Is this peri-menopause? Too early?

[ProvenceWhipped]

I did post this in womens health originally, but that doesn't seem to get much traffic, so I'm reposting here! I'll try to be brief - Over the last 2 years, my periods have become increasingly irregular. My cycle can be anywhere from 26 days to 36 days - never the same 2 months in a row. They are also incredibly painful and heavy. Before this, I was always regular - every 28 days, not excessively painful, not excessively heavy. I'm not on any hormonal contraception and haven't been for years as I have tried all of them and had issues with every single one - some quite serious, and so I would rather not go on it again. Over the last couple of months, I have been experiencing some additional unpleasant symptoms - dryness, mood swings, and night sweats. Now I have completely missed a period, no sign at all. This all sounds like textbook peri-menopausal, but I've only just turned 30! Surely it's too early? Has anyone experienced this at this age? I am waiting for a call back from the doctor, but I don't know what to ask for? I am scared of being dismissed because of my age, and I guess I'm reaching out here for support and to feel a little less alone!

Hopeful bump ☹️

I don't have any practical help - but didn't want to read and run.

I would hope that given your age the doctor will not try and dismiss you. If it is Peri or something totally different, it needs exploring.

As with anything, it could have an simple explanation but you are doing the right thing getting checked out.

Hope everything works out fine for you.

Thank you 💕 x

If you're only 30 you're too young for peri-menopause.

You need to be checked for premature ovarian insufficiency/failure. They should take 2 FSH tests 4-6 weeks apart.

Women under 40 are diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency if both blood test come back at 30> FSH

It doesn't matter what they call it, at the end of the day it is basically the same thing.

OP, would you be able to talk to female relatives on your DM's side and ask them when they started the menopause? A tendency to early menopause is hereditary.

@DrJonesIpresume actually it does matter it's not menopause.
Op please look up premature ovarian insufficiency. It matters even more if you want children but either way you need to think of your future health.
There's long term consequences of insufficient Estrogen/progesterone/testosterone because the ovaries aren't functioning.

Get some bloods taken and explain you are worried that it may be low FSH or a deficiency. If you have low iron for example you can become forgetful, have poor emotional regulation and miss periods.

So I can asked the doctor for a FSH test? Or will they suggest it anyway?

Iron/folate/ferratin - get these checked alongside anything else GP recommends. I had 6 months without a period, needed to nap in the day time and was an emotional wreck and the GP didn't pick up quite severe anemia from my bloods. Put me onto anti-depressants instead. Then I went to give blood and they refused me, said they'd never seen such a severe case and I had to go to GP. That convinced the GP to give me some ferratin - all back to normal now and I no longer have to take anti-depressants.

If you get bloods you can ask them to check it at the same time. It doesn't always show it's low even if you are menopausal but if it is that'll be a clear yes.

Thank you - I have asked and my mum started at 45, and her mum had a total hysterectomy for womb cancer at 35 and went into menopause then - no way of knowing when she would've gone into it naturally unfortunately ☹️

I had pcos. When it got worse I experienced what you are. I hired a nutiotionalist and it dramatically improved.

Thank you!

With all due respect, I am speaking from personal experience.

Thank you!

@DrJonesIpresume so am I
I have POI
@ProvenceWhipped please insist that your Gp takes these tests I was lucky as my Gp ordered tests as she was familiar with it; I'd never heard of it until than.

@LSTMS30555 Well things must have changed in the last 25 years then. When I saw the consultant gynaecologist, they explained to me that women are born with a finite number of cells in their ovaries which can develop into eggs. Once they start to run out, that's it. They did say it was called premature ovarian failure before the age of 45, but it was the same end result - menopause. Some women have fewer cells than others, and this predisposition is hereditary. I started peri at 37, with a full diagnosis of perimenopause at 39, my mum at 42. My grandmother died at 35 so I have no idea about her, and I had no other female relatives to ask.

Perhaps medical science has moved on, and more assistance is available now for women in this situation than there was 25 years ago. I hope so.

Thank you everyone for your help & advice, I spoke to GP and she said it could be early menopause/ovary issues, thyroid issues or PCOS. She has referred me for full bloods (including hormones and thyroid) and a scan on my ovaries. Feeling listened to and supported thanks to you lovely ladies!

Hi
Are there any updates on this? I'm aged 30 with very similar symptoms plus a few more
Hope you are all well x

I went into menopause at 31. My periods completely stopped and I was put on the patch. My blood tests came back fine but I wasn’t getting a period. They didn’t do any further investigation and I’ve been on the patch for 3 years now. It is extremely early to go into menopause but it is not impossible. I’ve been lucky enough that our local charity hosted a menopause club and I’ve been working hard to reduce my menopause symptoms and my cortisol levels. Keep pushing with the doctors, even if your bloods come back fine, if you are showing menopausal symptoms it could well be that.