42 no period since May

[Mincepies76]

Title says it all. Bloods say I'm not peri menopausal but my periods have been stupidly irregular for the last 18 months or so. When I do have a period it hangs around about 10 days.
Anyone experience the same? Is it worth seeing the Dr again?

Blood tests are useless for peri as your hormones are fluctuating so much, you could have widely varied results on any given day, Gps should know this ( eyeroll). Nice guidelines say symptoms should be treated regardless of blood results. You should definitely see your doctor if this is not normal for you. Peri is not predictable and this could just be a blip and your cycle may settle down again. As you are only 42 this is classed as premature meno and you may need hrt to protect your bones, heart and brain.

Thank you, that's good to know. Don't want to be making a fuss if it's nothing!

I was diagnosed with early meno at 41 with almost regular but very light periods. Have you meno symptoms? If yes you will need an expert and hrt to protect your health.

I have difficulty sleeping and night sweats but that's about it. I think I will make a Dr appointment just to run it past them 🙂

Hi I disagree with the reply from @rosie39forever. According to NICE guidelines you should have blood tests if you present with peri menopausal symptoms before the age of 45. After 45 you don't need blood tests and would be treated one symptoms alone. If you are menopausal you should start HRT for early menopause.

Saw the doc today. She says this is menopause related. Didn't advise HRT but to come back if struggling...which I'm not. Feel tired a lot, difficulty sleeping and a bit hot sometimes...and itchy, but ok!
Might take a supplement

"Feel tired a lot, difficulty sleeping and a bit hot sometimes."

Is that not struggling?

Blood tests for peri-menopause are extremely unreliable. HRT is a lifesaver.

www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

Not 'premature' after 40. Just 'early' loads of people have it in their early 40's.

Get on the HTT ASAP.

*HRT!

I feel a bit confused. I guess I am peri menopausal rather than menopausal? She said you're menopausal if you've had no periods for 2 years in your 40's and 1 year in your 50's?? My hormone levels are still normal. Talked about pros and cons of HRT. Do you only take it once you're periods have stopped for good?

No, you can start HRT while you still have periods. Trust me, your hormone levels are not "normal", your symptoms are proof of that.

Just giving you my experience. I was 42 and hadn't had a period for a few months. As per NICE guidelines blood tests should be performed in women under the age of 45 who experience menopausal symptoms (like erratic periods). I had no other symptoms at all.
My first set of blood tests were normal and as previous posters have said, blood tests can be unreliable. Muy periods returned for a bit but then I missed some again so went back to GP and this time my hormone test showed I was peri menopausal.
As I was under 45, as per NICE guidance, I started HRT. HRT is recommended for early menopause even if you have few symptoms to protect your heart and bones from the effects of lack of oestrogen.

I'm concerned that even although your GP thinks you are peri they haven't recommended HRT. This will purely replace the hormones your body should be producing naturally and the risks are minimal.

I agree with @Aquamarine1029. Your hormone levels aren't normal as you don't have periods!

@mincepies76

See another GP.

Yours sounds clueless.

There are TWo main types of HRt available

1 for women still having periods

2 for women not having periods

it's as simple as that.

It doesn't matter if you do not have all the symptoms of menopause . You have erratic cycles.

This means that every cycle you miss, you will not produce estrogen as you ought to at 42.

The consequences of this are that in 10 or 15 years time, your bones might have thinned and you may have osteoporosis. Later in life you may have heart issues. These are the two main long term diseases caused by early loss of normal levels of estrogen.

It's better to play safe and use HRT up to 50-ish even without symptoms as your body needs estrogen.

You could take the Pill instead which is often prescribed for younger women like you as it has higher levels of hormones than HRT.

I'm tempted by hrt but lot of people I know got breast cancer after taking it. Like the pill it's synthetic hormones surely cant be good long term?