice any lumps contact again'.

Just felt completely dismissive. Not a reassuring or caring message, no advice or even if he thinks it may be peri no saying that etc. Just 'nothing of concern'.

Glad it doesn't concern him that my body and hormones are acting strangely and I don't know why and can't do anything about it!

I'd be wanting to know how they can rule out a problem with the pituitary gland without a blood test when you have several signs/symptoms that could potentially point to that.

it may well not be - but there is no way of telling without one.

I could have wrote this post OP. I'm having exactly the same problem. I'm 42 my last period was December 10th. I've got tender boobs, still getting a cramping feeling like im due on... then nothing? I had a smear last week so waiting on those results. My gp told me to call back in April if still no period. I have noticed that since I've had my vaccines my period has been less and less to the point it's actually stopped

With fatigue and leaking from breasts but no pregnancy it could be prolactinoma, a problem with pituitary gland.
Can you express milk from your breast? If you can make sure you let your GP know when you next speak to them. Another symptom is loss of libido.

My periods randomly stopped when I was about 25. Went on for about 18months. The doctors I seen said it wasn’t a concern medically and that it’s fairly common. Called it Amenorrhea.

The only reason they took an interest in me was due to us wanting to start a family. Not sure they would have done anything otherwise - failing a few blood tests at various points to check hormone levels.