Hi Ladies

I am 42 and well into peri, and I a few other women have mentioned like myself that they seem to be having some symptoms after their periods.

And given that I menstruate on around day 22 - 24 and have periods that spot until day 9, and then experience another set of symptoms it can seem
like being in a perpetual state of PMS.

I have been having, tingling breasts, bloating etc, adrenal surges etc from around day 7 - 10 and had always thought that it was too early in the month to be ovulating.
But I have been reading some interesting information from the Natural Family Planning Association which I thought I would post, as it is from a reputable source and
gives an interesting insight into the mechanics of what can happen during perimenopause.

I believe it is the high FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) circulating at this time that causes these new symptoms coupled with estrogen levels that can bounce around ike a basketball, with levels surging wildly in the course of a day.


WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BODY IN PRE-MENOPAUSE

As the woman approaches the end of her child-bearing years the number of follicles in the ovary has reduced from 250,000 at puberty to about 10,000 follicles at the age of 45.6 At the menopause many of these remaining follicles become atretic (degenerate) without ever achieving an ovulation. This reduced ovarian activity results in decreased levels of the ovarian hormones, oestrogen and progesterone which is the basis of the symptoms of pre-menopause. This can result in:

* Long cycles which may be anovulatory or with delayed ovulation.
* Short cycles due to a short luteal phase, a short follicular phase and early ovulation

Irregular cycles:

There is an increase in the mean cycle lengths, however very long cycles may be interspaced with extremely short cycles. Peri-menopause is characterized by ovulatory cycles interspersed with anovulatory cycles of varying lengths. The cycle lengths although regular become shorter initially usually due to earlier ovulation and a shortened follicular phase. A short cycle may also be due to a short luteal phase. Then the cycles become irregular and later they get longer, up to two or three months or more in length. The irregular cycles in the >45 age group may well indicate anovulation

Cervical Mucus and pre-menopause: Cervical mucus as a fertility indicator is less clear in the pre-menopause as:

* The normal oestrogenic ‘build-up to peak’ mucus may not occur due to anovulatory cycles.
* Even in the ovulatory cycle, mucus is not always discernible as fertile-type mucus is scant and occasionally absent making the mucus an unreliable symptom.

Temperature (BBT) and pre-menopause:

In the peri-menopause the thermal shift is the only positive sign of ovulation and of the definitively infertile phase of the cycle. Therefore it is important to record temperature every day during the pre-menopause so that delayed ovulation and also the very early ovulation can be detected.


This information has helped me to better understand what is happening to my body, and at day 11 and with an increase in Basal Body Termperature, I can tell I have ovulated

Would be interested in any feedback

Thanks for posting that nzmum.

I have always known when I ovulate down to the hour from monitoring my mucous levels around this stage of the month but the past 2 years I haven't been able to reliably detect (lets hope I don't get pregnant, oh yeah right gotta have sex to get pregnant ) whether I am ovulating or not as the mucous has been nearly non existant some months. I learnt this method from the natural family planning clinic many years ago after I realised I could not tolerate the BCP. My worst stage of my cycle is now from around day 7 to day 11 so your explanation of estrogen surges and the FSH trying its hardest to promote ovulation is bang on. The one month my doctor ordered a FSH, LH blood test was the one month this year I definitely did ovulate so my FSH etc was perfectly normal and I felt great but I haven't felt like that since. Also around this time the Estrogen is dipping and diving before Progesterone is trying to surge. I have tested high for Progesterone even though I take no supplemental Progesterone so I am the exception to the rule in the fact that I am Progesterone dominant at this stage and relatively low in Estrogen so my balance is tipped the other way.

My cycles have lengthened slightly from a 25-27 day cycle to a 28 day cycle but the worst part is I used to have 2-3 day periods and now I have 7 day long ones not heavy bleeding but just annoying spotting that goes on and on and on

My PMS time is around ovulation time and I feel great (whatever that is these days) for the most part after that until day 3-4 of my period time then it all starts up again..........

Are we all having fun yet I bags coming back as a man next life and I'm never getting married cos I don't think I could cope with a peri menopausal wife I can hardly stand to be around myself at times

Rox

Rox

Your post was so funny in parts, I found myself laughing out loud. (no mean feat during the ovulation blues)

Perhaps perimenopause, is our come uppance for eating that apple,
but like you, I don't know what is worse, having it or being around someone with it

What I want to know, is how do we put a man on the moon, but there seems
to be so little information around on perimenopause.

I'm the type who likes to understand what's happening to my body, so I can track it.

Thanks so much for your post - it made my day

I am now going out to eat something salty and chocolatey
(Someone could market that together in one bar and make lots of money)

Yeah I would like to know why so much trouble went into creating 'Viagara' but little thought or attention goes into figuring out peri menopause and how to ease it. Like men are gonna need the 'Viagara' while we are going through all this LMAO

I have just eaten something chocolately (a chocolate covered muesli bar) and then something salty (potato chips) and loved every darn minute of it

To heck with being healthy I'm living in the moment today cos that's all we have

Rox

Dear Rox
We are all having so much and laughing like Hyenas as I sit here sweating and my scalp is itching as if I have lice!It is anout 120 dgrees here and my energy level is so low.Did a bit of light cleaning in the cool of the early morn after a sleepless night.I took two sleeping pills in desperation and nothing!
Have been in Menopause since age 39 and am now 57 and still with HRT have some very annoying symptoms,so now really do believe that even while on Hormones the body and mind still have to go through this Change.
Looking forward to travelling to London next month to visit Mum.Hope there is pouring rain!
Don't think I could stand a Menopausal wife either.So what happens in a Lesbian relationship when both are going through menopause at same time.Mutual hate or more understanding and care?Just a thought.
All the best
God Bless
Elizabeth

Elizabeth

I'm glad I could bring a smile to someones face yesterday but today is another story sadly . I was feeling on top of the world yesterday and then last night after dinner I crashed into an anxious worry heap again. I thought it may have been something to do with my acupuncture treatment yesterday afternoon but I'm sure it was just my mind fearing that I may not have a positive result from the acupuncture (as I have been having acupuncture for a back injury for the past 6 weeks anyway) hence the return to an anxious state of thinking. I am my own worst enemy these days, I fear everything and this is so not like my usual self, whatever that once was. I'm so tired of the ups and downs and just want all this over with once and for all.

I wish I didn't have that curious nature that needs to know everything about everything and that I knew nothing about anything then I could just float along blissfully unaware of all the what ifs etc etc. My computer has been a godsend and a curse at the same time, it bought me to PS and all you lovely ladies but it also tempted me to google too much and drive myself insane with worry. Even my acupuncturist was amazed at all my information about womens issues I had researched, she even asked it she could photocopy some of it . I have a client who keeps telling me I should study alternative medicine but I keep saying 'no thanks I couldn't bear the thought of having the responsibility of other peoples lives in my hands'. And besides I can't even get my own body sorted out so what help would I be to anyone else .........

I had to laugh at the lesbian relationship comment you made, sheeesh that would be an interesting case study wouldn't it especially if they both had a doozie of a peri menopause.

I hope your trip to England goes well for you. What is the culture like in Jordan?? Is menopause spoken about freely or do women just hush up and get on with it like it is forbidden to acknowledge such things??

Well I must go and get ready for that horrid thing called work today. I have to help my 9 yr old daughter find something relevant to the 70s to wear to a school disco tonight, sheeesh I can't even remember what we wore back in the 70s but I vaguely think it was bright and gourdy and tight and flared

Rox

Dear Rox
Am really sorry you are having a bad day.Agree with you totally about the Curse and Blessing Syndrome!I feel I know way too much now.Knowledge is supposed to be Power but think I really belong to "Ignorance is Bliss"School of Thought!Was really going quite happily om my way armed with Prozac,and HRT-synthetic since being "Proclaimed"Menopausal at age of 39.Am still on these dam things after trying twice to wean off and ending up again like a nutcase.Even with all this "help" still have some very iffy days.

The culture is very hypocritical!Lots of Religion on the surface but underneath lots of corruption.No one of course admits to it but we have the drugs,prostitution,alcoholism and all the evils of any big city.Women who dress very daringly and those that are covered from head to foot.It is almost like two types of living existing side by side.

Menopause is never mentioned except by the highly educated and then only in whispers.The majority of women suffer in silence and those who can afford fly abroad to take advantage of all available help.There is a lot of poverty and the women in this socio-economic group age very quickly and badly.The Middle-Class is eroded so we have the extremes of great poverty and wealth.People who live in shacks or tents and those that live in huge Villas with Maids,Drivers and Nannies for the children.

Islam is the main Religion.I am a Christian.We are the minority but to be fair have really felt no discrimination and we have some beautiful Churches in Amman.It is a modern City with air conditioned Malls,Health Clubs etc.but these are only available for a certain few which is very unfair..

Arabic is a difficult language but I speak it quite fluently,though it is surprising the number of people who speak very good English.French and Enlish are taught in the Private Schools but those who attend Government Schools are taught it from 6th Grade up.

The summers are quite challenging to say the least and must say am quite heat challenged whereas when I was younger it didn't bother me so much.Today is about 120 degrees and the best time to go for a walk is in the evening around nine when there is a cool breeze.

Take care Rox and really hope you have some better days soon!

God Bless
Elizabeth

Thanks for that insight into your country of choice. I'm not sure I could live there as I am far too outspoken and hate too much hypocrisy . And besides the heat would kill me the first day .

Well Friday night went well at my daughters disco but I had far too many red wines (I usually don't drink) and even though I felt on top of the world that night I felt like a pile of doggy doody the next day. I'm NEVER drinkin again PERIOD, well till next that is LMAO

I have almost weaned off my AD and I'm going to need something natural to tide me over till I get back on my own feet again as this not sleeping business is a challenge and the constant underlying anxiety is getting to me too but I couldn't stand being on the AD for any longer as the constipation was killing me slowly. I'm going to see a naturopath I think and maybe try St Johns Wort.

Hope to hear from you again soon Elizabeth

Rox

Well dear Rox
We do have the Secret Police to take care of all the "Outspoken Ones"!Very sad as this is supposed to be a Democracy.

If you don't hear
of me for a while after this assume am rotting in a jail somewhere.Nothing fancy mind!Because if my computer is being tracked am one sorry white Foreigner

So pleased you enjoyed the dance.Lovely idea and all that delicious Red Wine.Haven't had a drink in about ten years as the smallest amount starts my mind racing and my face as red "As a beetroot" Not a pretty sight

The irony of it is that my husband owns a Night Club where the alcohol flows freely and the customers are mostly Muslim and married.They make friends with the Hostesses,who are mainly from the Ukraine,wine and dine them and promise to leave their miserable wives for them and then get bored and move on to another!

So yes this country of choice is not for the faint hearted or for Menopausal Ladies,unless they are fully armed with their Meds.

Have a good day,Rox
Love and Blessings
Elizabeth

Elizabeth,

Have been following your posts faithfully, and you do live in an interesting country, don't you? And you speak fluent Arabic, that is amazing and impressive!! I realize you have been there for a long time, but still, with all the English spoken there you didn't "have" to learn it. There are certainly many immigents here in Canada that never bother to learn Engish.

I can't imagine how you stay quiet, with all the corruption....but we certainly don't want you hauled off by the secret police (apparently they aren't really a secret!! haha!!). It is frightening to think that what you have written on your computer could get you in trouble.

I hope you enjoy your visit to cool London, you will enjoy a break from the incessant heat, I would imagine. I still have hot flashes, even on the hormones...just not as many. Wish it would all just go away!

All the Best
Floater