Is the Perimenopause like an orgasm?!

[ILikeTrains]

i.e - if you're not sure you're having it then you're definitely not having it?

I'm of peri age and have put on weight, am a bit achy and grumpy/miserable, have developed fun chin hairs but am still having regular periods.

How do you know when you're perimenopausal? Do you ever know for sure?

Mine started with mood changes. Then night sweats. Then urinary incontinence.

I'm pretty sure you'd know, but you might be one of the people who doesn't get obvious symptoms.

I'm not too sure tbh, but have had a couple of instances of night sweats, also have gained a couple of the fun chin hairs - and had a dream about being on the loo trying to force out a wee and woke up soaked 🤦🏻‍♀️ I'm also getting towards that age so figure might be time to visit the gp to see what's occurring as I'm still having regular periods xx

I'd say not at all because it sneaks up on you and comes and goes, rarely a big bang. It likes to masquerade as other issues and make you think you are going mad.

More likely to be something that you look back on later and realise what it was all about.
Like the opposite of an orgasm.

I definitely feel different, fatter, tired, chin hairs and generally can't be assed. Memory has also gone to shut!

None of those sound particularly like menopause symptoms to me OP, except maybe the grumpiness. Just ageing I think? I've had chin hairs since my 30s!

I agree, it creeps up on you. I'm definitely perimenopausal but looking back it started about 4 years ago but I could have put it down to all sorts of things. A few lifestyle tweaks have really helped.

It’s generally around or before the same age as your mum hit menopause.

I never been not sure I’m having an orgasm to be fair 😂

Mood swings, panic attacks, feelings of doom, not sleeping, rage, being clumsy... Then periods change. I put on a lot of weight very quickly. If you are lucky you will still be able to have an orgasm!

Hmmm, okay, thanks. I'm 50 next year, so definitely in the right age bracket. And a lot of those symptoms I've always had anyway - I've always been a poor sleeper, and been at the mercy of my hormonal mood swings. I just want a definitive sign, which I know doesn't exist. I just can't wait for the time when I no longer have to worry about periods.

Same as you OP. I'm 50 in 6 months 😱. Still getting regular periods but they are heavier (always been very light). Very down in my mood, can't be arsed with anything. I had a few night sweats but not currently (too cold!). My mum was more like late 50s and I think it lasted about 10 years, the irritability, low mood etc. Used to drive me bananas. She's mid 70s now and much nicer. Not sure I can wait that long though.

Its not like an orgasm its like a large lecreuset saucepan round the back of the head.

I got excited when I saw LeCrueset - who knew the menopause could be swanky....then you go and whack it round my head😆

It depends what you are after: inner feeling for yourself or the reason to see GP. I’m in similar situation, I still got periods but very irregular. Hot flushes started a few weeks ago now I officially in the peri stage from NHS pov because there are other reasons I can attribute poor sleep, weight gain and mood changes to but not hot flushes.

Christ, 10 years!
Why can't they speed that shit up? I don't want to savour it, for Christ sake. I'm fairly sure I'm just starting this magical, mystical journey - I have a dr appointment soon. The fact that they can't really confirm it and have no idea how long it will last really is just peachy.

😂Who knew.

For a moment there I thought this was about the menopausal sex surge which some of us can experience 🙃.

We're all different in terms of age it starts (well into 50s for me) and what symptoms, if any, we have. It can come on gradually or for some women all at once. A mirena coil can put a stop to periods or lighten them but then we might not know when they're stopped naturally and we've gone through menopause.

it's usually not needed to see a GP to diagnose menopause if over 45 as we just go on symptoms as attached unless you're wanting support with it eg HRT to help with symptoms or lifestyle measures menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=16056

Its not like an orgasm its like a large lecreuset saucepan round the back of the head

😂 fabulous middle class description.

The thing about the periods is that although I don’t want them it’s so odd when they’re late / missing. I’m so programmed to expect them that when they don’t show up on time I’m alarmed.

I've just realised I've been having symptoms for a couple of years. Put them all down to a mix of unrelated issues.

A few weeks ago I suddenly had a "penny dropping" moment that it could be peri and looking back I'm shocked it's taken me so long to realise

I'm booked into get a blood test from my GP which can apparently diagnose (by checking hormone levels). I'm only 40 tho - suspect I'm peri but my mum had her last period at 43

@nc1013 a blood test can and it can't tell.

Your horomone levels vary massively during the day.

Ah ok...I've to get my blood tested twice 2 weeks apart. Tbh the GP said it was as much about ruling out everything else as it was for diagnosing peri.

I've had the mirena coil for a couple for extremely heavy periods so I've got no cycle to judge it by. Hopefully I can get come kind of confirmation/treatment 🤞🏼

My main current symptom is very irregular periods. I had a few weeks where I got hot flushes.
All the other symptoms have come and gone over the last few years and I don't know how you know to attribute them to peri.
Night sweats - was also on anti depressants so could have been them.
Aching joints - could be age or over doing the exercises. How do you mood it's not arthritis?
Moods - always been prone to being stroppy. Peri or just pissed off?
Brain fog - that this can happen during peri has just made me anxious at work. I am doing everything I can to avoid any of my colleagues thinking or suggesting that any mistakes I might make could be down to my age. Maybe that anxiety itself is peri!

I did a long run today and (TMI) I got a sore fanny. I pop my mooncup in when I run which helps with pelvic floor issues, but maybe the downside is that it's also stopping the natural lubrication which would prevent soreness. Peri or just one of those days.

I can't be doing with it all to be honest.

Interrupted sleep has been happening for years but again I had a period of depression.
No weight gain.

Tbf I didn’t twig I was peri until the HRT kicked in and I stopped being an emotional wreck with horrendous mood swings and crippling anxiety. I’d never had a night sweat or hit flush, periods hadn’t really changed but the change on HRT (due to total hysterectomy) was pretty instant.