So apparently I am not perimenopausal! Help!

[filthypride]

For 4 years I've been told that my exceptionally irregular cycle, long cycles, short cycles and everything in between has been due to perimenopause, but now, I'm told it's not because I had a hormone test done in mid August 2023 and that was fine. At the point I'd not had a period since June...

WTF else is going on because I'm so confused....
Please see the pics of bloods and my crazy irregular cycle!

How old are you? Hormone tests aren't necessarily the best because hormones go up and down a lot. To get an accurate (ish) picture you'd need your be off HRT and have a few blood tests over a month or so.
If you are peri menopausal age then doctors usually go by symptoms for HRT and there are lots of symptoms that aren't the expected hot flushes. Unfortunately those symptoms can fit lots of other conditions, which is why it's hard to tell.

Have they explored other potential causes for your cycle up he as it is?

Have you had an internal scan, mine showed up a massive polyp on my cervix? . This was removed and I had a coil fitted and it really helped my ridiculously frequent periods.

Peri meno can't be confirmed by blood tests.

Read up on here, menopause matters, lousie newson etc.

Peri meno and meno is treated based on symptoms. You can ask for a trial of HRT to treat your symptoms.

Peri meno can't be confirmed by blood tests. They can be indicative of it though.

They can certainly check for high FSH levels, which is a good indicator - as per the British Menopause Society.

lol so you’re cycles are all over the place but you’re not peri? Yeh ok! Do you have any other symptoms?

I'm 48.

Do I have any other symptoms. Well, I had about 4 months of hot flushes then they randomly stopped (daytime) I still wake up most nights dripping. Bone pain is a newer one, I am ooching and ouching all the time, especially at nights. Headaches, I'm already anxious so that's not new, as are the moods, standard me!!!! Facial hair growing at the speed of light, can't sleep (max 2 hours), zero sex drive and my hair was falling out so much last week I went from waist length hair to chin length bob!

They always seem to say it’s not peri. It’s a joke how little they seem to understand about peri/menopause.

If you are 45 the nice guidelines require them NOT to use blood tests.

Have you taken a look at the figures? Have I read it correctly that your fsh is 74? If yes surely that’s out of range?

have you had your thyroid tested?

The whole POINT of peri is that your hormones are all over the place! A single test on a random day won't tell them anything.

Go back to GP, refer to prescribing guidelines and ask for HRT. If your symptoms improve (mine did dramatically within less than a week) then hey presto it's peri.

I thought that too - it is sky high, isn't it?

As far as I remember, they need to do the blood test twice, a fortnight apart.

I recently had bloods tests as I think I'm peri. My hormones were normal levels but my Dr said this doesn't mean I'm not peri as they're not reliable. I've been given folic acid to take for 3 months and if my symptoms don't approve I've to start discussions about HRT.

over 45 don’t need blood tests and can have her on request

i had no test for mine and just asked based on symptoms

Your FSH is 74! You are 100% perimenopausal! (Am a medical professional)

OP, my FSH was 29 and I was told I was near menopausal. I was 45 yrs old when I started HRT.

I found I had to be quite firm with the GP. One even told me to go Vegan, as plant based food has natural oestrogen in it.
Not a chance I said lol! The day, I discussed my blood work, that was the day I got prescribed HRT. Which has been great 😊

@pico1

Wow...didn't even realise that was high...thought it was normal.

This is copied from my records..

fsh/lh in aug were wnl- so not even perimenopause-this degree of thickening is acceptable-

I am guessing WML means within normal limits.

Sorry WNL... Not WML.

Anything over about 15 suggests that your ovaries are not working. You might repeat it in a younger woman to be definite but at your age and with your symptoms there would be no point in repeating it (or even doing it at all tbh!).

if Over 45 you can go back and insist on trialling hrt regardless of blood tests

if under 45 you can go back for an explanation of how 74 is wnl