When should I see doctor?

[Notcopingwellhere]

I’m 45 and my periods have been a bit erratic in the last few months- two 40ish day cycles when they used to be regular 28 days. I know that I was running out of ovarian reserve 3/ 4 years ago as I had fertility tests and IVF (DS born just as I turned 43).
I’ve been feeling tearful and anxious a lot recently, and am getting lower back pain and cramps that feel like period pains but come mid-cycle. If I am in perimenopause it’s no big deal really, but I’d like to make sure that I get the right treatment if any is necessary to prevent osteoporosis and sort out my moods.
I don’t feel like enough is going on to warrant blood tests though and would feel a bit silly going to GP as I feel s/he might just say “you’re nearly 46, what do you expect?”. I do have private healthcare though so could get blood tests in insurance.
Should I go to the doctor and, if so, what would they investigate?

You don't need anything investigating.

All you need do is take a list of your symptoms to your dr and say you'd like to try HRT (if you do, that is.)

NICE does not recommend blood tests in peri - they are unreliable and pointless.

The advice is treat the symptoms- if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck...etc.

The advice is that if periods stop before aged 45-47 that is considered early in the western world so HRT at least up to age 51 (age of average meno) is advised for bone protection.

Interesting, thanks. My periods haven’t stopped or gone totally crazy though, and I suppose the anxiety could be caused by something other than hormonal changes. I think that’s why I thought they’d have to do some sort of test before prescribing anything. But I feel like my symptoms are pretty mild and am worried I’ll be seen as a hypochondriac wasting GP time.

You aren't wasting anyone's time if you go in saying what you want.

If you want HRT you have enough symptoms to ask: mood swings, diagnosis of low ovarian reserve, irregular periods. before long you may get hot flushes and sweats.

If you don't want HRT, don't see the dr, wait till your symptoms are worse.

Sorry Jingling I am new to this so don’t know enough about HRT to know if I do want it. I was hoping doctor might recommend something. I’ll do some research. Thanks.

There is a danger they might offer you anti depressants which NICE and all specialist menopause drs know do not help and should not be used for hormone-related mood swings.

Read around- the website of Dr Louise Newson is worth reading.

Op, it might not be peri menopause though, if you’re getting pain when you normally don’t it might be (not saying it is thought) but might be fibroids or endometriosis so always worth visiting your go and presenting your symptoms as they may spot something that you haven’t thought off.

I had those symptoms an 46 , go to the gp for a Hormone , menopause tests - take a blood test. Don’t feel you are wasting anyone’s time NHS there for 😊

As before- no blood tests. They are not accurate because during peri your hormone levels can change hugely from day to day. One day the test might show you are post menopause (mine did) and the next may say you are very fertile.

I had periods for 18 months after a blood test (not specifically for menopause) said I was post menopausal.