Early menopause - what happened for you?

[SinkGirl]

I’m 38, I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. Since my twins were born 4.5 years ago, once my periods returned my cycles have been 21-28 days (usually 24 days, with 10 day periods). My pain has been worsening all this time, but the last 4-5 months have been actually horrifying. My last laparoscopy was 5.5 years ago, and I haven’t really taken hormones since my twins were born other than a couple of brief periods on the pill (last one a year ago) as everything causes me too many side effects.

Anyway, last several months my pain has worsened, especially mid cycle - initially just a day of pain, but this month the pain has lasted from about day 10 to now - I’m day 33, no period just awful pain. I don’t think I’ve ever had a cycle longer than 30 days in my life so I’m a bit concerned.

GP has referred me for an urgent scan since the amount of pain mid cycle is unusual for me, as is my missing period. Blood and urine tests too.

I’ve got some pregnancy tests coming tomorrow just to definitively rule that out (vanishingly unlikely - sex is too painful, we tried about 7 weeks ago for about 5 seconds before I stopped it, and I’ve had a very heavy period since then which is normal for me)

In the last couple of days I’ve had a couple of hot flushes - not really terrible but noticeable, and again unusual for me. I was on a menopause inducing drug in my 20s so had hot flushes etc then but they were much worse than what I’m having now.

If you went into early menopause, what were your symptoms like? Did you have a period of peri menopause or did your periods just stop suddenly? Now wondering if the increasing pain and worsening periods over the last six months has actually been a build up to menopause, and maybe now my cycles will get longer, or maybe it’s just done? My twins are non ID so would have released two eggs, which can be a sign that your ovaries are going out of business soon!

Will obviously wait and see what all the tests say but I’m just wondering if early menopause tends to be more sudden rather than gradual?

[SinkGirl]

Just bumping in case anyone sees this who’s experienced it.

Still no sign of my period, did a pregnancy test and nothing. Have ultrasound next week and waiting on blood tests but feeling quite unsettled not knowing what’s going on

[SinkGirl]

Still no period - been looking online and the only things that could possibly fit are menopause and PCOS. Maybe it will just turn up really late but seems really weird after being so regular. Having scan on Tuesday.

If anyone has been through this would really appreciate hearing your experiences

[Trixie78]

I can't help sorry but I think I may be on the same journey as yourself. Had non ID twins 3 years ago, am early 40s and have started getting some the symptoms you describe above. Didn't want to read and run but I've no idea what's going on sorry. Hopefully someone knowledgeable will be along shortly xx

[Trixie78]

Good luck Tuesday 💐

[SinkGirl]

Oh bless you. Have you managed to get a referral or some tests? The GP I spoke to has referred me back to gynae but said it’s a really long wait at the moment. The pain is driving me mad but the missing period is bothering me more. Hoping the scan just shows a cyst or something that would explain the worse pain.

Hope you get some answers x

[Sarahlou252]

For me, my cycles got shorter and shorter and bleeding lasted 3 weeks at a time to the point where I had to go to the doctors to take medication to get them to stop every month. I had scans on my ovaries and blood tests as I was only 41 at the time. They got ridiculously hard to manage & I had to be careful with planning to go out as I was so heavy.
Then very abruptly they just stopped. I didn't have a period for 8 months first time round, then a random one turned up. Then I went 19 months before another random one (gutted as I was on the 2 year countdown!) That was 13 months ago & haven't had one since and I think, at 48, I'm done.

[weegiemum]

My periods got further and further apart after I turned 40. One day I realised it'd been 6 months, but then I had a monster, and it went on like this. Some hot flushes but nothing like others have described, and depression, but I've been depressed on and off since my mid teens.
I've had 10 years of off again on again periods now, and right through my 40s the doctors were very much "wait 2 years". I'm not able to have hrt for another health condition.

I was 50 in December and my last awful period was August (while at MIL's house!!), so just waiting to see if I go beyond a year now I've passed the magic age. My mum suffered badly with fibroids and I think I probably have them, though my periods aren't painful at all.

[SinkGirl]

Sorry you both had such tough experiences. My periods definitely have worsened since I had my twins but I’ve just put that down to the endometriosis- maybe it has actually been build up to menopause.

My pain at the moment is absolutely ridiculous, glad they’ve arranged a scan so quickly. I think they’ve done it under the two week pathway which is a bit worrying but probably only because my mum had ovarian cancer. Don’t think it’s anything sinister but will be good to get checked out.

[Iootraw1]

Sounds similar to my run up to early menopause. Had a couple of weird 20 day cycles (probably skipped ovulation) Cycle reduced from 30-31 days down to around 23 - 26 days, bleeding same except two days spotting before period got going (dropping progesterone I believe). Missed cycles for months at a time then breakthrough spotting for up to 12 days a time. Mild hot flushes , then a few months of normal periods before abrupt halt again for a few months. Periods came back for 3-4 cycles more then stopped and that was it. Hot flushes continued for another five years. The change in periods to point of last ever period all in the space of two and a half years. Best to go and get your hormone levels checked - my Fsh and Lh levels were through the roof and so there was no question it was early menopause. I was 42.

[SinkGirl]

Thanks all. GP has ordered blood tests so will see what they say. If it is then it feels very sudden but I guess I’ve been putting changes to my periods down to endo stuff. Some have been shorter than usual but they’ve all been even heavier and even more painful.

Seems there aren’t many things that cause absent periods really so if it continues, unless I’ve developed PCOS, seems menopause is most likely.

[Girlintheframe]

I was mid 30s when my period started changing. Used to be very regular but then they went all over the place. PMT became much worse. Honestly felt like I was going mad!
Period became very very heavy. At one point was wearing thick Tena pants.
Eventually went on to HRT at night mainly for hot flushes. Periods totally stopped around 46.

[SinkGirl]

Seems from looking into it that it would be very unusual for periods to just stop out of nowhere but maybe I have missed signs as I’ve thought it was something else. I guess I’ll know more in the next few months.

[SinkGirl]

So I had my scan today - everything normal. However, she said my womb lining is average thickness so can’t explain why my period is now almost two weeks late - doesn’t seem like it’s going to start any time soon. Must be hormonal, surely. Very strange that it has coincided with the severe pain. No idea what’s going on, maybe blood tests will shed some light.