Worried sick !!

[applecrumbleandcream]

I'm 46 years old and just this week had what was a very light period after not having had one for about two years. I have experienced night sweats where I've been dripping in sweat on chest and back of my neck, this has been over the last year or so. I thought I was menopausal and thought this was just a normal symptom of the menopause. This week I went to see my GP as after two years I read on the internet this wasnt normal. My GP sent me for blood tests which have come back as saying I am peri menopausal. I have to go for a vaginal ultrasound and also have been fast tracked to see a gynae specialist. I am so worried. I feel terrible that I have left it so long. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[PollyPerky]

sorry you are so worried.
What you've been told is a bit confusing. Drs usually fast track women for a scan if they have bleeding post menopause which means no period for 12 months. You say your blood tests showed you were in peri- so you are still producing some hormones which is to be expected at 46. If you'd reached menopause at 44 this would be on the cusp of early meno- before age 45- and the treatment is HRT to at least age 51 to prevent long term illnesses.
For women under 50-ish it's quite possibly- so I have read- to have a gap like you have and then have some ovarian activity which results in a period.
You probably have nothing to worry about. Your Dr's just doing what is suggested.

[ivykaty44]

Even if you are still having intermittent periods any spotting of blood between periods you get fast tracked for bloods and scan, the GPS like to be safe and secure so it is really a bib and braces exercise

[anonooo]

Exactly the same happening to me. Off to hospital on Monday. scary but I think it is just gp being cautious.

[applecrumbleandcream]

Had scan has revealed thickened lining on the wall of the womb. Now have to have hysteroscopy on 15th December, to say I'm worried is an understatement!! Since bleed have been having terrible period pain but bleeding has stopped.

[applecrumbleandcream]

Plus consultant explained if no period for a year (which I've not) then I've been through the menopause. The blood test doesn't mean anything she said.

[Bellaciao]

As PollyPerky explained above the time is set at 12 months (ie on the cautious side) to ensure that no women whose bleeding is due to some sort of pathology/problem is overlooked. It does not mean to say that categorically every woman who has not had a period for 12 months is definitely post-menopausal and will never have another natural bleed. There are several women who have reported just this on another forum. A small percentage of women (no idea how many!) will continue to have another period after this time.

Before the natural average age of menopause this can be more likely - and even women with polycystic ovary syndrome (and premature menopause) can get a spontaneous resumption of periods, so I understand.

As for the blood tests - agreed that one blood tests cannot tell you anything - but it is usually the reverse where the mistake is made by doctors ie women are sometimes told they are post-menopausal on the basis of one raised FSH reading and low oestrogen levels, when FSH varies enormously during the peri-menopausal years.

As I understand - if your blood tests show you are peri-menopausal then this implies a low FSH level (and perhaps substantially raised oestrogen levels) which does not happen if you are post-menopausal. It can mean something, but depending on what you are looking for although ideally more than one should be taken. For example if progesterone levels are raised this indicates ovulation has taken place but they may not have tested for this. Can you get a reading of your actual blood tests from your GP? You should be able to.

Anyway do try not to worry - if you are still peri-menopausal (albeit late) then you would expect the lining to be thickened. I had a hysteresocopy a couple of years ago and it was very quick and if you take the painkillers they suggest an hour before the procedure it shouldn't be painful - well it wasn't for me.

[Bellaciao]

I did of course mean hysteroscopy! Not sure I can edit posts for typos?

[PollyPerky]

Just to agree with all of the previous posts. The younger you are, the less likely it is to be anything serious. Endometrial cancer is very rare in women under 50.

I'd also agree that 12 months without a period does not always mean you are post-menopausal when you are in your mid-40s especially. They use this cut-off point of 12 months because they have to have some kind of cut-off point, to be on the safe side but it's never an exact science. Many women have a period after a gap of 11 months, others after 13-14 months. Who's to say that the latter is at much more risk just because of a few weeks? They probably aren't.

There's a big difference between a woman in her mid-late 50s who suddenly has some bleeding after two years without any, and someone like you who hasn't had a period since 44 and is now 46.

Your dr is following guidelines which is right, but the odds are that it's nothing at all to worry about.

I've had a hysteroscopy too without a GA or local and it was fine- painless and I went home by train a few hours later.