Search perimenopause and menopause experiences

I started perimenopause at around 37 years old I started HRT at 41 years old, my most severe symptoms were low mood depression anxiety weight gain and hot flushes especially when working. HRT helped with all these symptoms

I started noticing changes in my 40s. I had some blasting, sometimes lower energy and periods started to change. The brain fog, and muscle aches were the worst. Unpredictable sleep was annoying and the itchy skin would drive me nuts. I tried hrt and it made such a difference. I used Estrodot and it was great. Then the supply was an issue and I had to switch to estraderm MX and I hate it! My skin is irritated all the time. Worst product I've used

My perimenopausal journey all started when I was 33 years old, I remember it clearly as it was a few days after I had been on a 4 week holiday. Out of nowhere, I was experiencing insomnia, the first wave of it lasting a few days. I have never experienced insomnia before so it was unusual, and there was nothing going on in my life that could have triggered it. I was also getting really hot and sweaty, which at the time I thought must have been some underlying frustrations from not being able to sleep. During this time, my periods were very irregular, which I just ignored as I have always had PCOS so I just thought it was related to that. Doctors made me go on the pill, as at this point, I hadnt had a period for 6 months. I kept going back to the doctors as I was still experiencing night sweats and insomnia, however they were putting it down to stress, and I was prescribed CBD and molotonin to help. About 1.5 years into these symptoms coming and going, I found a Gynaecologist who took my symptoms seriously, took me off the pill, and did a hormone test, and turns out, I am perimenopausal! I still have these symptoms on and off, but nowhere near as bad as I used to. I am now almost 36, on HRT, and am still battling with symptoms. It's been a journey! I am now working with a Dietitian on my diet to try and get that right to support my HRT, as well as looking after myself. Exercise has never been an issue for me as I love running, weight training, HIIT style workouts, yoga, so I've always kept that up. Trying to avoid raising my cortisol is currently a priority for me, I no longer drink coffee on an empty stomach and I make sure I have a pre workout snack in the morning. I have stopped drinking alcohol, as alcohol just increases my heart rate and gives me insomnia and sweats.

I had a dilation and curretage to help with irregular bleeding but it didn’t make much difference and had to go on progesterone and tranxemic acid to stop the bleeding. Then my periods were just irregular and long and so I was out on norethisterone to stop it and then I was put on levest to manage my irregular periods. All of these resulted in exacerbating my well controlled androgenic hair loss and now I have less hair than when I started PRP, all in a space of 3 months. I’m now on sequential HRT of Elleste solo and Gepretix micronised progesterone. I am only 44 years old

Started perimenopause symptoms years ago but still having regular periods at 54!

Horrendous not felt well since early 40s and now 58! Still suffering lots of pain and night sweats, palpitations too.

Started perimenopause in late 40's, around the age of 48/49. Started HRT when I was 50. Most severe symptoms were low mood and brain fog, making it very difficult to do anything. Diet and exercise (strength training especially) combined with HRT has really helped. I'm unsure going forward when to switch from cyclical to continuous HRT.

First started at 46 Lasted four years before HRT Worst symptoms were, depression/lack of interest,aching joints,brain fog,dizziness,bouts of anger,erratic moods

45 started

44 Had high bp for a long time so went through without hrt Now able to take it post menopause but overall a miserable, scary experience

Around 49

The best thing to help me is stress and lifestyle management. Diet, exercise and sleep.

30, since then, hot flushes

Started perimenopause around 46 years, but didn't recognize the symptoms. so didn't seek any help until I was 51. Most severe symptoms was brain fog, anxiety, insomnia was awful, iron deficiency anemia, heavy periods and a total lack of joy. The only thing that helped really was HRT. I could finally sleep and feel joy.

20 get hot flushes and bought Testogel on the internet and it improved

I started at 39 when my doctor abruptly decided I was a stone overweight and therefore not a good contender for the combined Yasmin pill. She then immediately put me on HRT. It has been 10 years of pure how trying every progesterone going, she had me on a combined pill originally that made me want to kill myself and kill other people as well. I say other people as well half joking, then I was on progesterone only HRT, a lot of synthetic progesterone. It was only when I went to see a menopause specialist doctor she recommended using the Utrogestan vaginally 200 mg for 14 days, and to up my oestrogen to 75 mg. This was way too much from my body and when I went back, she said I could take them only for 10 days, it was still too much and I had a full on week if not more of being suicidal, extremely heavy period, really bad cramps, then they tried to fit the coil the first time, that was a disaster, then another year of Utrogestanand now it has been three months since the coil has been put back in with devastating effects I have gone to my GP and asked her to take it out. She won’t. I’ve gone back to the hospital. I need department they tell me to go back to my GP, so I am in the circle and nobody wants to do anything until it’s in there for six months and I wonder if I’ll be alive by then.