What Age did your Perimenopause start?

[Anonymous]

I noticed issues at 49, but I think issued stared years before in hindsight.

At 49, heat would make me so uncomfortable i would feel really angry and stressed. Sex drive plummeted, weight jumped up rapidly. I'm more tired too, although I don't sleep enough.

Before that, there were more gradual changes for mood, sex drive, weight. Periods got 1 week shorter (from every 35 days to 28 days). Periods were extremely heavy (now that's balanced out).

[Anonymous]

Will the brain fog go away?

[Anonymous]

All PPs thank you for sharing. Which type of doctor did you find most helpful? Your GYN? Endocrinologust? Another specialist? For those who started HRT and felt much better, doctor recommendations would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

“Doctors can test all your reproductive hormones and prescribe hormone therapy if you are a good candidate (increased risk of cancer if you're on it for too long)”

First of all, hrt isn’t prescribed based on testing, and any physician wanted to do that should be questioned. Bloodwork only shows a snapshot of your hormones on a given day. Second, symptoms are what need to be considered and addressed. Third, you can’t replace your hormone levels back to what they were before peri menopause, and even if that were possible your estrogen receptors no longer function the same so you’re not going to get back to “normal.” The goal is to address symptoms.

And stop with the cancer rhetoric.

[Anonymous]

Have you been screened for cancer recently? History of it? Also symptoms of cancer

[Anonymous]

I’m 46. Just finished up a 11 day period, which was 3 weeks after the period before it, which was 2 months after the period before it.

This is fun.

[Anonymous]

40. I’m 49 now with no menopause in sight. I feel terminally peri, which sucks because my friends and family who finished meno say that it’s so much better (except for the weight gain). I’m still gaining weight around my middle despite active diet and exercise. So I’m ready to be done

[Anonymous]

It has caused severe depression for me. I just feel so alone. 43.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has caused severe depression for me. I just feel so alone. 43.

Sorry PP. You are not alone. Please reach out to someone for help if you haven’t already. Sending you a virtual hug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adrenal problems are a real thing, as is perimenopause.

My perimenopause started at 42, with shortened and lighter cycles. My PMS symptoms tend to be more pronounced than they were before, but it's hard to know for sure, because I was on birth control for so long.

Perimenopause is when a decrease in estrogen puts all the sex hormone ratios out of whack, with fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone that end up shortening cycles, provoking lighter or sometimes much heavier periods, and causing hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog, breast tenderness, bloating, cramps, etc...

Regular exercise, eating more healthy fats and less animal fats, along with nuts and whole grains, is recommended for women in perimenopause to reduce hormonal imbalances as much as possible. Doctors can test all your reproductive hormones and prescribe hormone therapy if you are a good candidate (increased risk of cancer if you're on it for too long). You can also follow your hormone fluctuations at home with Proov for a bit before going to the doctor, if you're so inclined.

I started to get symptoms of perimenopause in my early/mid 40's - irregular, sometimes heavy, sometimes light periods. I cleaned up my diet, went low processed carbs, ate lean protein, healthy fats and low starch vegetables, walked a 3 mile trail every day and my periods became magically like clockwork again. I officially hit menopause at 52 and I really wasn't troubled by too many symptoms. In fact, not having to deal with periods has been pretty awesome.

[Anonymous]

50 and still waiting for something to feel different. Periods every 28-30 days, same as it's been since I was 13.
All that and I couldn't even get pregnant with IVF. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll be 43 this year and wondering if some of the changes I’ve noticed with my body may be the beginning of menopause.

-Anxiety (had to start Zoloft)
-Brain fog
-Forgetful of names
-Debilitating fatigue
-Apathy
-Sore breasts
-Finger joints hurt randomly
-Feel really really warm sometimes (had a spell while using the restroom today at work)

My periods haven’t changed at all and still come like clockwork every 28 days. Are doctors able to test hormone levels to determine if I’m starting perimenopause?

39. It was an early and unpleasant surprise

[Anonymous]

I am 47 and it’s starting I think. Irregular periods from 21 to 28 days; sore breasts; I just had the first truly painful period in my life and was angry on day 1 like never before.
I did become less energetic maybe a year or so ago but didn’t attribute it to peri