Peri menopause and breastfeeding - is it possible

[MabelMoo23]

Hi, I’m wondering whether or not I’m starting to suffer symptoms of peri menopause? Thing is, I’m still breastfeeding, so wondering if even possible, or is it, in fact the breastfeeding that is making me feel like this?

For background, I’m 43, 44 in a couple of months, still breastfeeding a 2.5 year old but despite still having regular periods (although admittedly very light) I’ve definitely got symptoms that potentially might fit.

Night sweats - I can feel the sweat dripping down me and I wake up literally drenched
Hot flashes - likewise with the sweat,
Very thin hair at the front now
Zero sex drive. Nada. Zilch. In my head I want it, I really do, but my body is saying no chance. I feel awful for my husband - I have absolutely no libido and every day kick myself and think “I must make more of an effort”
Likewise vaginal dryness, I am SO dry, it’s like the Sahara down there. On a night where I think “right, come on, let’s do this” I have to apply lube before bed
Fatigue - am so so tired and unmotivated- but is that just because I have a 4 year old and 2 year old and I’m 43?
Digestive issues - have seen a few of you mention this, and actually recently I’ve had to speak to GP about constant diarrhoea, I still have it now. Blood tests were done for IBD, but nothing, so he said probably IBS

I’ve booked a doctors appointment, asking for a GP who specialises in women’s health, but am I going to get fobbed off as I’m still breastfeeding?

My Mum actually went through the menopause at 35, and I had a FSH test last year (as I was suffering back then) but it was fine

I listened to Michelle Obama’s podcast today about menopause , and simply by chance, another one with Louise Newton, and I cried as both sounded so much like what I was going through

Am I going to get fobbed off though? Anyone here peri menopausal and breastfeeding?

Can anyone help at all?

Can’t help with the breast feeding and peri but all of what you’ve mentioned could be peri. You can ask for Vagifem to help the dryness.

I did bf between the ages of 42 - 45 and I do feel physically better once I stopped but that just my experience.

I think the thing to watch out for with your GP is that they don’t try to prescribe you antidepressants for hormone problems. I’d think that blood tests would be needed to eliminate any other causes. Also ask for your vitamin D to be checked as low Vit D can cause all sorts of low level physical and health problems.

Yes, you could be BUT breast feeding also lowers estrogen (which is why some women don't conceive if they are breast feeding- it's nature's contraceptive.) So at your age is likely to be a bit of both ( peri and BF.)

Menopause age is also hereditary usually, give or take a year or so, though there are exceptions ( 2 friends had mums like yours but they weren't post meno till 51 and 47.)

Thanks both. I just can’t believe how dreadful I feel. So exhausted, plus also forgot to mention my joints hurt - can’t even open some bottles or the cat food bag.

Got my appointment booked so will see, but good point about not being fobbed off with antidepressants.

I’m just concerned about her (female GP specialising in women’s health) being focused on the breastfeeding

Honestly, I think you'll only know when you stop breastfeeding. Which isn't to say that you should, but I imagine given the age of your youngest it won't be very long. From my experience of breastfeeding until 40, I felt much much worse when I first stopped (had had a lot of the same issues as you with exhaustion, bone-crushing fatigue and dryness), which was pretty shit. Like you I had also gone straight from one breastfeeding experience to a second pregnancy, so was doing one or other for four years.

After about six months, in which I became seriously depressed, I started to get spots, greasy hair, vaginal dryness went away, it was like a mini second-puberty. Cycles became more heavy (redder blood, before was sort of watery and pink) and irregular, and I wasn't sure if this was a different aspect of the perimenopause. But I think probably not. A year on cycles are about 28 days, painful (completely painless while breastfeeding) and honestly not much different to in my mid-30s. (In 20s they were more like 35 days.)

So I feel as if I'm not perimenopausal anymore, if that makes sense. And that's a good feeling, not because I want more children but there seemed to be something a bit depressing about having children so late in life that I was thrown into menopause by it.

I think I carried on breastfeeding for too long because every time DS weaned off a little more I felt worse. I would watch out for that and consider acupuncture or something else to help balance out your hormones when you do stop.