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.

Glad you got to speak to a doctor and they were reassuring about the likelihood of auto-immune disease. I'm sure they will get the the bottom of whatever is causing your symptoms, try not to lose hope

@BoPeeple i know it’s an old thread but I wondered if you got your HRT and how it’s worked out for you? I’ve been fobbed off for years that my symptoms are not peri - they are much the same as you wrote.

i am 41 and on HRT. I had regular but increasingly erratic periods plus lots of other symptoms. My gp was lovely and agreed I might be peri and could try HRT but had to refer me to the early menopause clinic as I’m under 45. I did make it known that my mother had menopause at 45 and osteoporosis which I think meant they took me more seriously. She did the standard set of blood test which showed no issues with hormones unsurprisingly. Whilst waiting for an appointment at the EMC (took ages) I forked out for a private DUTCH test which did show I have low oestrogen levels, similar to those of a woman near menopause.
The EMC were great and did another set of tests which confirmed my ovarian reserve showed close to menopause. Explains all my fertility problems!
They prescribed HRT and so far so good. They also referred me for a bone density scan and that was fine thankfully.
Your GP sounds lazy and ignorant in this area.