A doctor has warned that many people might not know their unexplained tired and irritable symptoms could be linked to perimenopause. NHS GP Dr Shireen issued the advice in a post on TikTok as @doctorshireen.
In the video, she explained that symptoms such as brain fog and tiredness could indicate you’re experiencing perimenopause. It occurs when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped.
The NHS explains : “Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. It affects anyone who has periods.”
Dr Shireen told social media users: “If you’re over the age of 35 and you’re feeling tired and you’ve got brain fog, please listen to this video. I’m an NHS GP, and there is one thing that so many people, including many GPs, aren’t aware of.”
She explained: “If you are going through a ‘normal’ menopause, you’re going to go through menopause between the ages of 49 to 51. Perimenopause, which is the period before menopause where your hormones might be fluctuating a lot, can actually start as early as the age of 36, and that’s not rare; it’s common for it to do that.
“So I get women coming to see me who are tired, they’ve got brain fog, they’re irritable, they’re not sleeping, they’re sweating, and we do bloods, and we’re looking at things like their thyroid and their iron levels and it all comes back normal. So quite often, we might just send them on their way and say look, everything is fine, maybe it is psychological, but one thing that so often is not considered is this the beginning of menopause.”
The GP added: “So if that is you and you are having those symptoms and you have had a blood test check all of the other things, then speak to your GP, suggest perimenopause and see what they say.” The NHS says menopause and perimenopause can feel different for everyone.
Some people might experience lots of symptoms, while others don’t experience any. As the Mirror reports, symptoms can include changes to your periods, changes to your mood, problems with memory or concentration, hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, palpitations, muscle aches, and weight gain.
The NHS notes that menopause “usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier,” and it’s advised to see a GP or a nurse if you think you have perimenopause or menopause symptoms. “Getting advice early can help reduce the impact perimenopause and menopause have on your health, relationships and work,” the NHS suggests.