I'm 41 and my dr has advised me to start preparing for menopause and consider permanent contraception instead of the pill or get my dh sterilised. It all seems too much to suddenly take in, I only went to see her cos my ds had a sore throat..

I'm thinking maybe get a Mirena fitted and forget all about it?
My mum went through it in her 50's with no issues and I just assumed I'll be the same.
Any words of wisdom??

Why do you have to have contraception if you are pre-menopausal? It's extrememly unlikely you'll get pg (as I have found out due to trying!) Altho I suppose it does make sense, as there is a slight chance.

Did you have any blood tests for your Dr to make this assessment?

no she just came out with it!! As far as I know I have no symptoms though if you're on the pill perhaps they're hidden?

Well yeah, sounds like my GP. Really knowledgeable. Yeah right. My GP didn't even know which days to have tests on! Luckily I remembered.

Yes if you're on the pill it will mask symptoms. You should ask for some blood tests, the most important being a test at CD2 (after coming off the pill) to measure FSH. If it's high that's a sign that you are entering peri-menopause. But it doesn't mean you ARE menopausal. Menopause is when you have not had AF for more than a year (I think it's a year).

41 is a bit young for menopause

Agreed. All sounds a bit dramatic for a sore throat!!
Presume you don't want more children so why not get the device fitted (a lot of men don't like the thought of the snip, although it never did my old man any harm!) and have the bloods done then take it from there?
If you mother was okay then your chances of breezing though it are much better. I find my HRT invaluable, without it I'd be chewing the table (!) but I was put into false full on menopause. Some of my friends, who are going through it naturally, find HRT wonderful, others say they feel fine apart from the hot flush. If you are menopausal, and 41 seems young, then the choice is yours, not the docs!!

hehe ok so whats CD2?? durgh,
I was really taken back by my Dr's comments, I suppose she was just trying to be helpful?
I guess it is harder to pregnant when older but still I wouldn't take the risk of not using contraception as many friends in their 40's have become pregnant and gone on to have healthy babies - the oldest 45!, plus my mum fell pregnant with me at 42... I wouldn't be too worried but my dh would be horrified!!!!

My friend is going through peri menopause and doing homeopathy and aromatherapy which she loves! She is also training to open her own clinic too. Making the most of it!! Shame we live so far apart now.

How do I know if I'm perimenopausal - ? At the moment I feel no different than I did 20 years ago.

Hi! Firstly I didn't even know the term perimenopausal 'till I came on here and not sure what it is! Thank God, though, or I would probably have had it straight away...

YES! Lots of women get pregnant with healthly babies in their 40's. You know that! Looks like you had your baby 'late' (hate that term....). I too went on to have planned baby at 38 much to the amazment of some folk as I already had a girl and boy. Like THAT was anything to do with it :-)

If your partner wants to stop and you are ready to then just get the coil and get the bloods. Yes, I'm sure your doc was trying to be helpful but REALLY!! Still, sounds as if she is going to nag you to have cervical smears and breast screenings which can only be good.
Good luck and be well.

Peri-menopausal is the period of time leading up to menopause (cessation of periods for 12months or more). It is more of a technical definition, as most women who are experiencing any of the "34 symptoms" (ie :-irregular periods, hot flushes, night swaets, mood swings etc) end to refer to themselves as menopausal (I sure did !) Menopause is the period of time when your periods have stopped and post-menopausal is after the 12month period during which you have not menstruated. Per-menopause can sneak up on you - it did for me - and can last for up to 10 years apparently. The only way to scientifically define this is through falling FSH levels. This said, it can be deceptive. My friend (who had a full hysterectomy at 34)was told she was post-menopausal due to incredibly high FSH levels. Having had none of the 34 symptoms at all (now aged 55) she is now experiencing hot flushes, low libido, mood swings etc. Menopause seems to be a very individual experience !