Helen’s story

Helen, 44, was in her 30s when she first went to the doctor with perimenopause symptoms – she was dismissed as being too young.

“My journey with the perimenopause first started in 2014 when I was 34 and pregnant with my first baby. At my 12-week scan, they found a 10cm dermoid cyst in my ovary. When I could finally have the cyst removed, three months after my child’s birth, they also had to remove one of my ovaries and fallopian tubes. I consider myself very lucky that this cyst was found and removed before it burst.

Two years later, when I had my second child, I noticed a definite dip in the way I felt.  My PMT was terrible – I felt like I was going mad and losing control. I thought it may be premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) but the doctor didn’t consider this. After numerous visits to the doctor, I was given anti-anxiety tablets and a hormonal coil – which I didn’t get on with and had it removed after five months.

I carried on logging my symptoms via an app for about a year and finally got a doctor to listen to me. They suggested I try HRT, oestrogen patches and progesterone tablets. My mood improved and I felt a bit more like my old self.

 “I felt so relieved and vindicated”

But after about a year and a half, my periods got so heavy and long I was scared to go out. I had several really embarrassing leaks. I went back to the doctor and was told that the only solution was the coil again. I gave it another go, and after the initial few months I stopped having periods, which was great.

But then I started getting some irregular bleeding, abdominal pain and a massive dip in mood again. So I went back to the doctor. At a scan, they informed me that the ovary I have left is tired and small, and I’m well into perimenopause.

I was actually happy to hear the news. I felt so relieved and vindicated. I wasn’t going mad – everything I’d been feeling was real and not in my head!

They also found a polyp in my womb, which may explain the symptoms I was having. After waiting several months, I had the polyp removed. It’s been a relief to get discover that the polyp was benign, and now I am waiting for a scan on the cyst.

 “I want it to be different for my daughters”

There needs to be more awareness around menopause and ovarian issues. Like me, my sister also had dermoid cysts. She had no idea until she collapsed in pain and was rushed to hospital. After this, I kept asking the doctor if I could be scanned. But I was told ‘No’ and that I would have to wait for something to happen. Even after my operation I was not regularly scanned. I have two daughters and I want it to be different for them.

 “Things need to change”

I’d like to see every woman offered a scan at their cervical smear appointments. This could catch issues sooner and ultimately save a lot of pain. It could prevent issues too, for example with fertility.

I’m happy to get my story out there and I hope it helps. So many others will have worse stories and this needs to change. I was always ignored because I was ‘too young’ but this wasn’t the case. I was experiencing perimenopause symptoms and it could have saved me and my family a lot of stress if I had been listened to earlier. The “Change” needs to CHANGE!”