Is this worth going the doctors?

[marvelmum]

Hi ladies, my periods have been irregular for some time now maybe a couple of years but this month have been very short ie 10th September, 28th September and now 7th October. I feel healthy enough, I've lost 3stone with a diet plan since January and drinks lots of water with daily exercise, nothing too strenuous maybe just a power walk with the dog or a jog one or two nights a week. My periods really get me down though and I feel bloated and rubbish for a few days then back to normal. I also get horrendous headaches just before and I think this is hormonal. I know I'm in peri menopause although these are the only symptoms I have, I know my periods so close together isn't anything sinister and I feel the healthiest I've probably ever been so do I need to see a doctor? Am I too young for this even though I'm 44 and will I need to start HRT? I don't want to go to my doctors for him or her to say Yes your perimenopausel nothing we can do just get on with it, I'd rather not go tbh but if this isn't normal so close together then I'll go.

Thanks for any advice.

Hi marvel, I guess that when you will have symptoms and your periods start to become irregular, you will need see a specialist for hrt. I started hrt with almost regular periods but with severe symptoms. Hope it helps!

Hi, my periods have been irregular for a while now but getting worse as in 3 heavy periods in 35 days, I have no other symptoms ie hot flushes etc just headaches before each period and maybe a little forgetfulness here and there. Will the doctor prescribe me HRT? Do I need it?

I think you should see your GP in case there are any other reasons for the symptoms.

The dr will prescribe HRT if you ask for it and have no medical reasons why not to use it. Many GPs are not up to date or experts in menopause- expect them to be dismissive and also perhaps anti-HRT BUT at 44 this is early menopause and the best treatment is HRT.

Do some reading up on early menopause- see the website of Dr Louise newson

Thank you for your replies.

Queen the website is just what I'm looking for, I'll have a read tonight

Just an update, I went to the doctors this morning and he prescribed me tranexamic acid tablets for the clots and period pain which I will hold onto as I'm not really good with tablets and the pain isn't severe as of yet, also a swab and a scan to see what's going on with my ovaries. Doctor seems to think if it was menopause my periods would be far apart and not as they are now so I'll go for the scan and see from there.

Your dr doesn't seem to know much about peri menopause, as usual!

Periods can be irregular- which is either close together or further apart. Or neither, just all the other symptoms like flushes, moods, etc.

IMO it's a complete waste of time scanning your ovaries because that won't show your hormone levels. Did they not offer to do a blood test for your FSH or estrogen levels?

Younger women like you often get on very well with the combined Pill in peri and one in particular called Qlaira.

I don't have any other symptoms of peri so my doctor wants to rule out anything sinister I suppose and then we can look at what to do next, maybe blood tests I'm guessing.

maybe do some reading about peri menopause? The first sign is irregular periods. That's what you have. Irregular periods often go hand in hand with a lot of bleeding.

Same thing happened to me at 43 and was menopausal by 45. Not unusual at all. You need HRT as you are young. Protect your bones and heart!

You doctor doesn't seem very clued up.

When my periods started to come every two weeks and heavy my gp sent me for test including an ultrasound to rule out anytbing. I was 44 too. All was fine and it was indeed the start of the peri. After 3 months of this, I had no periods for months then back to normal and again no period for 3 months until it went back to heavy every two weeks. Finally turned into very very light every 3 weeks and now only spotting every few months.

It's up to you whether you feel that it is disruptive enough to warrant hrt. Hrt doesn't suit everyone and like me you might find that your periods disappear next whereas with hrt, you'll have one every month.

Make sure you check your iron levels if you are bleeding a lot.

Thanks for all your advice.

I've been reading up on HRT and I'm definitely not going start taking it at this moment as I feel absolutely fine apart from my periods being very close. I don't have hot flushes, bone weakness, anxiety, depression etc. Surely taking HRT when I have no other symptoms wouldn't be a good move. I'd rather ride this out and see what happens, if the symptoms of menopause arise then I will consider taking it. Hopefully I might be one of the lucky ones and get through this ok without taking anything part from evening primrose.

Just a couple of points:

1 you won't 'feel' weakness in your bones. Osteoporosis is known as the 'silent killer'- so symptoms till it's advanced.

2 Evening primrose does nothing for periods and menopause- old wives tale. Only benefit is for breast pain.

I wish I'd taken HRT straight away. I have never had a hot flush, but the myriad of other symptoms, including terrible anxiety, creep up on you gradually.

Imperative to protect your bones at this age. You won't have an idea about it until too late. HRT is not harmful if you do you research and choose the right one. I have a gel I just rub onto my arms. A progesterone at night.

I do not have any periods with this at all. Nothing goes through my liver, all absorbed through the skin. It is simply slightly replacing the hormones I should naturally have at 48.

Hi Wendy, is gel the only form of HRT that you take? I'm useless with tablets and never ever take them so I suppose this what puts me off. I really need to do some research, there is so much information.

Marvel you don't have to take hrt. Whatever some people say there are some gains and some additional risks. You can help protect your bones in other ways. Itvs up to you. You could wait oryou could try it and see how you feel on it. I personally hated it and it certainly wasn't the miracle drug I read it was for other people. I am much happier not on it and managing my issues as best as I can in other ways.

Maybe it is worth making an appointment and discussing it with your gp?

You can help protect your bones in other ways
The medical advice for women whose periods stop long before the average age of 51/ 52 is to use HRT up to that age.

If your periods are irregular now, wait and see what happens. If they stop before 47 (this is till considered young for menopause) HRT is the treatment to protect your bones.

You don't have to use it , of course not. But read around and make sure you are well informed. 1:2 women end up with osteoporosis. Some will have had early menopause, some won't.

You can eat healthily with enough calcium, do weight bearing exercises and more BUT that alone will not be enough for most women who have an early menopause.
It's not just your bones, it's also your heart and brain that is affected by estrogen levels.

I think that hrt is a necessity for early meno and very protective for heart, bones and skin.
It doesn’t add more risks if you take it until 50 and afterwards the risks are tiny.

Hi marvels I take an oestrogen gel and rub it on my arm in the morning and progesterone tablet that I insert at night (up my hoo haa) I researched everything, there is such a tiny tiny tiny minuscule risk and much bigger for not taking it. I can buy it OTC in Spain, don't even need a prescription. Menopause Matters is a great website, if a little dated in appearance only. These are bioidentical hormones NOTHING to do with the old ones which caused all the scare and fuss.

I totally agree with Emerald.

People take the pill all their lives and freak out at relieving symptoms with a fraction of the hormones later... doesn't make sense to me.

People take the pill all their lives and freak out at relieving symptoms with a fraction of the hormones later... doesn't make sense to me

A good point. Not uncommon for women to use the Pill then the mini pill for 30+ years - all carry risks of blood clots and breast cancer yet the HRT in use nowadays is natural ( same as our own hormones) and a tiny dose compared to the Pill.

Love your name Wendy though assume you aren't her! :)

Queen no I'm not THE Wendy Cope! I've a feeling you have helped me before I was DANtdm

My gp told me that any changes in bleeding they will send you to get checked. I was telling him that the heavier bleeding was down to the hrt, which the gynae told me was correct. Didn't matter, if you mention heavier bleeding, they'll send you to get checked.