Peri: what to look forward to

[imeanwhy]

Reached an age where many of my friends are in the throes of the perimenopause - random symptoms, sleeplessness, more.

Peri, menopause and period issues are often discussed (and with good reason). in the spirit of optimism 😀 I thought I'd start a thread about good things menopause might bring. For example, does that cyclical moodiness that comes monthly with a period end? Is every day of the month exactly the same in that respect? No ovulation cramps, no pms downs, etc? It sounds weird and different, but also... could be great?

Please tell me about the positives of reaching the menopause x

Eek nothing, eh 😅

I'm not sure I've reached the menopause quite yet. But I definitely don't miss PMT. My moods were either suicidal or want to punch everyone. When periods were every month, I knew what was going on. Warn everyone at home lol! When they became irregular, PMT seemed longer than a week 😕

My sex drive went into overdrive!!!! About the only good thing 😀

In peri menopause you still get your period, mine are regular as clockwork but the PMT is worse now, plus I have night sweats, periods that last for 10 days, brain fog, thinning hair, hair growing out of my chin just the one, aches and pains, and putting on a shed load of weight.

The only positive is I am very unlikely to get pregnant, if someone can give anymore positives I am very happy to know them.

Now post menopausal and my sex drive has totally vanished 😳😳 3 year's sex free zone sigh

@shellyleppard mine did at the start of peri now have zero sex drive for over a year

@Spendysis its horrible isn't it. I just have no urge at all. Good job I'm single

I am still peri so there’s probably no hope of it returning then

I am 47 in October and seem to have got off pretty lightly. So far the only thing I have had was an unexpectedly early period but that’s it! Anyone else not really noticing much?

I’m 51, no periods for over a year so beyond peri but nothing exciting to report, not much else has happened. I don’t know if that is helpful or not.

Yeah I'm about the same age as you and I don't really think I'm there yet. Actually, my last three cycles have been a bit unpredictable so maybe this is the beginning of the beginning now.

All this "let's talk about menopause" in recent years have lead to nothing but horror stories. It reminds me of being pregnant and older women falling over themselves to scare you rigid with terrible labour tales.

Having a period every month takes physical energy, and also mental/emotional energy as you have to deal with it. So you get back that physical energy and headspace for other things.

Less oestrogen seems to mean less anxiety in general and much less people-pleasing. It's very liberating not to care about all sorts of stuff any more.

Thank you, all! I think I've got off relatively lightly so far too - but the mood changes are real. Definitely peri and know friends similar age who are too.

So... the good news are: no need for contraception of course - and possibly less anxiety and no pms? Which is not too bad. I hope the sex drive doesn't go though!

Not to put a dampener on it but peri menopause can last up to ten years.....

Not being hungry in the evenings 🤷🏽‍♀️

Henry the fibroid may get its comeuppance (shrink or die)
Maybe the peculiar symptom I had has somehow detracted away from the misery of there never being children
Being able to finally jump during clubbersize - could not do this a few months ago

Cons
The weight gain - even a pound or two seems hard
Not really knowing when I entered peri for definite
Mother nature could be cruel - make me go have many months period free and at the 11th month a period arrives from a random egg

Went through it at 50, maybe one or two unexpected heavy periods for a year and weird spacing of them for a couple of months, but since 51, no periods, no pain, no mess, no pre-period emotions, nothing. Delighted not to have to take sanitary stuff and painkillers everywhere I go. Feel sorry for my two daughters, doubled over with cramp every month.

No real symptoms (occasionally, early on, had the odd sweaty or half sleepless night, but I do not keep regular sleep patterns so that is on me)
Slight dulling of senses, slight forgetful brain admittedly, but nothing hard. (bit like baby-brain, and could just be getting older). No longer gives two hoots about how I dress, or what people think. If you don't get the symptoms, and plenty do (my friends) then you are in a good place.

It's the same suffering. The only difference is PMT happens 2-3 days in a month. Menopause is hounding particularly at night (terrible hot flashes). Hopefully, this will be over soon.

I had a blood test today to see if I’m in Peri (not sure if they can actually tell??) and I feel terrified based on what you hear.

positives - I don’t remember my mum being any different when she went into menopause and she still looks quite young in her late 60s!

my main benefit I see (though which also terrifies me) is that I won’t be able to have kids. I didn’t want them anyway, but to have it cemented like that I guess finalises that decision/chapter for me.

I didn’t think they could blood test for peri?

@Proudbitch yeah not sure they can test for peri as such but some bloods, combined with other symptoms and age of course, can give a good indication. I am def peri. Age + symptoms add up. I had some scans and bloods and everything else is normal so by process of elimination- it's peri.

I totally get what you are saying about the kids! It's so different, especially if/after spending a lifetime trying to control pregnancy risks. It's a powerful change.

However, I am looking forward to having no hormonal swings every month. No 28 day cycle of moodiness etc. ah the quiet...