Perimenopause and polycystic ovaries PCOS

[StripyTrousers]

Just a quick question for those with PCOS and who have experienced perimenopause.
i have had PCOS for 30 years ( very hairy with periods every 31-38 days, no medication).
I am clearly entering perimenopause ( altered mood, dry vagina, right age) but my periods are getting more frequent ( when most of the literate suggest they get less!!!)
last cycles have been
28days, 28 , 28, 28, 28, now 24.
Never been so text book.
So questions to any other ladies out there who have been through it with PCOS

• what happens to frequency of periods?
• when in menopause will I be even more hairy than I am now?
• how does the whole HRT work with PCOS
• any other pearls of wisdom.

Many thanks

I can’t offer a lot of advice/answers, as I’m just starting on this journey too (yay 🙄!). However, I just wanted to say that I have lost a week off of my cycle (I was every 5wks, now I’m every 4wks), and they last three days from start to finish (usually, it was 5-6 days). It feels very weird, as I have been so regular for many years

Re: increase in body hair, I haven’t heard of that being the case, but I’m happy to be told I’m wrong. Some women have said their leg hair/armpit hair has decreased greatly, but not sure if this would apply to women with PCOS (I hope so!).

I have PCOS and am mid forties my periods have gone from an average of approx every 31 days to every 26

I've had pcos since a teen (not diagnosed till TTC mid 30s but acne, very irregular periods since puberty). I'm 63 now so well the other side of menopause.

I was on the pill (Marvelon) till I was 51 and then when the gp twigged I was over 50 and stopped it, I had a few periods very spaced out but that was sort of 'normal' for me. I didn't have too bad a menopause, haven't had any medication apart from Vagifem (go and ask for that now, OP, no point letting it start atrophying before treating!).
I've never had hair issues - hair on head hasn't thinned, body hair was never an issue and possibly thinned a bit.

But the acne is gone!

I am 56 and had my last period 6 months ago.

I had 3 - 5 periods a year until I had my children. After children my cycle was monthly. Age 53-55 I had a lot of periods, very heavy, flooding, periods could last 3 weeks, then 2 weeks later another period. No pain though. Finally stopped having periods age 56. Maybe try period pants? My DD loves hers.

No increase in hairiness. Now I find my leg hair and private’s have less hair. Chin hair has been consistent since my teens, no increase.

Not on hrt. I tried the contraceptive pill for a couple of weeks in my late 20s and the experience was so bad (I cried non stop and became a zombie) that I don’t trust anyone with my hormones!

Unfortunately I suspect every woman’s experience will be different. I tried googling PCOS and the menopause 3 or 4 years ago and couldn’t find any information.

Age 50 - 56 was tough (libido went to zero and all the usual menopause stuff) but I am finally through it and feel so much happier. I have a stone to lose (I am in healthy bmi but my tummy is very big) and I am week 7 C25K. New lease of life.

My top tip is to monitor your weight and fitness or it will be a huge mountain to climb. Get as much sleep as you can.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in my mid 30s. I hardly ever had a period - maybe a couple a year.
Then from the age of 48 to 56 I had regular monthly periods - like clockwork.
Never identified myself as being in "perimenopause", but I am now menopausal as no periods for 2.5 years.
Never taken HRT, and never will.
Haven't needed to see a GP for 20+ years (since the PCOS referral).
Actually all pretty straightforward, tbh.
I guess the only thing you can deduce is that everyone is different.

Pcos diagnosed in late teens. Was on pill until ttc. Periods then were anything from 45-120 days apart. Clomid for dc1. Periods then became more frequent, albeit still irregular- roughly 33-55 days. Pregnant second time by luck.

Post dc 2, Periods irritatingly regular (years of not being able to get pregnant and now suddenly it was predictable?! Drove me mad) at around 33 days. Easy weight gain still the main issue for me. Metformin helped to prevent weight gain, but totally useless for weight loss. Stopped taking it around 41.

Then slowly, as Peri kicked in, cycle has shifted. Flooding... oh my god the flooding. Also cycle now closer to 28 days but had been as short as 25. Hasn't been longer than 30 in months.

Started hrt a year ago. Menopause specialist who decided I should have oestrogen and progesterone but progesterone day14-28 which I think is unusual?

Hrt has hugely helped overall and overall the last couple of months my period has been overall heavier but without the flooding. Cycle length still a bit erratic. Other symptoms, particularly sleep and mood swings are hugely improved. I have not gained weight, but losing it still seems hard.

Thank you for your responses.
It does sound like periods can become more regular / nearer 28 days in the years before menopause ( which just feels weird when you have a life with a different cycle).
Will just have to wait and see how long this next phase lasts…