Am I premenopausal?

[Nolcrest]

I've been soooo regular all my life that this is throwing me for a loop. I have an awesome GYN dr. that I love so I trust what he says. Next week I see him and I'll go from there. I was just curious if a woman can actually be premenopausal at only 40. Thanks!

Yes!

 

[2012bella13]

My doctor told me in my early thirties that I was in peri-menopause, I had my first & only child at 44yrs old, now they tell me, You are in menopause, five yrs later,: I am still having periods, just missed 3 months, but it started again

 

[powellrj]

At this point in your life, you may need to work on more constant forms of protection.

I agree, mine will be 17 this year! I wasn't regular for a few years and didn't worry too much when I missed a few periods, like I said, she will be 17 this year!

 

[sasywtch]

I think it's the same as premenopausal?

You know, over the last 2 months, I keep asking my husband if it's hot in our house. My face feels totally flushed but I thought maybe it was due to seasonal allergies or something like that. What does a hot flash feel like?

I've had the hot flashes for awhile and it was difficult to explain to the boyfriend. One day I was having sinus problems so he heated up water to steaming in a pan and had me do the "stick your face toward the steam with a towel over your head" thing. The immediate feel like my face is sweating and hot is how that steam felt on my face under the towel.

 

[TLHB70]

My doc is a certified menopausal specialist. Perimenopause can start 10 years prior. If you are sexually active birth control needs to be used until your hormone levels confirm your status 2 years in a row. While we normally follow our maternal side, I didn't. I followed the women on my dad's side! Be warned that the nicest, most helpful gyn can turn on you once you start perimemopause!

I have been having night sweats since I was mid 30s!!!! Seriously, I wake up in the middle of the night dripping wet. I end up stripping and still feel hot. I have experienced a few hot flashes, but the night sweats are regular. I have talked to my doctor but I am only 42. I am on bc pills, and have been this whole time. The doctor told me to stay on the pill until age 45. Then she will check my hormone levels. She told me right now my blood work will not give me a true reading of my hormone levels because I am on the pill. I know the nurse told me my periods are very light because she asked how many days I bleed each month, how many times I have to change feminine products, etc.
I want to stay on the pill, though, because I am extremely fertile. Or I was in my 20s. I am not wanting to get pregnant again in my 40s.
So you are saying that the hormone blood work will show if I am perimenopausal even if I am on the pill?

Btw, my thyroid has been checked. All of my routine annual blood work has been normal. There is no explanation for the night sweats. We keep my house at 65 degrees at night in the summer and more like 63 degrees in the winter. DH needs a cold house to sleep. That is why I firmly believe the night sweats are because of hormones!

 

[Straitlover]

Hot flashes are different for everyone. The bad ones were just my head and chest/shoulder area. They would hit all of a sudden, my head down to my chest would turn beet red and the heat would just pour out. I could hold my hand 3 inches or more over the top of my head and feel the heat!

Luckily, I didn't have a lot of those. Mostly for me, I turned from cold-natured to hot-natured. At work, used to be everyone else would be hot and and I would be comfortable or even chilly. Now, it's the complete opposite. Everyone's walking around wearing sweaters and I have my fan running.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My friend started perimenopause at 35. She has since had 2 kids and is getting ready to get a mirena because at 39 she is done! So it could be perimenopause or it could be something else. Ask your doctor and good luck!

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm in perimenopause now (I'm 45). For me, it started about two years ago with the hot flashes. My face goes all red and it feels like I've stuck my head in an oven. I went to my Gyno and he did some blood tests to rule out other stuff, as I also have endometriosis. Other fun stuff I've been experiencing are heart palpitations, and being somewhat short tempered.

My periods are like clockwork still. I have a short cycle and always have, every 23 days, but now I spot at all different times and have had to use pads every day just in case. I should buy stock in Stayfree-it would finance trips to WDW for the rest of my life!

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

OP here, trying not to panic but this morning I woke up nauseous with a metallic taste in my mouth. This has happened to me every time I was pregnant. So someone please tell me quickly that this metallic taste happened when the were premenopausal.

 

[HM]

Oh Elinor Dashwood. I pray that's not it. Good luck!

 

[njmom47]

And here I was just gonna comment on hot flashes, but just read OP's last post.

One of my friend's hot flashes made the sweat drip down her nose...I felt sorry for her! Mine are just the fan-on, fan-off, sweatshirt-on, sweatshirt-off type...I guess moderately uncomfortable.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

Thanks everyone. Still here with no period or sign of it coming at all. I'm nauseous again today and have that metallic taste in my mouth. DH and I are seriously coming to the realization that I may actually be pregnant, at 40! Unbelievable. I wish I could get in sooner to see my dr. but I have to wait another 10 days to see him. Wish me luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks everyone. Still here with no period or sign of it coming at all. I'm nauseous again today and have that metallic taste in my mouth. DH and I are seriously coming to the realization that I may actually be pregnant, at 40! Unbelievable. I wish I could get in sooner to see my dr. but I have to wait another 10 days to see him. Wish me luck!

You could call them and ask to get a blood pregnancy test.

 

[Disneylover99]

Oh wow. I wish I were you. I'm 45 now and still going strong. Like clockwork.

My friends were jealous that I went through menopause so young, but you know what? Your period is your friend!

Once your estrogen levels drop your body starts to age very quickly. I'm 44 and the wrinkles, dry hair, grey hair, weight gain around the middle are coming fast and furious!!!! My metabolism has changed and I am at high risk of osteoporosis before 50.

My gynecologist wants me on Hormone Replacement Therapy, while my family doctor says... No way! It's hard to figure out what to do!

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

You could call them and ask to get a blood pregnancy test.

You're a genius! That's a brilliant idea, thank you so much.

 

[lemondog]

You are the opposite of me. I have been SO irregular my whole life, now that I am 41 my period comes every month like clockwork...ovulation does too. Had to adopt our first child, twins were the result of infertility tx, and then 8 years later on the verge of turning 40 - BAM I get pg on my own and now perfectly regular. Weird!

 

[minkydog]

Thanks everyone. Still here with no period or sign of it coming at all. I'm nauseous again today and have that metallic taste in my mouth. DH and I are seriously coming to the realization that I may actually be pregnant, at 40! Unbelievable. I wish I could get in sooner to see my dr. but I have to wait another 10 days to see him. Wish me luck!

Ruh-roh! PREGNANCY WATCH 2013!

I hope that you're not pregnant if you don't want to be. But I have to say, having a baby at 40 wasn't the worst thing that every happened to me. My mid-life babies are the joy of my life!

 

[VillageMama]

I'm 43 and pregnant. I still haven't recovered from the shock and I'm 7 months along.

Best wishes to you, regardless!

 

[TLHB70]

Please post if you are able to get in for a blood test.
Good luck.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

You all are so sweet, thank you!

I called my mom and she really thinks I'm pregnant because she and my grandmother both went through menopause in their 50's.

I'm really trying not to stress out because I do love babies and being pregnant. So if I am, then I will be thrilled! Deep down I've always thought we'd have at least one more. It's just that stupid old number 40 that is throwing me off. But I know lots of women have done this in their 40's with success. Thank you again for the encouragement ladies!