Peri I think - no idea what I'm meant to do.

[SlightlyJaded]

I think I'm in Peri but no idea and noone to talk to or advise. Wondering if someone here can help.

I've just come off the phone with my GP who I called after six miserable months of feeling awful. I've just turned 50 and haven't had a period for eight months and was trying to just 'get on with it' but threw the towel in today. Symptom are the usual: tired, weight gain, tearful, dryness, headaches and I've had a few hot episodes but they aren't regular. but, for me, the worst is the aches and pains. I feel like every joint/bone/muscle is stiff and sore all the time and I"m taking ibuprofen every day.

GP said sounded like Peri and I could either have anti D's (no thanks), go straight onto HRT (no idea) or try a supplement like Black Cobosh and see how I get on.

The only friend i have who is older than me swears by bioidentical hormone treatment but this is only available privately and I don't think i can afford it. However, if this IS the holy grail or treatments, i might be able to find a way by finding a saving elsewhere in my life.

I literally have no idea how to make that kind of decision. Do I get a blood test to at least confirm it? Or can that fluctuate depending on hormones? I have googled all morning but there is so much contradictory advice. Any clear wisdom would be much appreciated.

I'd take up the GP's offer of HRT and ask for oestrogel gel plus utrogestan, which seems to be the gold standard and is offered on the NHS. Both medications are synthesised from yams, and body identical, so very 'natural'. Act now, don't wait as the symptoms can become worse.

The bioidentical thing is a bit of a red herring.

If you're on Instagram follow the menopausedoctor, aka Lousie Newson, who also has an app called Balance. Lots of information there. The menopausematters forum is also really helpful.

Here's a video, too! :)

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/the-difference-between-body-identical-and-bioidentical-hormones

just go for HRT. I am on oestrogel and utrogestan and it's been brilliant.

Do have a blood test which will show if you are producing any ova.

You could try natural medicine and something for your aches and pains - calcium, magnesium, vit D - glucosamine and MSM. It's important to maintain good health. Do weight bearing exercise, walking is excellent. Use a ph balanced lubricant.

Anything that helps you relax is good but avoid much alcohol and if you smoke, give it up.

HRT for a while would probably make you feel better; I'm not a believer in taking it long term and it gave me migraines so I came off it but I am not you. I was about your age when I started and came off at 52 - and was fine though flushes recurred but nothing I couldn't handle.

You'll get through this. Good luck.

Blood tests aren't needed any more. HRT is prescribed on the basis of symptoms. Tired, weight gain, tearful, dryness, headaches and episodes all count.

taking HRT long term if there are no reasons why not to medically is absolutely fine.

Same here, I don’t quite know what to do. Fast heart rate nearly all the time, forgetful all of a sudden, hot (but not flushes yet). Just feel odd. Am 45 with my second mirena so haven’t had a period for about 8 years. My mum was this age too. Seen magnesium recommended so going to try that.

Try vagifem for vaginal dryness

Look at balance app

All the recommendations so far sound good

I have found diet has helped and exercise- did couch to 5k but too much pounding for me so back to swimming 🏊‍♂️

I am holding off HRT at moment but I will not rule it out in future

Good luck, there is no one size fits all, GP's (even female ones) seem largely ignorant ime ☹️

Thanks all.

The oestrogel gel plus utrogestan gel recommended twice in seven posts is encouraging - I'll have a read up on that.

I knew it was coming but feel completely clueless and ill prepared. I don't really drink - a couple of glasses of wine a week, if that, and I don't smoke. I have put on weight (no scales but up from a size 12 to a size 16 in the last two years) but have been 5:2ing for a few months now to try and get on top of it. I am not a particularly active person but walk the dog every day for an hour or more, I ride my bike locally and cycle with the dog on the weekend (only about 5 or 6 miles) and I play tennis once a week. But lately, even these gentle and not very demanding exercises have felt so hard due to general aches and pains. Would the oestrogel gel plus utrogestan help in that department?

I think the main thing is that I wasn't sure if I was meant to go on HRT during Peri or wait for full blown menopause (and i don't really understand the difference) as I hear conflicting views about how long it's safe to take it and the wonders (or not) of biodentical treatments.

The only friend i have who is older than me swears by bioidentical hormone treatment but this is only available privately and I don't think i can afford it. However, if this IS the holy grail or treatments, i might be able to find a way by finding a saving elsewhere in my life.

Your friend is mistaken, or confused, sadly. Bio-identical HRT is not licensed in the UK. It's made 'for' the woman in a private lab. It's not safe as the dose can be inaccurate.

If you friend means estradiol made from yams,(usually Oestrogel) and micronised progesterone (Utrogestan) also made from yams, that is available on the NHS in prescribed, licensed doses and it's that stuff that the other posters use (and me.)

I think the main thing is that I wasn't sure if I was meant to go on HRT during Peri or wait for full blown menopause (and i don't really understand the difference) as I hear conflicting views about how long it's safe to take it and the wonders (or not) of biodentical treatments.

It's not really about meant - it's your choice what you use and when. You can use HRT for symptoms whenever they start. I didn't start will I was almost 53, and my periods had almost stopped (think I had a couple after starting HRT.)

Menopause or post menopause is when you have not had a period for 12 months.
Before that you are in peri.

You can use HRT for life- as long as you need it and it's benefiting you. 10% of women never see the end of flushes and other symptoms so keep on using it till they are 80 or 90.

Bio-identical is a marketing term which makes some women think they are getting some 'special' when they aren't. Bio-identical is either hrt made in a private lab and not safe/ licensed OR the woman mis understand and what they are getting is body-identical HRT ( Oestrogel and Utrogestan) which the NHS offers.

Just try hrt. Not sure what the issue is? Is it because you think you start it at menopause? That's not the case. You start it in peri. I started at 46, still regular periods etc.

Get a thyroid test - my DM was fobbed off for years with “its your age/meno/to be expected” but it turned out she had an under active thyroid. Mine was also missed post-natally. Times of hormonal upheaval are prime time for thyroid issues so it could well be both but definitely make sure you get some blood tests done. They seem so keen to hand out ADs as a first port of call these days, despite their many side effects, when treating the cause instead of the symptom could save women years of misery.

This thread has been brilliantly helpful. Thank you all so much. My take outs are:

I'm going to get a blood test - not because I need to - but to be sure that my symptoms are down to meno and not a thyroid issue.

I'm going to stop infatuating over Biodenticals and now understand a little better, the nuances and the way that they have been marketed suggests that they are poles apart from anything that the NHS can offer, when in fact they are just a variation - and an unregulated one at that.

My last question: Can anyone recommend a herbal/natural supplement to help with the aches and pains until I have a definite plan? Or perhaps as an ongoing help with this particular issue? Would the Black Cohosh help? I don't think it does.... Any 'all in one' that anyone has had any luck with in alleviating feeling so stiff and rigid, much appreciated.

Cummin capsules and magnesium should help with aches, pains and sleep.

I did some research on peri so I take magnesium, Vit B6 and taurine, taking them overall e reduced my symptoms so I would take those. Cummin is recommended for arthritis sufferers so def worth trying too.

There seems to be some confusion between bioidentical and body identical HRT.

Here's my understanding of the types available:

• Synthetic HRT - old fashioned HRT, made of pregnant mare's urine, no idea if this is still prescribed by GPs

• Body identical HRT - made to match human hormones, from natural substances, should be prescribed by GPs, is definitely prescribed by menopause clinics. But is sometimes confusingly referred to as bioidentical.

• Bio identical - also made from natural ingredients but made by compounding chemists (rather than big companies). Some say this is untested and unlicensed. Others says it's the same stuff as body identical made in a more bespoke way, tailored to the individual.

I'm still VERY confused about whether true bioidentical is unsafe or great. A friend of mine recommended the Marion Gluck clinic in London, apparently that's where all the celebs go, but they offer bioidentical.

I don't take any of it (yet), I'm still in the research phase!

I got some curcumin and a meno 'all rounder' today from my health shop. I already take Vit D and will add B6 to that and see how I get on. I'll report back in case it's useful to anyone else.

I'm thinking of it as buying time or going for a 'first approach' before I go to the GP for some kind of prescription. I've stopped worrying about bioidenticals.

Yes, please come back and let us know how you get on!

I think I'm starting to get into peri (49, periods clockwork until last month when I had two and now this month a week late!) Feeling warmer generally than usual. But worried about HRT if symptoms become unbearable - I've read that there are increasing risks of heart issues and breast cancer. So at the moment I'm thinking no way to HRT (but then I said no to no pain relief during childbirth and I'm still cross with myself as it was too late by the time I caved in!). So difficult!

My last question: Can anyone recommend a herbal/natural supplement to help with the aches and pains until I have a definite plan?

My friend swears by Chinese medicine treatments for Meno. Says they're a zillion times more effective than western solutions.