Menopause ? Please help

[Myusername2015]

I'm 41 and my periods stopped 9 months ago. Having really debilitating symptoms but hadn't considered it being possibly due to menopause. Along with numerous other blood tests the report says LH=29; testosterone 0.3 and prolactin of 277. The doctor isn't recommending HRT and suggests waiting another year to consider it. My limited google research seems to say the levels are possibly menopause; I could purchase it privately but does anyone have any idea of whether I can push for it from the GP. Current symptoms are breaking me.

Push it from your GP. You don’t need a blood test to prove you’re in perimenopause. Blood tests are a snap shot of one day, your hormones are all over the place. You need HRT and you shouldn’t have to pay for it privately. Is there another GP at the practise who is a menopause specialist? Or just another GP to talk to? The one you’re currently seeing sounds dreadful at best.

You need to be referred for a pelvic ultrasound. It will tell you if it is menopause or if its something else like fibroids. Id say it to your gp

An ultrasound is not used to diagnose menopause.

Fibroids don't cause a loss of periods for 9 months.

The test for menopause in women under 45 is a blood test for FSH ( follicle stimulating hormone.)

@Myusername2015 Your GP sounds clueless TBH.

The test you should have is the FSH blood test.

NICE guidance is women under 45 who have symptoms have a blood test- women over 45, diagnose on symptoms alone.

Your GP has done all the tests except the right one! Unless it's there and you've not quoted it here.

With no periods at 41, for 9 months, this is most likely early menopause. Medical guidance is to use HRT for at least 10 years ( to 51- average age of menopause) to protect your bone density and heart.

If your GP doesn't know this, is there a different GP you can see?

I had a baby at 41, 42 full blown menopause symptoms. I had always had really heavy painful periods,was looking forward to it, determined not to go onto HRT GP yesterday FSH, he said slight build,2 fractures, under 45, I must take hrt for the osteoporosis protection. I did for 17 years. Up until 50 I was also on the contraceptive pill, because he said pregnancy was still possible. At the time condoms,caps were latex have an allergy,other GP (his wife!) said intra uterine devices were out because of large fibroids and the heavy blood loss with my periods since 11.

determined not to go onto HRT GP yesterday FSH, he said slight build,2 fractures, under 45, I must take hrt for the osteoporosis protection. I did for 17 years.

Do you mean you saw your GP yesterday? At what age did you start HRT and how old are you now- and are you still on it?

if you have had 2 fractures was this before or after using HRT?

Have you had a DEXA scan?

Agree with others that you could well be in perimenopause and there is no sense at all in waiting a year to start HRT. Your testosterone result is extremely low, but you would get stabilised on oestrogen and progesterone first before adding a testosterone supplement

Ask your GP practice whether they have a menopause/ women's health specialist - this may be a nurse

JinglySpringbells, phone changed "yes,"to yesterday
.I'm 75..I had 2 fractures pre hrt,scaphoid and coccyx
Bone scan every 3 years after hrt.they were well in range,I do a lot of weight bearing exercise..we moved and new GP refused to let me carry on with the hrt..I couldn't afford to get it privately,so have managed without, for 14 years..

14 years ago you were only 61 and there is no reason to stop HRT at that age. I appreciate that 14 years ago some GPs did believe you had to stop at 60, but that's not the case now and even then if you had lost bone it was a treatment.
You shouldn't have needed to see anyone privately.

I hope you're still having DEXA scans as stopping hrt at 61 and with previous fractures, you should still be monitored. Are yo being checked?

Its interesting you say that because I got diagnosed recently with menopause with a pelvic ultrasound. They want to back it up with a blood test 🤔. Ya, I suppose 9 missed periods is probably a bit much for fibroids

Fibroids cause heavy bleeding not missed periods.

An ultrasound can show ovarian activity- or not as the case may be- and ovaries shrink post menopause, but it's definitely not the routine way to diagnose menopause - more costly, more invasive- compared to a blood test. presumably you had other symptoms that warranted a scan.