GP: ‘You can’t be perimenopausal if you are still having regular periods.’

[BoPeeple]

Is she right? She is the menopause specialist at my surgery and I’ve had three appointments with her for a range of symptoms:

Insomnia
Vaginal dryness
Aching legs and bottom
Other muscles aches

I also have irritability, dry eyes, brittle nails etc.

But I am 40 and still have regular periods, although my cycle now varies between 25 and 31 days. She says that I am too young for perimenopause and as I am still having regular periods it’s very unlikely.

She’s referred me for blood tests for auto immune conditions.

Can anyone set me straight? Do regular periods mean you can’t be perimenopausal?

I feel rubbish and am at the end of my tether.

I had regular periods throughout perimenopause although my cycle did shorten from 28 days to usually 21 (with the occasional longer one thrown in for good measure. I'm 55 now and hoping I am through it after a 6 month course of Zoladex injections to shut down my very stubborn ovaries.

They also became extremely heavy due to fibroids.

I am just 40 and have been peri for a few years. I still have fairly regular periods, although my cycles were becoming increasingly erratic. Dr checked my hormone levels - over a couple of months as they can vary. I have a family history of early meno though, and had private fertility testing which indicated that I was headed the same way. I’ve been on hrt now for about 6 months and it’s been brilliant! Definitely worth trying another gp if you can?

I don’t know if I can try another GP - she’s the ‘menopause specialist’ so apparently knows what she’s doing.

I’ve had vagifem (got a private prescription) for vaginal dryness and it worked brilliantly, so surely this points to menopause rather than an auto immune disease?

I had a similar experience - and my oestrogen levels when they tested were good too. So I was refused HRT. I went private and paid and got HRT and then went back to the GP who will now magically prescribe it for me.

I just think they're a bit ignorant. I was definitely perimenopausal (similar - insomnia, tiredness, aching joints) but GP refused to recognise it.

She's an idiot and totally wrong, of course you can have regular periods when you're peri, in fact most women do. If I were you I'd see a different GP as her blatant lack of knowledge could be harmful to your health.

I'm 51 and my periods are as regular as clockwork but I've got every symptom of menopause going!
I've just filled in an online consultation as I'm done with it all now and need some help.
I always thought that peri menopause is the part when you still have periods but also symptoms and menopause is the bit after periods have stopped so that doesn't sound right at all.
Just been watching This Morning and one woman was explaining that she went straight into surgical menopause due to hysterectomy and ovaries removed and the doctor asked her if she'd had a period since!!!!

Utter nonsense. My periods are still pretty regular (maybe a bit closer together now) and I am definitely peri. I also suffer badly with muscle aches and insomnia. It infuriates me that as well as dealing with all the symptoms, some of us are still having to convince the GPs who are utterly clueless on menopause matters.

I think 'menopause specialist' means she's watched the optional one hour training video for GPs. She'd be better off reading the NICE guidelines and the recent NHS advice. Or watching Davina McCall's C4 documentary.

However it does make sense to rule out (or rule in) issues with thyroid function - although it sounds like she's only checking for inflammatory markers (which don't pick up many autoimmune conditions anyway)?

Thank you all. I sensed she is wrong, but I don’t know how to persuade her! I can’t find much in the NICE guidelines about women under 45 with regular periods but lots of symptoms - it all seems to talk about periods. Maybe I should just lie?!

I really can’t afford to go private so I’m wondering whether to just jump through these hoops, get the blood tests (which I’m pretty sure will be normal as I am otherwise very fit and healthy) and then hopefully she’ll let me try HRT.

I’m a healthy weight, non-smoker, no history of cancer etc so I can’t see it’s going to do me any harm.

It baffles me why she thinks an otherwise healthy 40-year-old is more likely to have an auto immune condition than be in perimenopause…

@SeasonOeufMistes

I think she’s going to check for thyroid too.

The frustrating thing is that she said my symptoms are ‘not the top ones’ for perimenopause and hot flushes and irregular periods would be what she’s looking for.

Talk about tunnel vision…

Can you refer yourself (or be referred) to a private gynae, OP? Might be worth it.

@TellySavalashairbrush

Utter nonsense. My periods are still pretty regular (maybe a bit closer together now) and I am definitely peri. I also suffer badly with muscle aches and insomnia. It infuriates me that as well as dealing with all the symptoms, some of us are still having to convince the GPs who are utterly clueless on menopause matters.

Yes, I feel like I am battling.

Why are they so reluctant to accept that these symptoms are menopause? It’s so odd.

@Chargreen

Can you refer yourself (or be referred) to a private gynae, OP? Might be worth it.

That’s my next step, but I really can’t afford it so I’ve got to try my hardest to get something on the NHS first.

I think you’re right that you are judging peri-menopause. My periods shortened when I was late thirties/early forties. I’m now 48 and whilst I haven’t noticed any changes to my cycles I do have lots of aches and pains and my sleep is pretty poor. So I think I’m probably ‘properly’ peri now and within the next few years will be in a place to approach the doctor for HRT.

I think you have plenty of time yet and your GP doesn’t want you on HRT right now.

*nudging

Can I ask why does it matter so much if the doctor tells you that you are peri menopausal, if you already feel you are?
I hope I don't sound offensive here I'm just wondering. As I also feel like I'm entering the start of peri and a couple of friends have told me to go to the docs about it, but I don't understand why, what can they do about a natural change in your body?

Peri here too, and just finishing my first month of HRT. I think my symptoms started at age 38, I'm now 43, and I am still having frequent periods but they're not what I would call regular. Maybe that's the way to push it OP?

My cycles shortened, and now are between 17 days and 29 days apart. I had a 3 month gap last year too. 2 blood tests showed nothing unusual (apart from the first results being consistent with not having menstruated for 3 months). They told me that was pandemic stress
I have been to the GP 3 times over the last 5 years with various peri-type symptoms and got nowhere, until I called them again last month with a request that they put me on HRT. They didn't even question it really, and my main symptoms were insomnia, brain fog/loss of words/difficulty concentrating. No vaginal dryness and very few hot flushes. All of that said, my Mum went through this in her early 40s, and my grandmother was menopausal by 48. 51 years is an average...it goes without saying that for lots of women it's in our 40s that we feel the burden of symptoms starting.
I am currently being investigated for an auto immune disease, which presents with very different symptoms in my case, but even the consultant I saw said he thought I was a bit young to be taking HRT. The nurse who took my blood pressure for HRT said the doctors don't like to prescribe HRT due to the 'side effects'! So many are clueless, and I think we are better informed than many medical staff. If you're in your 40s and otherwise fit and well, they should be looking to prescribe HRT if that's what you want. My understanding is that (other complicating factors aside/comorbidities etc) there is no disadvantage to taking HRT.
Keep on trying OP! Good luck.

Given that one of the first symptoms on the list for peri is irregular periods, your GP is talking rubbish.

If she is the menopause expert, God help women who see the others there.

Menopause ( total loss of periods) can happen from 45-55. Peri can last for several years before that.

@PeacheyPeach they can prescribe HRT if required.

@PeacheyPeach

Can I ask why does it matter so much if the doctor tells you that you are peri menopausal, if you already feel you are? I hope I don't sound offensive here I'm just wondering. As I also feel like I'm entering the start of peri and a couple of friends have told me to go to the docs about it, but I don't understand why, what can they do about a natural change in your body?

Because I want her to prescribe HRT! I see no reason why I can’t have it but she insists I’m too young to be peri despite many symptoms.

@JinglingHellsBells

It’s truly depressing. She actually runs a menopause clinic in the nearest big town.

@AlwaysaLittleBitTired

The irony is that, if it was found that I had a thyroid issue, they’d prescribe me hormones to fix it. Why are they so reluctant to prescribe HRT when everything is pointing to a lack of oestrogen?

OP I am 10 years older than you and couldn't get my GP to listen to me. She wanted to put me on anti-depressants as an alternative to HRT. I have given up tbh as I cannot bear another telephone call like the last one. ... but in answer to your question yes you can have regular periods and be peri. I have missed one period in the past 12 months and that's it, but I have insomnia, vaginal dryness and other symptoms. I am waiting a while before I go back to another GP.

I have come down to the fact it is all money related. They won't prescribe certain HRT options in my Health Board area (Scotland).

@BoPeeple - exactly that! It's a top up of your own hormones, and has health benefits that will save them money in the long run (all things being equal in terms of your health of course). The contraceptive pill is also freely available. Grr.
You need to be persistent in your calls. If it comes to it, tell her that your periods are irregular. You have all the symptoms, know you're peri - she's not going to check in your waste bin