missed period

[loopyloo87]

Hi ,I'm feeling quite down at the moment .I'm 49 & my periods are usually spot on ..However in Dec I came on at 23 days then two weeks later had a short period...I'm now 2 weeks overdue is this menopause do they stop just like that ..I've got slight cramping in my stomach & I'm hoping it will start ...I don't want the menopause and all the possible effects that come with it :(

[PollyPerky]

LOL- you can't stop time! You are peri menopausal, yes. Irregular periods are the first sign and the average age for stopping altogether is 51. Have a good read of this //www.menopausematters.co.uk

[loopyloo87]

Thank you poll perky..I haven't got any other symptoms at the moment just wondering when HRT starts

[PollyPerky]

The site I linked to Menopause Matters- has all the info you need and a forum.

[AuntieStella]

I'm not sure there's any single answer to when to start HRT, if at all, once you're in the typical peri-menopausal zone (50ish). If you are largely symptom free, other than menstrual cycle going awry, you might decide not to take it at all. But if you start getting the full suite of inconvenient symptoms, then that's the time to ask about it and weigh up the pros and cons.

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

Mine just stopped in November after being fairly regular all my life. Have had pmt from he'll on off ever since and the odd bit of staining. Appearantly that is all quite normal, the pmt type stuff is high estrogen trying to convince your body to squeeze another egg out. Have resigned myself that probably will start bleeding again at the most inconvenient time. If you don't have other symptoms that are unbearable why bother with hrt?

[loopyloo87]

I haven't got a clue about hrt I should start researching it...My mum's menopause suddenly stopped when she was around my age .I don't think she had any symptoms but she has a lot of problems with her bones would hrt protect the bones & heart ..
How long does one take hrt for ?I feel old & can't understand how women rejoice them stopping :(

[loopyloo87]

Thank you for the link pollyperkyx

[ouryve]

Hate to break it to you, but this could go on for a few years. My cycles are anything from 14 to 45 days, lately.

Read the website you've been linked to. If you're struggling to face up to what's coming (I can't wait for the buggers to be gone, personally!) go and talk to your GP. If you're under 40, so it's taken you by surprise, talk to your GP, anyhow and ask for other issues (thyroid etc) to be ruled out.

[loopyloo87]

Thank you Ouryve, I'm now 2 weeks late which is unusal..I'm getting slight cramps but no period.Sounds like I could come on at any time...Oh the joys

[BreconBeBuggered]

I'm in a similar position wrt periods. No other physical symptoms but much more anxiety, sadness and general RAGE than usual. Family and personal medical history suggest I should be thinking about HRT to delay osteoporosis, but equally that I should avoid it because of thrombosis and breast cancer. Friends' experience of talking to local GPs on the subject isn't encouraging. At least I'm the right age for it; I've been surprised at how often much younger women are pretty much fobbed off.

[PollyPerky]

loopy take a look at //menopausematters.co.uk
Loads of info on there to answer all your questions.

Loopy- you mean your mum's menopause started at your age!
menopause is the date of the last period and we are menopausal for life after that! Peri meno is the time leading up to the menopause.

You can take HRT forever if you have no medical reasons to stop- but this is a whole other issue! if your mum has osteoporosis or heart disease then this is something for you to seriously think about - HRT protects against both. But you need to educate yourself on it and think about risks and benefits and what suits you. If you have no symptoms yet then you don't need it.

[PollyPerky]

brecon I missed your post!

Again, read as much as you can about HRT and don't base your opinions on old stats etc.

HRT does not cause or add risks to thrombosis- pills do but other types- transdermal HRT- doesn't. Also, it doesn't cause breast cancer. The latest theory is that it may cause an existing cancer to grow more quickly, but doesn't cause it in the first place.

GPs are notoriously badly informed on HRT which is why the NICE guidelines were published last November to try to educate them! You can find that report online.

[BreconBeBuggered]

Thanks for the links, Polly.

[PollyPerky]

On the first/ Home page of MMatters you will find links to all the NICE guidelines including the one at the end for patients which includes and easy to read piece all about HRT.

[loopyloo87]

Thank you so much for all the info Pollyperky ...I'm about 3 weeks late now I wonder if this normal 😕

[ouryve]

Mine tend to spend ages convincing me they're just around the corner, loopy (And realise that I completely missed your age in my first reply to you!)

[loopyloo87]

I'm 49 & am finding it quite difficult to come to terms with (maybe strange I know )...I wonder if I'll ever get a period again ...

[ouryve]

Oh, it'll creep up on you. Probably while you're preparing a big roast dinner, if you're anything like me :o