What age did you enter perimenopause?

[GreenLunchBox]

Just that really. Im 44 and feel fine at the moment. I didn't really know anything about the condition before and assumed at around 50 periods start to go a bit haywire, you might experience a few hot flushes then your periods hopefully stop (ha!). But now I know peri can go on for years, so can I please ask when did you enter it?

@Workinghardeveryday

What do you consider to ge brain fog?

For me, it was a variety of things. Previously great memory and spelling became quite the opposite. Poor concentration. Doubting myself a lot, sort of absent minded - did I lock the door? Going to feed the cat, having forgotten I already had etc. Hysterectomy 6 weeks ago and started HRT and already feel much more alert and more like my old self.

42. Night sweats, forgetfulness, irregular periods, sore breasts.

I was told perimenopause starts approximately 10 years before your last period.

I've always have very regular periods. Then when I was 40 my periods were still regular but for 6 months my breasts were sore for two weeks before each period instead of one or two days. That settled then recently, 4 years later, I've had a few months of migraines, night sweats and high anxiety. This has also settled. I have noticed however I've had very dry skin, weight gain and lack sleep.

So it's seems for me that my hormones go up and down in waves over the years.

46 when things became noticeably worse.

I have a mirena, but mood swings, awful anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, night sweats, difficulty reaching orgasm, weight not shifting

Now on oestrogel and hoping this will alleviate some of the above

48... mildly... thought I'd be fine and get to the other side reasonably unscathed. But it ramped up into full swing of hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety, aches, pains and hormonal migraines at 52. Went onto HRT and feel more human again.

40/41 - my periods became irregular. I had night sweats. I got prone to ragey outbursts. At the time I put it down to my hormones being a bit wacko once my period returned after DC2 (I felt like I was going through puberty again!), but in hindsight I think I was peri. I’m 45 now and periods are still irregular and I still get ragey when my period arrives, but no other symptoms. So who knows…

Reading through this with interest.
For those of you that say you are through it, how do you know you are?

First symptoms at 38. Full menopause by 45.

I'm 49. I've noticed my periods changing over the last two years. Still regular just heavier. I called my GP for HRT and found her remarkably helpful and was given HRT immediately. I didn't start it straight away. I guess I was in denial. Anyway this month 14 days after my last period what do I get? Another fucking full on period. I'm now on day 3 of my HRT. I feel weepy and short tempered too which I'm putting down to my fluctuating hormones. It wouldn't be the HRT so soon.
My libido fucked off a year ago. I'm not actually bothered if it comes back.

54 & not yet.

How do you all feel on the other side? Give us some hope!

Anxiety from around 43 but the brain fog and hot flushes only kicked in at 46

I'm 45 and have felt a difference for a year maybe two. Weight going on my middle despite same diet and activity level. Periods now come with seriously black moods, which they never used to. Periods are less predictable and the pattern of flow is different. Joints ache.
But getting off lightly compared so some so far.

Recognising much of this.

For me, I'm just 47. Things changed around 43, rock solid cycle suddenly changed. The longest has been 103 days. Not knowing is weird.

I did get anxiety and down thoughts, but I got a grip of that and started taking Menopace which sorted it.

Now I'm due on (day 36 and counting) and I feel hotter more often. But no hot flushes.

If I'm 47 it's only going one way right?

@Furrybutts

Reading through this with interest. For those of you that say you are through it, how do you know you are?

You're classed as full menopause when you haven't had a period for a year.

Just about to start HRT at 46, looking back I think first signs were at 38. Periods still regular but plenty of other symptoms, itching, night sweats, rage, low mood, disengagement, brain fog etc. Cannot wait to start HRT. Don't suffer ladies, if you haven't already check out Davina's meno tv programme, Dr Louise Newson, the Balance app etc. So much information and help out there, it's just not talked about enough. We don't need to just put up with it.

Yes, menopause rocks is another good website.

It is just starting and I'm 37. Had some big random bleeds, but generally cycle and period have got shorter. Tender boobs, brain fog, disrupted sleep, serious premenstrual rage, getting too fucking hot. Didn't think it would happen so soon. Started my period at 11.

Early 40s. I am 62 now, so can’t remember my exact age.

Two words - super. shit.

MrsMo21 sorry to hear that. Really not fair.

36 ish, although I didn't realise and thought I had anxiety, depression, all sorts of other illnesses and conditions, before finally realising early 40s what the pattern was.

TopCatsTopHat
Thank you.
I'm 52 and not had a period for over 2 years now. I haven't had any of the symptoms mentioned on this thread, so wasn't aware peri had even started for me
Maybe I've escaped symptoms. Need to do some reading up.

@GreenLunchBox Early 50s.
I did have 'the rage' a few years before but can't decide if that was all about teenagers at home :)

Periods got slightly shorter by 51. A few missed ones off and on then stopped around 53.

Thanks all. .this is very interesting. I did have a few moments of The Rage a few months ago, and I thought 'oh here we go', but I seem ok at the moment. I do seem to feel achy after sitting at my desk all day whereas I didn't used to. But then again I'm very unfit so perhaps just need to start exercising