Although I’ve been aware of it for a little while, last year peri-menopause really started to kick me in the bum, my PMT has been horrendous and my period has been somewhat erratic, some have been perfectly normal, some have lasted for 15 days, so it was time to go and visit the GP.Apparently 46 is on the early side but Ma was about this age when she started HRT so probably not that unusual in her family. We don’t know about the grandma’s who died at 49 and 51 respectively, although over Christmas one of my cousins on my Dad’s side mentioned a history of early menopause in the family so who knows?

We talked about HRT, I’m keen to avoid it not because I have a problem with the idea of it but I’m worried that it could make my migraines worse (when I was on the pill, they were horrendous). Given my age she suggested I tried taking a herbal supplement called Angus Castus. She was really clear that there had been no studies that said it was good for menopausal or peri-menopausal women but that there were studies that proved it was effective for PMT and that women who had taken it had reported that it seemed also to help with their menopausal symptoms. She said to give it three months and if I was still having issues to come back to her.

Angus Castus is also known as the Chasteberry and is a popular herbal supplement said to help loads of stuff (PMT, menstrual disorders, infertility, acne, menopause and nursing difficulties), apparently researchers believe that it works by decreasing the levels of the hormone prolactin and that helps rebalance other hormones including estrogen and progesterone, which in turn reduces PMT symptoms.

I’ve given it three months and it’s definitely helped my PMT. I’m much less emotional and bad tempered I don’t have sore breasts for two weeks before my period and just not having those things helps loads. I’ve also noticed my bleeding is lighter. However, if anything, my hormonal chin ache got much worse for a bit, it’s a little bit better but that could also be because I’m currently experimenting with retinol to see if that will help before I go back to the GP and explain that I need something for the chin spots, I didn’t have a spotty chin when I was a teenager, I’m damned if I’ll put up with them now!

I’m taking (Natures Aid PremEeze Agnus Castus and the recommendation is two a day but started with one at night and found that that works well for me, although I’ll increase the dose if I notice that the PMT gets bad again.

Honestly, I can’t believe the difference it’s made.