I though I was in perrimenopause and discovered it was actually my thyroid out of whack. Now I sleep better. I have no hot flashes and night sweats. While I hate dealing with my period, I'm also glad that it's not ending yet. I'm 42 and my mom stopped having periods the year she turned 42. For the last year, the only time she had her period was when my sister and I were home from college (funny how hormones affect other people). I want to hold off any osteoporosis risks for as long as possible and early menopause is a risk for health problems later.

I'm 48 and started peri-pause a couple of years ago, blood tests showed that although my estrogen was decreasing, I had almost no progesterone, therefore estrogen dominant. I started to see a naturopath and she helped immensely with supplements geared to my needs. the first thing I was told by her was to stop using soy milk or other soy products: 1 because I was estrogen dominant, and 2 because the estrogen from soy is the wrong type to help with menopausal symptoms.

Since then I've had other issues with cysts in the uterus and have had a mirena iud inserted. This is a T-type device that slowly releases progesterone over the course of 5 years (into the uterus only). It stops the periods completely and has also stopped the night sweats and hot flashes - it's amazing and I know of several women who are on their 2nd mirena to get them through to the menopausal years.

I'm 48 and now in menopause (month 7 with no period). I started peri-menopause (or as I like to refer to it "pre-pause") when I was 42. Night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings out the wahzoo... some months I'd have a real light period, some months very heavy, some months not at all...

Here's what helped me the most!!
http://www.womentowomen.com/

At the very least... just hop around the site, read! Read! Read! - LOTS of information there!!

It's NOT a gimmick. I tried their Herbal Equilibrium pills and I swear it worked for me. No more hot flashes (or at least, very mild ones & way less of them!) and night sweats? - zippo! It took about 3 months for it to kick in, tho - and that's just "my personal experience".

I did go off them for a while about a year ago. But after about 6 or so months, I was fed-up with my whack-hormones & went right back on them! - And I still take them now.

I swear, I can't say enough good about it. But hey, see for yourself. It may or may not work for you. But I'd at least give it a try!

Good luck!

Originally Posted by BodaciousQuest:
I have been on hormone replacement therapy since I was 27....Black cohash is also often recommended, but I don't know much about it.

Black cohash is an estrogenic moderator. That is, if you are very low in estrogen, BC acts somewhat estrogenic. If you aren't very low, BC gets in the way of real estrogen, so it's anti-estrogenic. Mixing it with hormone replacement is probably counter-productive.

I'd get your thyroid checked and ask them to run baseline sex hormones. If you are in perimenopause, the tests will show it. If not, you at least have a baseline on the tests for when you really do hit menopause.

I'm in this club! I had a hysterectomy less than a year ago so mine is surgically-induced. I had been peri-for years leading up to the surgery.

I'm 46 and sometimes I think I've started perimenopause because of night sweats, mood swings, and of course weight gain around the middle, but then my periods are still pretty normal, but I'm also taking the birth control pill, so that keeps them pretty normal. My sister and mother I think both went through menopause around their early 50's and perimenopause late 40's, so I figure it's any time now.

Originally Posted by starbrite:
I had mt blood work checked and my Doc says I'm not peri-menopausal, but I disagree :)
Just have to keep getting older disgracefully and cope with the night sweats- this bothers me a great deal.

I can relate! For the past 3 years, my cycle has gone from 28 days to 21-23 days. I also skip an entire month once a year which is weird. The moodiness has increased, I have hot flashes, definite weight gain around the middle and sometimes insomnia.

My endocrinologist told me my hormone levels are fine, so I'm not peri menopausal, but I just don't buy it.

I have problems with doctors diagnosing strictly based on a test result and discounting what I'm actually feeling. I also have Hashimotos hypothyroidism and have to fight to get properly medicated for that.

I appreciate the tips here on natural remedies and will try some. :)

Thanks!

I have been looking around for a forum with help with weight gain and hormonal issues, which I expect I have but I am not having the "normal" symptoms I don't think.

I am 49, and started to have irregular cycles 2 or so years ago. I do not have night sweats, or any "normal" symptoms of peri-menopause. If I call my Dr, they just say "oh, you are in per-imenopause, don't worry about it.

Is being tested for hormonal balance a normal thing for them to do? not one Dr has offered to test for that. Is it because my symptoms are not severe enough or something? I didn't even know I SHOULD be tested...

confused here, and can't loose a pound in a month. My weight loss/gain is totally linked to my cycle. I had hoped this last time it was different, but when I skip a month, I gain, if I have a period, I loose just a few pounds. I am always disappointed because when I skip, the pounds return.

Anyone have any success breaking this cycle?

I am 47 and have also started menopause. I do not have a period every month, but always have PMS every twenty eight days....go figure. I started Wellbutrin for the mood swings a couple of months ago, the good thing about it that it has cured my "emotional eating", I no longer have the urge to eat when stressed. The hot flashes are horrible, I walk outside to cool off several times a day. I have found sleeping with a ceiling fan on low in my bedroom helps, also black cohash really helps me sleep.

I too seem to have PMS still, atleast that is what I blame the chocolate cravings on!