Menopause - it can't be THAT easy can it?

[TreacherousPissFlap]

I have suspected I'm peri menopausal for some time. I'm very early 40's so it's quite early but DM had hers early too so I guessed not unexpected?

I'm done with babies and frankly rather bored with periods so it's not something I can get too het up about.

Periods have always been regular, but the last one came about ten days early (I remember the day exactly as I had dental surgery at the same time) and was much lighter than normal. This month, nothing
It's now been 45 days since my last period, previously I would have been 32 days.

Could it really be that easy, or am I in for a dreadful shock next month? I'll be rather chuffed if this is it TBH

Periods often get irregular during Peri, they can be light, heavy, long short etc and it can go on for years. I had about 4 years of that, then periods stopped completely for a year, then I had a couple more, that happened for a couple of years, then they stopped completely at 51. I had some hot flushes, some weight gain, and that was it. So it might be the beginning but it's unlikely to be the end.

If you are one of the lucky ones who didn't really get PMT or severe period pains, then it could well be just a petering out situation over several years.

My menopause symptoms were (and still are a bit) horrendous, even with HRT, and the doctor told me that usually the people who got the worst period symptoms will also get the worst meno ones as well.

Best of luck.

I had a tough couple of years just as my period stopped. I had HRT for about 12 months. Then I was OK
I have had weight gain and a few hot flushes but I am over weight & a bit of a hot person. But other than that I have been OK. I went through the menopause at 44, I am now 54.
So I think I have been lucky.

Perhaps I will be lucky

In any case I'm a little wary of what might happen next and have had to abandon roller skating down beaches in skintight white trousers for the time being

Highly unlikely that'll be it. I've been perimenopausal for about 5 years and my cycle can be anything from 14 days to 60 days. It's different for everyone though.

Assuming, as you haven't mentioned it, that there's no chance you could be pregnant?

Was going to ask if you're upduffed?

Unless the sperm have come marching across the mattress when I was unaware, I'm definitely not pregnant

Mine stopped for three months last year and I had a little hopeful moment. Then they returned. They're now the heaviest they've ever been

I’m early forties too and am currently on my second week of period after 2 months of none! (Definitely not upduffed) so feel your pain! Guessing it’s going to be a few years of unknowns ahead of us yikes

Think I’m one of the lucky ones, am 53 periods petered out and finally stopped 3 years ago in Dec, have had odd hot flush, struggle to get weight off, but other than that after suffering with horrendous PMT every month my moods have finally evened out, just as well as have 2 teenagers in the house! I keep thinking is this it or will there be some awful symptoms which haven’t surfaced yet.

That’s interesting @cometothinkofit. I never had any PMT, but used to find the first day of a period often required a hot water bottle. My periods were never debilitating though and didn’t stop me from being able to go about my daily life.

I went through a phase of longer intervals between periods, and ended up buying a few pregnancy tests, then they just petered out when I was 50.

I breezed through the menopause. I had some hot flushes, but they weren’t unbearable, but I did suffer from a few migraine style headaches, but those have disappeared now. My hair is thinner than it used to be though.

I use to be very regular with my periods, but one day I had a very light period that lasted 2 days where they usually lasted 7 days.

After that never had any more it was strange because both my sisters their periods started to get irregular for a few years before they stopped, I stopped virtually straight away.

Some women sail through the menopause with no problems, some women find it hell, most are somewhere in between. Here's hoping you're in the first category.

Very early forties is pretty early though, so if you don't have any contraindications I'd at least discuss HRT with your doctor because of the risk of osteoporosis.

I'm 47 and haven't had a period for about a year. My periods were always like clockwork but gradually got lighter and shorter then just stopped. My mum and grandmother were older than me but both say they didn't really notice any symptoms. I hope that's it for me!

My last four cycles have been 154 days, 61 days, 21 days, 19 days and now 86 days and counting (I use an app!) I'm hoping this is it but who can say? I'm 52 and this sort of pattern has been going on for over 2 years.

I stopped for 4 months two years ago, then they reappeared regular as clockwork. Now I appear to be skipping every third period, and the hot flushes have just started.

I am a bit older than you op but that was similar to how it happened for me. One quick one then nothing much for a year then another 2 30 days apart 6 months of nothing... and then 45 days of bleeding that ended with a gyno app and tablets.. (it was that heavy I bleed through at work 30 mins after changing) then a year and a half of nothing 1 period and now I am 15 months since my last. I do get some hot flushes though and i am a lot hotter at night but really that's it and even with the 45 days of bleeding it has been easy. Sh seemed shocked the other day when i mentioned being post menopausal now so i figure i have not been badly moody

My periods went from every month to every second month for a few cycles before stopping completely. You may not be done with it yet.

I’m peri and my cycle is all over the place. Anything from 10 days to 50 days. This has been going on for about 18 months. Real flooding as well which I’ve never had before.So don’t count your chickens just yet. I’m late 40s.

Perimenopause can go on for a long time. It sounds as though it's just beginning for you. Just keep as well as you can physically and mentally - eat nutritious and tasty food. Relax when you can. You'll be fine, it's a natural phase of life. It is very nice indeed when periods finally stop and you know you're not going to have to worry about contraception again.

I was on the mini pill. Had fsh level tests when I was 50. The Dr said the results showed I was definitely through the menopause (both test results were well over 100) but I could stay on the mini pill for one more year, just to be sure. I took it for one more year then stopped. I'm almost 54 now. No symptoms, no periods, nothing. I had read all about the rotten times lots of women go through and was expecting some of that, but no. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones

Well good luck to you! I hope that is all you experience.

My peri menopause started around 42 or 43. No period for 6 weeks, then a 2 week period, spotting, period, irregular gaps and occasional periods - all over the place. That went on for a few years with increasing levels of hot flushes and sweats. All told it took about 8 years to work through. At the height of flushes I only slept up to 3 hours before being woken up again. Horrendous. I took HRT for a couple of years which helped.

I'm not saying this would happen to you. But I'm one of 4 girls and all our experiences were different - one just had her periods end (as did my Mum) - and the age at which our periods stopped - range between 44 and 55!

My periods at the age of 43 are just slightly there in an annoying way but go on for months. I think over the last year. I have been on for a total of 8 months. Of just an annoying amount. This one I’m in now has so far been 1 month and two weeks. Just lovely.

I found peri menopause confusing and upsetting. Periods were erratic and occasionally very, very heavy. Actually ended up in A&E one night. Expect the unexpected OP and good luck.