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[Pinkjan4288]

Hi. I'm 43 and have been confirmed by my dr that I am peri menopausal.
She said my LH and FSH are 30 and 42.
I can't remember which result was which!😬
She said my Estradiol level was 133 so I'm ok for oestrogen at the moment.

She told me to go back to see her if my period is absent for a year ( it's been absent for 60 days so far)
I feel ok so should I just carry on as normal or should I be doing something??

[Hurdity]

Hi pinkjan

Your doctor is remiss!!!

If you are 43 and you have been without a period for 60 days and especially with those blood test results - you really should be offered HRT  as from NOW. You are almost 10 years below the average age of natural menopause and your body should take replacement oestrogen until at least that age to protect your future health. There is a  lot of evidence about this now. Are you experiencing symptoms? You said you are feeling OK - so you are very lucky if you are not yet experiencing any symptoms (maybe you are taking ADs or something similar - which means you might not experience flushes even if going through menopause?) - or perhaps your oestrogen level has not yet dropped too low - however even if you are not, you should start HRT (unless medically contra-indicated) and your doc should read up about menopause pronto!! You might need to go to a different doc in the practice or ideally if you feel up to it - educate yours!!!!

Have a look at the different preparations (top tabs green banner - Treatments) and read up as much as you can about menopause and especially early menopause. If you had reached menopause at this age some would class this as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency -but obviously you are not there yet but sounds like well on the way.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-definition.php . There is also a website called the Daisy Network specifically for younger women with lots of information - but if you want to join the forum you have to pay to be a member.

Here is an article about peri-menopause too which you might like to read:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf

Hope this helps and do come back to us if you need more support or suggestions or just to chat about what you're going through.

Hurdity x

[Pinkjan4288]

Thank you for replying.
I'm taking St. John's Wort with black cohosh in.
My night sweats and insomnia stopped when I started with the black cohosh and the SJW which I have been on for 2 months makes me feel great.

The dr said my body is still producing oestrogen because the blood test said it was at 133.
She said because I'm still producing it I don't need HRT.
So confusing!

[Maryjane]

You're Doctor is totally wrong ....you need HRT ASAP at your age ....hurdity is very knowledgeable in all this.

[Hurdity]

"The dr said my body is still producing oestrogen because the blood test said it was at 133. She said because I'm still producing it I don't need HRT"

She is correct in that of course your body is still producing oestrogen. I think you wouldn't be here without it! Your body never stops producing oestrogen - it's just that when you are post-menopausal it settles down to a fairly low level. Assuming the level you quote from your blood tests is in pmol/l (not pg/ml) the second statement is absolute rubbish and demonstrates her ignorance! I presume you are in UK? It also depends where in your cycle that level was taken as to whether it is a low reading or not! If you were at this level most of the time it would be low!

The point is if you are that young, have started having big gaps between periods with FSH levels that high - you should be taking HRT. Black Cohosh and SJW will not replace oestrogen. Time to take SJW when you are much older and maybe stop HRT - but not now.  Please read up about it as I suggested and either go back to a different doctor in the practice whom you know specialises in and understands menopause and HRT, or ask to be referred to someone who does. - or be prepared to stand your ground.

Do familiarise yourself with the main recommendations from the NICE Guidelines on menopause (home page - scroll down: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/index.php) as well as all the info in this website.

Good luck and keep us posted

Hurdity x

[Pinkjan4288]

Thank you Hurdity for taking the time to respond again.
I started on SJW in July because I had a terrible year last year and had problems with low mood ( now I see it is also linked to peri)
I added the black cohosh in September due to night sweats.
The dr took the blood test when I was 20 days late so I've no idea about where in the cycle I was.

I don't know what to do. I feel really well, in fact better than I have in years, but I'm now concerned about not having HRT.

[Pinkjan4288]

I'm a bit lost trying to find the right section of the nice guidelines 😩

[CLKD]

Go to Hurdity's profile and follow her threads? 

[Hurdity]

Here is the press release about the NICE Guidelines:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pdf/NICE%20Press%20release.pdf

There are also lots of factsheets published by British Menopause Society:
https://thebms.org.uk/publications/factsheets/

... and their patient arm - Women's Health Concern:
https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/

Tricky if you are feeling well. What I mean is great that you're feeling well but you shouldn't really wait for your period to be absent for a year before gong back to doc because of your age. A low dose HRT maybe all that's needed at the moment. Did you check on the units of measurement for the oestrogen levels as that is important? They are usually in pmol/l..... Perhaps you could ask her for another blood test (for estradiol) although this is not usually carried out?

Sorry I can't be of any more help - my gut feeling on your saying you feel wel,l is that your oestrogen level may well have risen and a periods may restart. Have you felt well for all the time since your last period and have you had any symptoms of menopause other than absence of periods?

Hurdity x