I have had elevated blood pressure during my perimenopausal time. My daughter is a nurse and I ask her to check it for me from time to time just so I can monitor it, so it has not been a chronic problem. I had not had previous problems with it, except during pregnancy.

Thank you so much!
I hope I get some other ladies with this happening. My doctor claims blood pressure doesn't go up and down in a cycle. They are searching for other things. I great thing is in searching, they did a CT scan which found a tumor on my kidney. It is small and has not spread. The scan saved my life. Feeling very blessed right now. They say after the surgery, I will need to continue looking for my blood pressure cause. I'm praying it is just perimenopause. :)

Grammie, did they ever mention that your kidney tumor may be contributing to high blood pressure? Also, do you have any related issues with the perimenopause like weight gain. I have read that while there seems to be a link between menopause and high blood pressure, they aren't sure why. Also, women who take estrogen also have an increased BP.

My blood pressure always goes up when I am on my period, so I am figureing hormones also has a role in high blood pressure.

Hotmom said "Also, women who take estrogen also have an increased BP."

This isn't necessarily true. I know a number of women who've had hysterectomies who developed high BP after their surgery. Estrogen replacement brought it back to a normal level.

The urologist said that the size of my tumor indicates no symptoms, including my high blood pressure. I am still having periods although they are really changing in duration and frequency. I am having 27 of the 34 symptoms of menopause. One of them is weigh gain. Walking and eating VERY low cal and healthy, and I have a bloated stomach off and on. They have controlled my high blood pressure with medicine, but it still goes up and down. I also have the racing pulse, and pounding heart that comes and goes. The OB wanted to put me on birth control but my blood pressure is too high... circle of madness...... Thanks for helping!! I can stand all of this, I just want to know it's not something else. Thank you ALL AGAIN!!!!! :) Dana

Grammie, I am 48. I have the same exact symptoms as you. Upon hitting perimenopause, my blood pressure became high. Once, my T4 was slightly above normal as well. I've been taking Benicar (5 mg) and Hydrochlorothiazide (6.25 mg) which seemed to control it at least since Oct of 2011. Today, I checked my BP and it was 140/90 which really disappointed me. (I say disappointed because I'm trying not to panic or get anxious over it again, another symptom that appeared for me during peri.) I believe it fluctuates due to hormones. My BP is higher 10 days before my period (probably ovulating) and during my period. The doctors tell me my BP is not related to perimenopause. I tend to disagree.

Gawd, there's 34 Symptoms of Menopause?! Where's the checklist??

I started perimenopause at 35, fun times. I did birth control to calm the problems, which worked. Four yrs ago, my Dr. ran a blood test to see how close I was to menopause, I was 20%. Still took the pill, I'm 48, had the test again, I officially started menopause, so now off the pill.

I looked up menopause on Wikepedia, and they list symptoms, and I have at least 12 of them.

And, yes, high blood pressure is one of them, Never had it before, just became prominent in the past 2 yrs. It is related to hormone levels.