Can you be in peri yet still have regular periods.

[Afternooninthepark]

GP doesn’t seem to think so. He says I’m not in peri if I have regular periods.
I’m 45 and periods are getting heavier and heavier. I have uterine polyps which were removed last year and had removed again a few months ago as they’ve grown back. I also get chocolate cysts on my ovaries (asked gynaecologist if this could be endometriosis as sis has it, he said maybe but offered no more advice on the subject!).
Over the last few years my anxiety has hit the roof, I have terrible PMS which I never suffered from before, dryness down below, lack of sex drive, aches and pains, tiredness to the point of exhaustion at times (I am anaemic due to the periods), digestive issues which get worse during ovulation and pre period, hot through the night before period. The list goes on!!
Could I be perimenopause? Not getting much help via GP.

Yes, I believe you can.

I had periods (albeit lighter and shorter) until I didn't. Twelve months no period means one has gone through menopause. So during the preceding time I must have been perimenopausal.

I have been on the pill for years. Barely had a period. Last five months they have come back. And they are lasting for weeks. I am currently on week four. They are not heavy. Just annoyingly there.

I have a scan 2m to just check if anything else is going on. But my doctor said she just thinks I’m peri and everything is just going to get a bit ekkkkkk.

Yeah, of course. I diagnosed with early menopause a year ago at 41. I had too severe symptoms with almost regular periods. My gyn made his diagnosis based more on my symptoms and less on blood tests.

My doctor said to test if that’s what it was that I had to come off the pill. The pill has been the only thing that has made me sane with my periods and pmt. so I’m not going to come off it until I really have to.

Well I think so. My GP has been happy to advise about my Godawful and brand new PMS on the basis that I am perimenopausal, and I have regular and much heavier periods now. It must be said that quite a bit of the PMS was actually 'shit life syndrome' and it has improved a lot now that I'm just bereaved and working a bit less rather than caring for an ill person while working full-time, but it's definitely still there and still hormonal.

maybe a difference in definition? I can see that Google says perimenopause can last 8-10 years but I would be distrustful of that as it sounds like a reason to start developing drugs for it especially as the sites that say that seem to be American The NHS perimenopause definition seems to be a few months or years before periods stop.

I think you can. I'm 45 and have regular 28 day cycles, albeit it a relatively heavy day one and lighter 2-3 days and that's it. Last month I had hot flushes during the first day and since then I'm waking up every night at least one time. But my GPS aren't interested as my symptoms aren't bad enough for them yet. Cheers for that man Dr 🙄

Yes, you can! Please get over to Menopause Matters site or the menopause/peri section of this site. I have regular periods and am in perimenopause. My mother had regular periods and then totally stopped age 51 and never had another.

I can see that Google says perimenopause can last 8-10 years but I would be distrustful of that as it sounds like a reason to start developing drugs for it especially as the sites that say that seem to be American The NHS perimenopause definition seems to be a few months or years before periods stop.

Total BS. It can last 8-10 years. This is the reason so many women put up with utter crap and are fobbed off that it's 'shit life syndrome' or some other cause other than the great hormonal changes some women go through before they menopause. And keep in mind that menopause for a woman under 50 is two years with no period. Before that and she is perimenopausal.

OP, get to Menopause Matters.

You can have symptoms of menopause and still be having periods!

menopausesymptoms

Yes. I think it might be helpful if you changed to a female doctor if you want to be taken seriously too. Male doctors not taking seriously what they see as "womens issues" is a pretty common story unfortunately, although some women doctors can be pretty shit about it too admittedly.

I have periods, and ive just started my second round of HRT and my god, its made quite a noticeable difference to me. I feel clear headed again. My PMT was totally manageable this month and I just feel more human again. Game changer.

Thanks all, will take a look at all the suggestions.