Could this be perimenopause?

[Ineedamuchbiggerhouse]

Bit long, and a bit TMI, sorry!
I've just turned 40, I've been having what the GP dismissed as "mittelschmerz" since my last pregnancy 4 years ago, when afterwards I had a coil fitted and then removed. I also went on the pill for a while. The mittelschmerz only starts though when I'm off all hormonal contraception. It seems to start a few months in after I stop hormones. I've been putting up with it, it's not that bad but last couple of months it seems so much worse. My entire pelvic region seems inflamed, I have a big bloaty pot belly. My bladder and bowels feel compressed somehow and I feel urgency to pee but then there's hardly anything when I go. Passing stools is also uncomfortable and I feel a bit constipated although I know I'm not if that makes any sense? I also have low back pain. The whole area feels so uncomfortable constantly and it's a bit similar to being on my period but actually probably worse discomfort wise. I've felt like this for a week now. Sorry this bit is probably TMI but I seem to be overproducing ewcm too, that's also been going on for several days now.

I had a US scan maybe 2 years ago when I raised it with the GP, which was found normal, but i know ovaries are notoriously difficult to visualise.

Am I worrying too much about this? Is it just the start of perimenopause? I know there can be a bit of a fertility spike in the years leading up to it, is it just that happening? Am starting to wonder if I should go back to GP but I feel like a hypochondriac

Any similar experiences to this please?
Thanks for reading if you got this far

If it is only like this around ovulation time, then yes, it does seem to get a bit worse in your forties, in my experience. The heavier production of the c.m as welI sounds familiar. I had a couple of days mid month when I was a bit constipated, but your symptoms sound more extreme than mine. Bloating sounds like really severe inflammation. You might need another scan just to put your mind at rest. I think the hospitals are doing the routine gynae stuff again.

My GP explained that when you get into your 40s, your ovaries are absolutely pummelled with hormones trying to stimulate the release of an egg. I recall some months when the pain was really quite bad. Perhaps you just have very sensitive ovaries OP! Good luck.