help not sure doc is right about my low oestrogen

[3cubs]

Hi,I have posted similar in general health but am new to this so sorry if that is wrong.

I have just turned 41, with a 2-year-old, 4 and 8 year old

I was feeling a bit fat and knackered so went to dics basically to rule out health probs b4 going on serious diet and getting our non-sleeping 2 year old into better routine.
My doc suggested bloot tests and when I went back told me I was perimenopausal and asked if I wanted HRT.
I was a bit gobsmacked and said no but now feel very confused.
I have had no symptoms other than one period was a bit late (back on track now) but have no hot flushes, no mood swings, no nothing. I feel totally fine but just tired (but have literally not had one night's sleep through in two years thanks to my little horror).
My oestrogen levels were 320 but I have no
idea what that means.
Can anyone help please?
It seems weird to think that last year I was breast feeding and this year I am menopauasal without even knowing....

Can't help with the hormone elvels as didn't know what mine were, but you can always google this.

I think your Gp might be a bit quick off the mark to prescribe HRT- early meno is under 45 but that means last period ever at under 45- so you aren't there yet by a long way, as perimeno can last for 10 years.

You are not menopausal- that is when you have had your lastperiod.

IMHO I'd say you are simply suffering from lack of sleep and the strain of having 3 young kids around.

Before you start anything like HRT you should try to get your general physical health up to scratch with exercise and diet etc.as much as you can with 3 kids around!

But yes, itis possible to go from BF and into peri meno- friend of mine had 2nd son at 37 and was menopausal altogether by 43- she had miscarreid before 2nd son, so she now thinkis she was peri all during her late 30s.

GPs coming out with this kind of stuff make me soooo angry. Ask any physician who has really done their homework in regard to hormones and they will tell you that these tests are completely unreliable. Our hormones fluctuate so much a woman can be 'pre menopausal at breakfast, post menopausal at lunch and peri-menopausal in the evening' and those words were quoted to me by a hormone specialist!!

For your doctor to say that to you is outrageous in my opinion. If you have a 2 year old then your hormones are more likely to be still in post natal fluctuation (for how long did you breastfeed - is the kind of question I would be asking?).

Take no notice - seriously - for the time being anyway. Just eat well, get as much sleep as you can (I know it's difficult) look after yourself and see if things settle down before you even contemplate HRT. I'm still reeling from the fact that he offered that as a treatment tbh. If you are ovulating regularly (i.e. having a period) then you have oestrogen, simple as. Age wise, yes you are coming into the peri-menopausal years, and there will be hormonal fluctuations - but in my opinion you are nowhere near the point where you should be supplementing with hormones.

Fontella- some of the stuff you say above is not true.

Many women in peri have anovulatory cycles- periods with no ovualtion. In fact this happens very frequently.

yes, hormones fluctuate. When I had mine tested at 52 ish my dr said that I was post meno- i then went on to have several more periods for 18 months.

Thank you very much both Fontella and purple peony.
I think it was the HRT suggestion that threw me a bit as I always imagined that would help with symptoms,which apart from being tired and late with one period I don't have.
I do know my age means I am approaching peri-menopausal time but have to admit I thought he was wrong about the whole oestrogen thing - surely the levels fluctuate throughout the month? He seemed to suggest this "320" was the indication that I had a hormone prob but I have looked up oestrogen levels and I am not sure that is right. Certainly I am not going to think about HRT until I feel I have problems that need to be solved.
Thank you, again

Purplepeony - it's not clear from your response which bit of what I've written isn't 'true'?

I never said women don't have anovulatory cycles- periods with no ovulation'. Didn't even address that at all in my post so not sure what you mean?

What I said was that on-the-spot blood testing is unreliable as any doctor worth his/her salt will tell you. As part of an overall diagnosis along with other symptoms then fine - but hormone levels fluctuate for many, many reasons and to tell someone they are peri-menopausal and should go onto HRT at 41 - on the basis of one test is completely irresponsible, particularly in the absence of other indicative symptoms.

Read the OP again "I have had no symptoms other than one period was a bit late (back on track now) but have no hot flushes, no mood swings, no nothing. I feel totally fine but just tired ..."

... and yet still the GP is suggesting HRT?

What I said was that on-the-spot blood testing is unreliable as any doctor worth his/her salt will tell you. As part of an overall diagnosis along with other symptoms then fine - but hormone levels fluctuate for many, many reasons and to tell someone they are peri-menopausal and should go onto HRT at 41 - on the basis of one test is completely irresponsible, particularly in the absence of other indicative symptoms.

Sure- couldn't agree with you ore, as my own blood tests showed exactly that.

This is what I disagreed with you on, when you said:
If you are ovulating regularly (i.e. having a period) then you have oestrogen.

Having a period does not equal ovulation You can have periods without ovulating and many cycles in your 40s are without ovualtion.

I have had several periods that are a result of "ovarian activity" as my gynae calls it, but scans have shown I have no follicles ( eggs) left in my ovaries.