What Is the Typical Age for Perimenopause to Begin?

I started having changes after my 2nd was born (I was 35). These were changes my gynecologist identified as perimenopause. My eye doctor and my PCP also said it. It might seem early, but I got my period at 10, so maybe it's all a little earlier. I've been having 10 day periods on a 20 day cycle for several years, but suddenly, in the past few months, it's become 2-3 day periods. My eyes are dry, and I have a hard time tolerating some Meds and chemicals I used to be fine with. I'm 45 now. I can easily see this being a 15 year process if that's the case.

Good that you're going to talk with the doctor. Other conditions can cause the symptoms you describe.

You're fortunate to have been regular all these years. My periods were never regular and quite painful because of endometriosis. I've heard of women whose periods changed in their 30's because of endometrial build up. I'd rather have an early menopause than endometriosis. There are a variety of treatments for perimenapause. Not much one can do for endometriosis.

According to WebMD:
Perimenopause, or menopause transition, begins several years before menopause. It's the time when the ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen. It usually starts in a woman's 40s, but can start in her 30s or even earlier.

The average length of perimenopause is 4 years, but for some women this stage may last only a few months or continue for 10 years. Perimenopause ends when a woman has gone 12 months without having her period.

Women in perimenopause have at least some these symptoms:

Hot flashes
Breast tenderness
Worse premenstrual syndrome
Lower sex drive
Fatigue
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex
Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing
Urinary urgency (an urgent need to urinate more frequently)
Mood swings
Trouble sleeping

The mid-cycle spotting can also be caused by fibroids.

Be sure to discuss this with your OB/Gyn at your next appointment.

Your doc will do blood work to find out - but some people do begin perimenopause early - like 39. Talk to your doc about this. Hot flashes, mood swings & sleep disturbances... sounds like it could be.

I was told that I was in peri-menopause when I was 36. Wow, yep that was a year ago.
I had a uterine ablation after my son so I don't have the typical tell-tale monthly signs.
My otolaryngologist, nose dr from a nose break, was actually the one who brought it to my attention that I should be tested. (I guess the mucus lining in your nose looks like other areas).

It certainly could be perimenopause although spotting can also be caused by uterine problems. You should check with your ob/gyn who may want to do an endometrial biopsy (really quick 2 minute in office procedure, nothing to worry about) to rule that out. If you can take birth control pills, they absolutely are recommended for this. And no, you don't have to go through menopause when you stop them anyway. You just discontinue them after the age of average menopause and you are done. At least that is according to my ob.

The only thing that would concern me is the mid cycle spotting. That can be a sign of abnormal growths like polyps, fibroids and in the worst case some type of cancer. I would definitely have it checked with an ultrsound or at least talk with your doctor about it.

It's possible.
How you decide to deal with it is between you and your doctor.
Estroven helped minimize the hot flashes for me.
I've been in perimeopause since late 30's and if I make it though this Dec with no period I'll be officially in full menopause.
It's been about a 14 yr process.
You are likely to follow your mothers pattern.
My Mom had a hysterectomy in her early 40's (her uterus fell down) so I had no way of knowing how I might progress.

Morning
no, 39 is not too young... That is about the time I began to feel slight changes, I am now 50 and still having them :) although....... that which has helped me through is learning more about my cycle and what to expect.. Initially, I thought I knew exactly what my body was doing each month, but as hot flashes, anxiety and mood swings began to take hold, I began to seek out more info.. which led me to a book written by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, it's called of all things, "screaming to be heard" .... the title comes from the fact that most doctors often disregard what a woman is saying in terms of her health.... in the book, she details what to expect at each age.. in my case, my menstruation became really heavy (turns out, it was fibroids) and although never claustrophobic before, I was now experiencing such symptoms... come to find out, this had a lot to do with a drop in my Estrogen levels (which controls the cortisol) and therefore, when estrogen drops off, cortisol can run amuck) which for me meant major anxiety..
Since reading that book and for the last several years, tracking my monthly cycle, I now know what to expect or at least have a good idea... it doesn't take away all the symptoms, but when I am having them at least I know that in part, it's due to a hormonal shift.. for example.. if all of a sudden I have a sharp spike in mood, I now know I am not going crazy :) but rather that my estrogen or progesterone just shifted a bit...just by knowing this, when I feel a mood coming on.... I can tell myself.. ok this truly is hormonal and I can deal with it... It's not a cure all.. but knowledge is definitely power..... No doctor has helped me with "the change" in terms of really understanding my body.. instead, most want to give you antidepressant drugs or hormone therapy... after reading that book, I became very empowered... I think if you can better understand the intricacies of your body, the change won't be so bad.. or bad at all..

wishing you all the best..

An IUD would help with the wacky cycle and really strong flows. My doc suggested the IUD when I went off BCP because of high blood pressure. My symptoms aren't severe enough to go with the IUD, but yours might be.

And it does sound early, but we tend to follow the pattern of family in this.

No 39 is not too young. I started around then as well. I'm in full blown menopause and I just turned 50. Haven't had a period in several months. Yay!!!

39 is about right.. my dr recommended progesterone cream. it helps some.. sort of .. a little... I am 48 and still have a period every month.. my cycles are shorter.. instead of 33 days it is not about 26 days..

I don't think they use the pill for this.... and when you come off the pill you still have to go through menopause... not fun.. but we all do it..

Hi. 3 days after turning 40, I started bleeding mid cycle for 2 weeks. I was convinced I had ovarian cancer. I went to the gyno & everything was fine. She did an ultrasound but said that my ovaries looked "youthful" still.

I continued with irregular bleeding a every once in a while, 2-3 times a year until at 45, the hot flashes began. They were on a nightly basis & most if the time I didn't know I was sweating but my husband would throw the sheets off of me. About 2 months ago, I started having severe hot flashes throughout the day. I'm 48 years old. Also I don't mind hot flashes as others do. I've always been cold so I welcome the hot flashes. But I read that apple cider vinegar helps & it sure did. However, for the first time ever, aside from pregnancy, I skipped a period in September & I thought this is it. No more periods. I was actually kinda sad about it. But like clockwork, on the day that I normally get my period, I started. Boy was I happy. Anyway, my point is that I've been going through peri menopause for 8 1/2 years. Hang in there. Btw, natural vitamin E helps in delaying it, along with a good quality 2000 mg of vitamin C. I hope to have a few more years...

it's a little early but perfectly possible. i started around 41. the worst of it was past by my late 40s, but some symptoms persist.
definitely check with your doctor. it's hard to say what will work for you. i refused to take that awful premarin, so it was herbal remedies for me, and they had very little effect. i just charged on through.
khairete
S.

39 is not to young. A lot of women follow the trends of their mother. My cousin started perimenopause at 35 and she hasn't had a period since she was 42. Her mother did the same. After testing her dr determined she was in menopause. It just depends on the woman.

I thought I was experiencing perimenopause due to the symptoms being hot all the time and jittery but found out that I have hyperthyroidism. You may want to have your thyroid checked before deciding that you are in perimenopause. Good luck.

I will be 44 next month and I have gone over a year without a period. I have undergone all the testing and nothing else is causing it. I had a couple of years where my periods went absolutely insane before getting to this point. It is not too young, though from what I understand it is on the earlier side of normal. My third child was born several months before I turned 39 and, quite frankly, my periods started going a bit haywire after her birth until they got the last 2 years before my current year of no period at all.
If your doctor rules out anything else then it is most likely peri-menopause.
I never went on any birth control pills or any hormones at all because I have a history of terrible reactions to them. You don't have to go on anything.

not too young. My mom was 35

mid cycle spotting is not part of perimenopause.
call your dr.

Not too young ~ I was 35. My Mom was 41 when she was completely finished and in full menopause.

Some people have it at that age. My friend is going through severe symptoms of it now at more normal age (50), but she's found a lot of relief from symptoms with various women's super vitamins and herbal supplements and stuff.You should focus on optimum health through diet and exercise and women's supplements like that first...look for expert opinion on those things.. which could prevent the need to think about other meds just yet. My friend is an avid yogi and health nut but with her symptoms she was having getting lack of sleep and abdominal weight gain...I put her on Fit For Life diet (Diamond) and she switched her workouts to mornings, and the weight and sleep issues stopped, and supplements eased things like hot flashes in general. There are adjustments you can make in your lifestyle before going to a doctor.