Mirena peri

[gemini45]

I've had the mirena for 3 years and it's complete changed my periods no bleeding now compared to crippling periods. So how do I know if I'm peri/menopausal and when do I need to look at hormones etc? it's impossible to get a gp apt atm but it's in my mind.

Well I have had a Mirena for ages and I've not needed any hormones or anything yet. Do you actually need anything already, or are you just asking?

HRT is prescribed on the basis of menopause symptoms of which there are loads. If you feel ok then don’t worry about it. If you start feeling anxious, hot, tingly, achey, demotivated, insomniac, etc etc (not necessarily even more than one of those things if it is really bothering you) then consider if it might be related to menopause.

If you need estrogen you'll know! I have Mirena and estrogen for peri and I absolutely know if the estrogen bit is too low. My peri symptoms (insomnia, anxiety, depression, rage, aches) all come back if I don't maintain the estrogen dose. So I wouldn't worry about it until it becomes an issue for you.

To answer your question about peri, the Mirena definitely makes it harder to tell if you haven't got other symptoms, because doctors always ask about when your last period was/if they are less regular etc. I haven't really had any other symptoms but in my 50s now I assume I'm peri at the very least, but no other way to tell.

I'm on the POP and also don't have periods so wondered how I would tell.

Symptoms for me were hot flushes, not being able to sleep at night and accumulating a large number of musculoskeletal issues.

I think I put up with about 2 weeks of hot flushes before I had had enough, it was only in hindsight I realised everything else.

It was difficult as my GP was hung up on when my last period was, and despite explaining several times, he then switched to 'so you have finished having periods' which wasn't true either.

I gave up and went private, which TBH I'm glad about as the private pharmacy has been a lot better at sourcing the meds during the shortage, even though I do object to ending up there.

I've had mirena since I was 35 and am now 52 have not had a period in that time.

Started with hot flushes , night sweats and anxiety/low mood and insomnia last year and things got unbearable around Christmas. Broke down in tears on the GP.

( I'd put mist of it down to stress as going though a difficult time and just thought yeh hot flushes were something we have to deal with at my age )

Am now on HRT and have been referred to have mirena replaced as it's coming to end of life so need a new one to make sure my hormones are balanced.

Feel almost normal again after 6 weeks of HRT

Since discovered my GP surgery does an e consult for menopause so may be worth seeing if that's an option?