Perimenopause - Warning TMI!

[Irulan]

Any comments on changes in libido levels? For the most part, things are going pretty smoothly here with occasional mild hot flashes and a real decrease in bleeding days/time. I'm down to just some spotting every few months or so. The biggest thing for me is lack of libido, and no rhyme or reason to the levels. At least when I was menstruating, I could tie in the highs and lows to my cycles, and there were highs. I suppose this is related to dropping in hormone levels.

[zoom-zoom]

I need to come back to this thread later when I have time to read all of the responses and contribute more, but at 40 my cycles are generally 23 days and have been for at least the past 5 years. Totally annoying, especially since I bleed for ~8 days, so I feel like I have my period at least a third of the time. I'd have a hysterectomy if I didn't dread the thought of no activity for 6 weeks or more. I've had endometriosis and adenomyosis since my first period, so there would be benefit to being rid of the uterus and my one "hamburger" ovary. Menopause doesn't sound so bad, right now...

[Biciclista]

I'm 61 and my hot flashes are more vivid (shall we say) than ever. I am glad you are going to the doctor, although i started with all this nonsense in my late 30s too, the bleeding didn't stop until i was 54. OH BOY I was glad. woohoo! I went to the doctor after a long pause and she said, "we don't count it until a year has passed" so sure enough 11 months later, i had another period. but then it really stopped. I do not miss it. nope. But the silly hot flashes, come on, do they EVER stop?

[DocZan89]

Got it all...hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, fatigue, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness, decreased libido and depression. It's been about 9 months since my last period. I will be 50 in July and all of this started about 3-4 years ago. It goes in cycles where I'll be great for a few months and then it hits me again for a few months. I've tried figuring out what helps and what doesn't help. For me, it seems eating right and exercise do the trick. When I am "on the wagon" doing what I'm supposed to do I feel good. When I fall off the wagon (winter is a particularly bad time or my work schedule) that's when my symptoms are at their worse. I'm off the wagon now and hoping to kick myself in the butt now that it looks like Spring will truly be here.

But...as previously suggested, make sure to check for Thyroid Issues. They can mimic symptoms of menopause.

Once you can come to grips with all this and find what works for you, your love of biking will return.

Hope this helps.

Rosanna

[emily_in_nc]

Libido -- what's that?!

[Biciclista]

Libido -- what's that?!

snort

[thekarens]

Just an update...went to the gyn and she did a pap, told me the pathologist might not be able to read it because there was too much blood up there (even though there wasn't any when I went to the restroom before and after the appointment, must just be hanging out up there.) Then told me she felt "something" small on the right side...whatever that means. I had blood drawn the following day, which is a whole other story and next week I go for an ultrasound.

As far as the libido question goes I've gone from about an 8-9 to a 2-3, which actually is fine for us/me.

[OakLeaf]

Any comments on changes in libido levels?

Mine is gone. Absolutely gone. But the breast stuff 3-5 years ago is another HUGE contributing factor to that (both on my part and DH's), so I can't necessarily blame it all on menopause.