When do you start menopause?

[Seafog]

My mum had regular periods until 58, and sporadic ones until 60 (last one started on 60th b-day).
I had an ablation in 2013 so no period since, but have begun spotting, in a regular cycle over the last few months.
I'm 43, and hoped I'd just slip into the menopause before my uterus decided to reboot...

I have no idea.

I would love to know, I think my general perception is around 50 but I suspect the truth is far more likely to be 40-60 being in the range of normal and it being a bit like asking when babies learn to walk or hen you start your periods.

I don’t have any female family members to ask as they all died before menopause age. One of the reasons I gues I thought I didn’t need to worry about it myself. I’m late thirties now but I have friends who have started menopause at 30 (early) but most havent mentioned anything.

All the females on my side seem to have started theirs in at a similar age to your Mum.
Most of my friends who are late forties or early fifties are mentioning it but I assume I'll take after my relatives and have to wait quite a bit longer.

Late forties

I was late 30s.

My mum and aunts were all still having babies in their 40s so it's not inherited!

I think late 40s is not unusual for peri-menopause symptoms, with mid-fifties being normal for actual menopause.

It feels like I'm waiting for second puberty, haha

My mum was mid 50s so I assumed I'd be too. I had no idea what was going on when my periods went mad aged 46, irregular, flooding, lasting for weeks.

Saw GP several times, no one was concerned and everything was throughly checked (as I was so convinced something was really wrong). On the third visit, the GP really talked me through all my concerns. Mini pill sailed me through the following 3 years. I just stopped taking it recently and think I might be out the other side now.

I think I must be really naive as I had no idea what all the symptoms of peri and menopause were before it was upon me.

I'm in my early 50s and had a successful ablation some years ago so no periods to go by. I have no idea whether it's happened or not
At your age @Seafog I'd assume that the ablation was coming to an end and the spotting might be the lining regrowing. You might need a repeat.

@WarmKitty

My mum was mid 50s so I assumed I'd be too. I had no idea what was going on when my periods went mad aged 46, irregular, flooding, lasting for weeks.

Saw GP several times, no one was concerned and everything was throughly checked (as I was so convinced something was really wrong). On the third visit, the GP really talked me through all my concerns. Mini pill sailed me through the following 3 years. I just stopped taking it recently and think I might be out the other side now.

I think I must be really naive as I had no idea what all the symptoms of peri and menopause were before it was upon me.

Have your periods stopped now?

I'm 47 and over the last few years I've had all the classic hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia etc and very light periods until the middle of last year, then nothing until early this year, when I had another light period and earlier this month, the heaviest period known to woman (soaking through super plus tampons in under an hour). Never had anything like this and if it happens again I'm off to the docs and going back on the pill I suspect.

Forgot to say I've now downloaded a period tracker app so I can see what's going on and show doc if it comes to it.

I'm 55 and currently at 10 months period free and counting. My mother was five years younger than me.

I had a gynaecology appointment last week and on a waiting list for an ablation (how did that go OP?) - I'm 41, having some problems there and he said if I was 49/50 they would have given me a hysterectomy as that's the average menopause age.

My mum was 45 and they stopped suddenly. As I'm only a few years off that it suddenly hit me that could happen. In my head I'm younger and it all felt like miles away 😔

I had the perimenopause around 41-42, but I can only say that in retrospect. Period became closer together, problems sleeping, emotional lability, migraines. No hot flushes.
Had no period for 7 months, this was about 3 years later, followed by a long heavy period, than went on for weeks. Had some scan and things at gynae appointments, but nothing found. After that, nothing. No more periods. I finished when I was 45.
Life is much better after the menopause, in my opinion, I feel like I have myself back, and emotions are ‘true’. By that, I mean, I’m not up and down with my mood, which makes me feel much better physically and psychologically.

I went from monthly periods to light periods every 3 months and then they stopped.

I had one hot flush.

I was 51 when I had my last period.

My mum's periods stopped at 54. I'm nearly 47 and mine are still regular at the moment.

Has anyone been through menopause who didnt have periods beforehand? I have a mirena and don't really get periods (I might have a bit of brown or pink on wiping but I haven't had to use sanitary products for years). My mother had a very easy menopause so I'm wondering how, without periods, I'll know when it is happening?

My DM had peri menopausal symptoms for 10 years, from 35 to 45 when her periods finally stopped. I've had a few symptoms at 38.

If you go through menopause early (45 is the latest age to be considered early menopause) you need to take extra care of your bones. Mum - mid 60s - now has osteoporosis, daily calcium tablets and regular bone scans. She was aware of the possibility so was very conscious of getting checked regularly, so her bones are better than they would have been.

I think the average age medically is 52.

There is a very good menopause board on here if you want advice.

I'm a big fan of HRT - it's helped me hugely, and the risks tend to be overstated and not well understood.

I was 44, it was probably early as I lost an ovary because of a cyst - my mum was 49. Looking back on it I was utterly unprepared and wish I had started HRT earlier.

Bad points 7 years on - still get some insomnia. Good points - I had v bad depression around ovulation for decades, and quite severe depression in general. This all went - still get mild depression now and again but it's in no way the severe mood swings of pre-menopause.

I’d read somewhere the average age was 52 - am here and waiting!!

Why the insomnia? Interesting, I've not heard of this before in relation to menopause?

Average is 51-52. However can happen at any time from late 30s onwards and NICE guidelines state if you’re having menopausal symptoms you don’t need to have blood tests to start hrt, just to exclude other conditions. HRT for me has been amazing.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

I’m 50 and have been having peri menopause symptoms for at least 5 years.

Irregular periods now down to 2 in the last 8 months. Insomnia, mood swings and night sweats have come and gone several times. I’m hoping I’m almost out the other side now. I haven’t taken anything pill or HRT wise as I have some risk factors but black cohosh as helped.

I learnt the other day that menopause is a one day event, like menarche - starting your period. It is the day that you haven't had a period for a year.
All the rest is peri- and post- menopause