Help! I’m new here. I have been experiencing periomenopause symptoms for 2 years now. I just saw my OB/Gyn who after doing a physical exam prescribed testosterone cream, a vaginal estrogen cream, and low dose birth control pills. She told me not to use them until I got my test results back. I had the following symptoms: Irregular periods (one missed altogether) No Libido (poor hubby) Painful intercourse due to extreme dryness (despite use of lubricants) Tiredness/Insomnia Moodiness The list is endless, but I’ll stop here… I just got back my test results in the mail today from my HMO. My testosterone levels is 45ng/dl which my doctor said is not causing my low libido and I shouldn’t use the cream. My FSH level was 5.6mIU/ml which is not in the menopausal range (BTW these tests were taken 6 days AFTER the date of my last period…aren’t they supposed to be taken the THIRD day during your period to be accurate? My doctor didn’t say whether I should use the other products. I am going to try and contact her, but with an HMO, wish me luck! I know this is not all in my head. My grandmother actually finished menopause in her late 20s. Please anyone, if you can offer some suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. I am married to a wonderful, loving husband whom I absolutely love and adore….and I really want, to want intimacy. He has been so great and patient about all of this...sometimes I really don't know how he puts up with me except that I know he loves me...he'd have to! LOL Thanks for any input you can provide!

TY4T You'll find all kinds of helpful things on this site! Comments from all kinds of women, all over the country...if you have time, take a look around. From one peri to another rhonda;)

Too Young, Welcome - you will find so many others that you can relate to and vice-versa. You didn't mention how old you are in your post. I was in my mid 30's when all this hit me and it's been 12 years now. I have done nothing to alleviate the symptoms until recently with the Revival Soy products and testosterone cream to help with the libido. RMG is right, read read read. You will find Power Surge a God-send as alot of us have. Good luck and keep posting and reading. Tina

I took two different FSH test on day 3. The first one was at 14, two years later I took one, which was at 6, or so. These test obviously aren't fool proof since the first one showed I was just entering peri. In peri the hormones fluctuate immensely. Since your grandmother was so young, it's possible you are going through peri. In my late thirties I would say the going started getting rough, before my period. This was when the night sweats started. I'd track my periods closely.

I took two different FSH test on day 3. The first one was at 14, two years later I took one, which was at 6, or so. These test obviously aren't fool proof since the first one showed I was just entering peri. In peri the hormones fluctuate immensely. Since your grandmother was so young, it's possible you are going through peri. In my late thirties I would say the going started getting rough, before my period. This was when the night sweats started. I'd track my periods closely.

Whoops, Sorry!!!!!

Thanks for the post! I should have mentioned in my original post that I am 37 and this all started around 35. I have been suffering in silence for the past 2 years because my HMO is horrible (I guess I should be grateful I have medical coverage and stop my whining) because whenever you go in there they make you feel like you are wasting their time or it is all in your head. (Other people where I live have the same complaints about our HMO, so it is not just me!). Anyways, I really appreciate your posts and welcome others to comment on any suggestions. I am glad to see that just because my FSH test came out like it did doesn't mean too much. Thanks again!

My gyn called with my blood test results today. I'm still perimenopausal, and (to quote her nurse) the likelyhood of pregnancy is extremely low! What to do regarding contraception (I'm 50)? I've been using condoms w/out spermacide. Should I take a chance? Yes, I'm calling her tomorrow morning.

I have used condoms for years without the spermacide. When my husband and I first got married I got a presciption for the "pill". He read the little insert and didn't want me to take them. He's such a sweetie. He said he would rather use the condoms than worry about the side effects. It is a personal choice, but we have never found the condoms to be a big deal. It hasn't dampened the mood...up until now...now it is the hormones dampening it! LOL Now the GYN is talking about putting me on low-dose for the hormones and I am trying to decide what to do.

Hi Tooyoung, I don't think you're too young at all to be experiencing peri symptoms. I was around 38 when I REALLY started searching out my symptoms, but when I look back it was in my mid thirties that insomnia creeped into my life, anxiety started rearing it's ugly head, and other things. Just make sure you rule out ALL other possibilities, and when that is done, you can probably rest assured that you are 'there'!! HUGS! Kleeo

Hi RMG I have been told the exact same thing by my GYN. (I too am 50). She said the chances of becoming pregnant were 1 in 20,000 (and I just went off the pill). On the off chance that my libido is participating, my husband uses condoms. I don't think I need to add the extra worry of why I didn't get my period in any given month (with my luck I'd be the 1!). I think it boils down to personal choice. Hope this helps. EJ EJ

I just spoke to a nurse practioner on the telephone to see if she was someone who could help me with natural hormones. Note that I have been to several gyn. doctors and my organs are perfectly healthy - only one small fibroid. She asked about my menstrual cycle. I told her my cycles have become irregular and short and I spotted a little inbetween. She said that most people in perimenopause have longer cycles or skipped cycles. She said maybe something else is causing the physical and emotional problems I have been feeling. That really made me upset - especially since I just started CBT yesterday and the therapist told me I need to accept what is happening to my body as normal hormone changes and not fight it so hard. Now I have doubt again that my anxiety and mood swings are caused by perimenopause. Just when I my outlook had improved!! What do you girls think? I thought that shortened cycles were a symptom of perimenopause????? Boone

One month I will have a cycle of 4 days. The next month maybe 10 days. Mine are all over the board. As for the anxiety, whatever the cause may be, you have to take that "head on". Don't worry so much about the reason behind it as to solving it. Anxiety is something you have to be very aggressive about fighting in order for you to control it instead of vice-a-versa. Be strong, confident, and non-passive. If possible, take a cognitive thinking class for anxiety. Trust me, it will make all the difference in the world. I am 37 and have had panic disorder from the farthest time back I can remember. You can live a wonderful, joyful life, even if you suffer from anxiety/panic as long as you are the one running it and not the panic. Good luck! Questions about anxiety? Just ask!

I agree with you that the anxiety must be tackeled immediately which is why I started therapy. The problem is that part of my anxiety is from doctors acting like they don't know why my body is acting so weird. Just when I convince myself that it is in fact hormonal someone adds doubt to the mix!

Hi Boone I read your postr about the nurse saying the cycles should be longer not shorter. Mine were 15 days apart to 24 days apart. This has gone on since 1999. I'm not dead so I'm assuming I'm peri. Even though Doc told me I'm too young. One word for the some of the Doc's & nurses. BullS**T. I often would like to ask some of them if they got their license in a Cracker Jack Box. Sorry I'm so rough, having a High Anxiety High Anger day. LOL AA

Anxiety Attack, Your last post just helped me soooo much - I can't stop laughing. You are so right!!! Thanks a million - you have no idea how much better your fine remark made me feel. Love, Boone:D:D:D

Boone, My cycles have become much shorter too. I was always 26-28 days and now 19-21. There were a few that were only 10-12 apart. My old gyn said that's the beginning of the "changes" and she put me on birth control pills. That was a mistake but I really feel the shorter cycle is peri. Does this NP prescribe natural hormones? If not, that could be a reason why she dismissed your symptoms as not peri. She may not know enough about natural hormones. Hard to find qualified people who do. I have anxiety too and have been through therapy and have often wondered if hormones were the cause of my anxiety or was it me. I'm happy to say I have been anxiety free for about 4 months ( I ended therapy about 2 months ago after 10 months). I got a lot out of therapy but I also began Revival soy about 8 months ago and wonder if that helped to even out the wacky hormones. I don't question it - I'm happy the anxiety is gone for now. You'll be ok - I'm sure the screwy hormones aren't helping - take care

Cycles can become shorter in peri. This was my initial pattern. The fact that all doctors don't know this astounds me. Oh, I forgot these were the bozos, who were handing out premarin/progestin on anecdotal evidence, telling us it was good for our hearts, brains, skin, etc. I believe people should research and participate in their own health care. I'm just flummoxed,as to why these drugs were handed out for decades, without the benefit of double blind studies. Oh, yes, we are women. Feeling premenstrual!! Thank goodness there aren't any doctors around. I don't feel like apologizing tonight.

My periods came more often in peri but were shorter in length. They also were more intense with clotting and lots of flooding. And sometimes between periods, I would spot lightly until the next period. Boone, don't doubt yourself - just listen to your body. Only you can do that, not a doctor. Find a doctor who will work with you and realizes that peri differs from woman to woman. Take care, Tina