Could I be experiencing perimenopause and is there any standard medical pathway for women through the perimenopause and menopause in the UK?

[PeriPeri21]

I'm 46, my periods are still completely regular but over the last couple of years I have been experiencing waves of extreme levels of anger and a lot of sleep disruption (get to sleep fine, then wake up a few hours later). I'm not sure whether I am getting hot flushes - I get hot and sweaty when going through the anger waves but am not sure if that is just the body's reaction to anger.

Could I be experiencing perimenopause if my periods are still very regular or must this be something else?

Is there any standard approach to perimenopause and menopause in the UK (NHS)? I have read accounts from women talking about their doctors measuring their hormone levels as they start to reach this time of their life and then planning with them how this will be managed - but I'm pretty sure these were accounts from US women with private medical care. Is it normal to go to your GP for support as you go through perimenopause/menopause in the UK? Is there a standard process if you do? Or do women only go if they are experiencing severe problems, get very hit-and-miss support and generally just have to try to get through it on their own?

43 here. Periods still regular but anxiety for a week before coming on is unbearable this last year.

Following with interest.

Latte Lounge Facebook group are great for this. Clear info about what to tell/expect from GP.

It's normal to go to GP if you're experiencing symptoms that are causing you problems. You could be peri menopausal, or it could be something else I recently and got excellent support from GP for peri symptoms.
This is the UK guidance to familiarise yourself with.
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

(am beginning to wonder if making multiple typos on short posts is an as-yet undocumented symptom...)

Blood tests are only usually done if you are below average age for meno, other wise they should just prescribe based on symptoms.

The hardest thing seems to be finding a GP who knows the NICE guidelines - I’ve been very lucky, and the gp I spoke to was absolutely brilliant.

I’m only 40, so considered early for meno, but knew my egg reserves and hormone levels were low due to infertility investigations. Gp did hormone testing over a couple of months, then prescribed hrt. Only been on it 4 months, and am still adjusting dose, but I feel so much better!

Thank-you so much for posting those NICE guidelines.

I’m 41 and was experiencing horrendous levels of anxiety the week before my period. I was waking up in the middle of the night covered in sweat with my mind racing and anxiety through the roof.

What really worked for me is magnesium supplements. My anxiety has actually vanished and I can think straight again. Might be worth giving it a go.

@PeriPeri21 Do you live in the UK or the US? Just wondering as you compare the two.

If you have symptoms, you should see your GP if you are wanting hrt or other forms of medication to help.

There is a lot of information on the BMS website and videos- these are linked to in a thread I stated a week or so back. I will bump it back up for you.

Thank-you for all the responses. I'm in the UK @JinglingHellsBells