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 was experiencing peri symptoms by 38. Formally diagonsed as a premature menopause at 40. My symptoms were horrendous.

After 17 years on HRT and two further years off it, and I'm still getting rotten symptoms. Starting to get a bit pissed off now.

@daisiesinmay

I agree bruffin have given up looking at the menopause topic on here because it is so skewed and so much pressure to take HRT, to the extent where you're not even able to question it or say you don't want it.

I didn't have HRT, mainly because it was never offered until I was six months without a cycle and there seems little point really no b3 abuse it didn't seem like the way forward . The menopause board here were less then supportive.

^ because

I don't know. My nan suffered terribly with it for years before dying of a stroke at 54.
My mum had a hysterectomy aged 39 due to prolapse. I don't think she had a proper meno.
I'm 47 and think I'm in the midst. Insomnia for 2 years. Weight gain. Apathy. Tiredness. Periods are a week bleed every 2-3 weeks, so more frequent. My depression and anxiety is out of control.

@Frazzledd

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

Yes, insomnia is one of the effects of perimenopause and menopause. Never had it in my life before I became menopausal.

I have the type where I can get to sleep fine, but can be wide awake with heart racing after only 5 hours sleep and feel terrible the next day (not a case of my body not needing more than 5 hours).

I used to get up to ten hours sleep a night and now get four or five. I would love to go back to that level of sleep!

At 40 I started experiencing peri menopausal symptoms (now 41). I have sleepless nights, Migraines, bloating, sickness , I’m irritable, very bad mood swings, skin getting dryer, light periods, longer cycles, spotting between periods etc.

The worse part of this is that it affects my fibromyalgia and ME.

No hot flushes though.....I’ve seemed to dodged that Bullet

My mum didn’t start having menopausal symptoms until her 50s, so I thought I had a few more years until I was going through this.

Mum is being very supportive and helping me though it.

• through it

I was around 36. No symptoms, my periods just stopped. I was offered HRT but refused because I felt I didn't need it. 19 years later I'm still waiting for my first night sweat. My elder sister, on the other hand went through hers in her early 50's and suffered horribly.

Quite a few years ago, very early 40's. I still think that's quite young.

Officially menopausal now. I'm 47.

Officially as in no period for (over) a year, I mean.

I was 50-51 when I did my year without a period, so officially went through the menopause. Not had HRT as worried about family history of breast cancer.

Still have the hot flushes now, I’m 54. The hot flushes I can cope with. The brief moment of anxiety/overwhelming feeling of impending doom that precedes them not so much.

I am nearly 53. Periods every 29 days, month in month out, no symptoms at all. I am ever hopeful it will start.
When I read the ages on here that people are well into it and even beyond it it makes me feel very hand done by....

The insomnia is something to do with one of the hormones that helps with the production of melatonin is reduced when you go through menopause.
I’m not a great sleeper anyway so having my hormones make me sleep even less is really annoying.

@Donatella

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?

@Donatella I went through menopause with a Mirena in situ. I knew I was in perimenopause because I got the Mirena at 46 when my periods started going haywire. The only other symptom I had was a general feeling of overheating, but no hot flushes, plus I didn't feel as mentally sharp as before. I had the Mirena out when I was 53 and three years later I haven't had a period so I know I'm through it, I just don't know when I went through it. The good news is the overheating has now calmed down and my mental agility is back too.

@bruffin

Perimenipause from 42 last period was 54. Hardly any hot flushes but had some truly awful periods in my 40s so menopause was a relief. Never bothered with HRT, i dont trust the menopause boa4ds on here as they are a bit of a dictatorship by one poster with an agenda. Ive seen here posts on other subjects and they are poorly researched so i really dont trust jt. She is a bit of a sounding board for private clinics who make money from hrt

I hear you @bruffin. There are other posters on the Menopause board who don't push the HRT route as they don't want or feel the need for HRT, and I include myself in that. It can be a very useful and informative board but you do need to be selective about who you listen to, and definitely block your ears sometimes

My mum was 54 when she had her last period. I was 50 and my sisters were early 50s. I think late 40s to mid 50s is the average.

Brilliant website created by health care professionals frustrated at the lack of information knowledge and support out there...
rockmymenopause.com/

45, periods just stopped.
All my friends were under 50. Between 41 and 47.

I was 55. All the females in my family were mid fifties. Li
Lots of my friends were in their 40’s.

Could I just flag this up for anyone approaching or just entering menopause?

HRT can have a protective effect against osteoporosis, ie the loss of bone density.

Please consider whether you are at increased risk of osteoporosis and, if you think you are, you might wish to discuss with your GP as to whether you would be suitable for HRT.

Here are the risk factors

@132orbust

I am nearly 53. Periods every 29 days, month in month out, no symptoms at all. I am ever hopeful it will start. When I read the ages on here that people are well into it and even beyond it it makes me feel very hand done by....

I'm very similar to you. I came off the pill at the start of the year. Since then I've had periods every 28 days. I'm gutted as I did think I might be starting the menopause.

Just about to turn 58 when I had my last period, a few months prior I missed the odd period and then they suddenly stopped. Coincided with finalising divorce and downsizing house that very month. I have a feeling that sudden life change and upheaval contributed to the sudden stopping. To be honest by that stage I was glad they stopped.
Mum and sister a similar age to me.
As far as peri menopausal goes I could not pick a symptom, certainly would not say I had mood swings. I have since suffered some hot flushes, I seem to have gotten more anxious over things and my sleep has not been good for a few years.

@Seafog

This is all so helpful, thank you!

My ablation was a total success, I was told if it didn't work I'd need a hysterectomy at that point.
I had just turned 36, but my periods were insane.
If my uterus does do the whole reboot thing, I will have to have a hysterectomy.

Thank you OP, they've told me the same re the hysterectomy (same symptoms as you with some other stuff) but really hoping the ablation works! I'm glad it worked for you!