Maybe its the menopause? Can I self-test?

[Nicecupofteaandabiscuit]

Apologies this might be long. I am not aware of having any classic menopause symptoms but I will be 50 this year so I am aware it must be underway. I have a mirena coil so no periods to notice.

For the last 20+ years I've always had jobs I've loved. I've always been good at what I do and working has always given me a lot of satisfaction. Anyway the funding for my most recent role was coming to an end and I had to get something else. On paper it should have been a very good move and I was pleased to get it. Well paid for this area and in my field. I hate hate hate it. I can't motivate myself at all. I am looking for other jobs but there is nothing comparable (content of money) available anywhere locally at the moment etc etc. I will keep looking. But it stuck me perhaps the feeling of hating it and being stuck is something to do with menopause and perhaps if I had some support with that via e.g. HRT then I would lift my mood and find some enthusiasm for my job. My colleagues on the whole like their jobs.

Is there a reliable home test I can do? I don't want to bother GP if I am not menopausal (I must be surely). Would HRT lift my mood and at least help me get out of a rut and crack on with my job in the hope it gets better or at least less stupefying until I can get a new one.

*content or money. I actually took a pay cut for this role thinking it would give me security and I would enjoy the challenge. I would be willing to take another reasonable cut if I could find anything to apply for.

There isn't no. Not really.

I'm 51 and recently looked into a home blood test myself. I wanted to see for myself that my oestrogen levels were lower now and then I'd start HRT (of course I know they must be low. I'm 51!)

But on really looking into it, it's not worth it. Hormone levels fluctuate so much that you just can't get a particularly accurate result

So I decided to take HRT regardless. My very reliable periods have gone haywire and I can't sleep at night any more so that was enough for me to give HRT a go

thank you. I'm certainly not myself but I feel its all down to the job. I am totally lost. I've been looking at home tests etc. I feel stupid going to dr with no "symptoms" but I might have to give it a try

@Nicecupofteaandabiscuit i could have written your post. I have kept same job, but my job has changed in recent years. Become more target driven and generally harder. Everything we do is measured to make sure we do “enough”. I hate it and am miserable. Everyone else seems to be coping. I strongly suspect my lack of coping is stress/hormones, because I still like the actual work, but spend most days in a low level of panic that I’m not doing it fast enough. it’s definitely worth asking a doctor and be specific that you think it might be menopause. There are so many women on antidepressants who should be on HRT instead because the misery comes from unbalanced hormones.

There is no test over the age of 45 for perimenopause - that's because hormone levels fluctuate hugely through the course of a day in this age group so no test is reliable.

A GP will go by your symptoms and your age to determine whether you're in perimenopause. At your age, you almost certainly will be.

Your symptom of lack of motivation can certainly be perimenopause related, yes. What about your periods? Tiredness, anxiety, lack of motivation, etc.? Take a look at the list of symptoms on the Balance website to see if any of them resonate with you.

Finally, please do "bother" your GP - suspected menopause is a valid reason to speak to your GP about.

PS there's a terrific menopause section here on MN - we're very lucky to have a couple of extremely knowledgeable posters in there. It would be worth a browse.

@ItBeFivePotatoesHigh I love your username 💜💜

Thanks all. No periods at all - not had any for years. My mirena coil is amazing. I HATE my job. I don’t think I’m depressed I’m furious at the waste of time and money in my workplace . I think anyone doing my job would struggle to care about it. I have nothing meaningful to do. There’s lots of talk and planning and networking and nothing happens. They think it’s amazing. My appraisals say I’m great at it. I do nothing. I’ll go over to the menopause section

the reasons I feel stupid about going to dr are:
no periods
no hot flushes
no sweats
no change in libido
no insomnia
pure unadulterated boredom - is that a symptom?

Yeah maybe it’s just a shit job? People are motivated by different things. Maybe some are happy to be paid for doing largely nothing, but you need a job to be worth doing and produce tangible results. I’m where you are - is it easier to leave, or try to accept where I am and find a way to be at least half content to stay?

I'm not following this very well.

You have a brand new role which is undemanding and feels meaningless, and you think there's something wrong with you not something very pointless about the work, is that right?

Well I don’t know. I’m surrounded by people at work who think it’s great and worthwhile and I’m just furious and thinking it’s rubbish and pointless. Then I wondered if it’s me. Is it me
who for some reason is totally miserable and the job is actually fine and then I wondered if it’s a menopause thing. I am dubious and therefore would prefer to self test?

Thanks 😊 I'm a big fan of Ghosts!