Am I too young for peri menopause?

[houseofboys]

Hi all sorry for this long post but..., I'm 37 and my periods have been driving me crazy with worry for at least a year. I went to the docs a year ago for heavy periods and a bit of post coital bleeding, had scans and tests and they said all looked healthy. Consultant said then was probably your hormones love... but they didn't suggest doing anything. A few months later I then had an unplanned (ectopic) pregnancy and had to have surgery and was sterilised at same time. My periods settled down for a bit after that though were still long (8/9) days, but last couple of months they seem to have gone haywire again. Days of spotting beforehand, occasional spotting in between periods etc, lasting up to 10 days. My big fear is that maybe they missed something in all the tests but then I think, could this be peri menopause? My mum didn't have her menopause til 51 though so seems so early. How likely is it could be peri?

Not v likely, but not impossible.

Average age for menopause in Britain is 50, so your mum was not far off.

I presume you've had your thyroid function checked, and also a hormone known as FSH which rises in the lead up to menopause.

Are you trying to conceive again or would you consider taking hormones/the pill for a few months to see whether that would encourage a regular cycle again?
Did you used to be regular without taking the pill in the past?

It is possible from nearly any age, i'm the same age as you and was diagnosed a few years ago with premature menopause when ttc

ime, there are specific tests that can be done. One done on NHS (i.e. at GP's) that gives you a fair idea, and another private one (£50) to make sure. If you are worried then maybe they will confirm things one way or another, and ensure you get whatever help/treatment you need?

Hope you get on ok.

It sounds hormonal but maybe not the meno.

I am post meno and although everyone is different, I never had any of the symptoms you describe. I thought, but could be wrong, that sterilisation can fast-forward the meno slightly.

Spotting etc needs investigating but it does sound hormonal, orpossibly something like a uterine polyp, or fibroid.

Can you ask your dr for another referral to a gynae for another scan and blood tests?

Has the charming phrase 'dysfunctional uterine bleeding' ever been mentioned to you?
That is simple, benign but disordered menstrual bleeding.
It is a diagnosis of exclusion, ie if all your tests are normal that is what you are left with. Harmless, but a nuisance.

More info here, info aimed at HCP, may be a bit heavy going, but you get the gist.