Can perimenopause start in your 30s?

Can perimenopause start in your 30s?

Yes. The NHS says menopause usually happens between 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. In the UK, the average age is 51.

Perimenopause is the run-up. NHS inform describes it as the time from your first symptoms until after your last period.

So at 44 you’re a year short of the usual window. At 35 you’re ten years short. Doctors give earlier menopause its own names.

That 2019 review pooled 31 studies from around the world. POI was more common in less developed countries, so the UK figure may differ.

Your family gives a clue. NHS inform says your menopause is likely to come at a similar age to your mother or older sisters. Ask them when their periods stopped.

What are the signs of perimenopause at 35, 40 or 44?

One of the first signs is usually a change to your periods. They may come more or less often, and bleeding may get heavier or lighter.

Periods count as irregular if the gap between them is less than 21 days or more than 35 days. An app or diary shows this better than memory.

Your periods may not change at first. NHS inform says some women get migraines, irritability and low mood, especially around their period, before any change in timing.

The full NHS list is in our perimenopause symptoms guide. Write down each sign and when it started.

Is it more likely if my mum had it early?

Yes. The NHS says you have a higher chance of early menopause if it runs in your family. A few other things raise it too.

Sometimes there’s no clear reason. The NHS says that sometimes the reason is unknown.

Tell your GP which rows apply to you. Under 40, NICE asks GPs to weigh your medical and family history.

Will my GP test my hormones at 38 or 44?

They may. The birthday that changes things is 45.

From 45, if you’re otherwise healthy with new hot flushes and a change in your cycle, NICE says to spot perimenopause without lab tests. Before 45, a blood test called FSH may be used. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) helps run your cycle.

Under 40, NICE says not to diagnose POI on a single blood test. So if the first result is raised, you may have a second test 4 to 6 weeks later.

On combined hormonal contraception (the pill, patch or ring) or high-dose progestogen (a man-made form of progesterone)? NICE says not to use an FSH test to identify menopause. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.

Why check before 45? The NHS says it’s important to replace missing hormones, because there’s a higher chance of bone and heart problems. The main treatments are HRT or the combined pill.

More detail: early menopause blood tests and perimenopause blood tests.

What else could it be in your 30s?

Plenty of things move periods. The NHS lists pregnancy, stress, sudden weight loss, being overweight, too much exercise, breastfeeding and some hormonal contraception.

Conditions can too. PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, which used to be called PCOS) and an overactive or underactive thyroid are on the list. See menopause or thyroid for how they differ.

A missed period is often an early sign of pregnancy. You can still get pregnant in perimenopause. From 40 to 49, the NHS says to use contraception for 2 years after your final period.

Trying for a baby? Early menopause can make it harder to get pregnant. Our fertility blood test guide covers what a GP checks.

When to speak to a GP

The NHS pages on early menopause, missed periods, irregular periods and menopause symptoms say to see a GP if:

• You think you have menopause symptoms. If you’re under 45, a GP may sometimes do blood tests.
• You’ve missed your period 3 times in a row.
• Your periods have become irregular, or you’re bleeding more, not less, than before.
• You have bleeding between periods.
• Your periods are irregular and you’re struggling to get pregnant.

Also contact your GP if you have a fast heartbeat (palpitations). For irregular cycles, see irregular periods blood tests.