To ask how old you were when your periods stopped/started menopause?

[CheapSausagesAndSpam]

Because I'm 45 and still regular and getting a bit tired of it now. :( I'm not wishing away time or anything but it frigging makes me feel like crap.

When is the average? What was it like for you?

53 and as regular as clockwork and no menopausal symptoms. Had Merina coil removed last year because gynea assumed I must be menopausal by now. Thinking of having new coil put back in because having periods again is doing my head in.

I'm 53 and had a few years of heavy periods. They've now become lighter, unpredictable and much longer. Recently I've had a 10 day period and then the next one started less than a week later and lasted 14 days. I've been having periods for 42 years and wish they would just stop now.

My periods were irregular...infrequent, sometimes v light, sometimes really heavy, between 53 & 54 then they stopped. Then I had what seemed like a completely normal period about 14 months later - arriving last Christmas Day as it happens.

It wasn't a period - it was my first and only symptom of endometrial cancer.

One hysterectomy, 4 cycles of chemo and 6 weeks of radiotherapy later I am doing very well and, as far as we all know, free of cancer and v healthy (thank you wonderful NHS).

I hadn't known the importance of tracking periods so carefully through the menopause. It was only because I was less busy in Dec / Jan that I thought to phone the doctor and see if this should be looked into. I could easily have brushed over it as just a super 'irregular' period. And I only really knew the timing because my previous period had been on a holiday. Apparently a gap of a year followed by a period is something we should all follow up on with our GP.

Just putting this up here because making that call probably saved my life - and I had no real idea of the potential significance. I check my boobs for abnormality and keep up with smear tests but this 'year thing' had passed me by.

Great if you all know this already - but as I say, I didn't and neither did many of my friends. And Mind the Gap is now my mantra...and I try to share it where it seems relevant ....like here.

Currently 47 and told early 40's by my GP that I was peri-menopausal. My periods are gradually getting closer, heavier and lasting longer. I hope it's only for a year or two more.

Mybperiods have never stopped or become irregular but I am Perimenopausal and have been since age approx 45. Be careful what you wish for It's a very difficult thing to go through for many.

I didn't know that Elsiemoon so thanks for sharing and I'm glad you're doing well.

I'm 51 and y periods are regular as clockwork every 4 weeks, no sign of any menopause here. I had a dreadful time a few years ago with heavy periods which turned out to be caused by a fibroid. I had surgery to remove it and have had no issues since. I'm getting seriously bored with having them.though.

41 they started to go haywire, stopped at 43. No symptoms other than that. Average is 52 apparently.

Elsie thanks for that.

Yes , thanks Elsie that's good to be aware of. Glad you're ok.

I had my last period about 56 - they'd got lighter and more infrequent for a few years previously. I had no menopause symptoms - I hadn't realised I'd gone through it till I checked my calendar and realised it had been over a year since my last period.

Started at 13, started going through the menopause at 33

My periods started to become irregular at 45 and had stopped by the time I was 50. I don’t miss them at all. In fact since I never managed to achieve a pregnancy at all all those years I spent menstruating seemed all for nothing.

Started aged 13. Always had regular and easy periods. (Medium flow.) Took the pill for about 8 yrs solid, without always stopping for a period. Stopped ill and had 3 children in about 4 years while in my 30s, without having to try too hard. (So in my case the pill didn't seem to affect my ability to conceive!)

So all fine and working well till just after my 40th bday. Then things just shut down without any warning whatsoever! Went to the GP (female) to say that "I think my periods have stopped" and to ask if I needed to let her know/do anything. (As was worried it was too soon.) She just laughed! She said "no don't think you are finished yet". But I was. I just knew it!

I didn't go back to tell GP as I felt well. Then we moved on. (So I didn't bother telling her she was wrong!)

So no menopausal symptoms for me. No heavy periods or hot flushes or weight gain. Was v lucky. (Still same weight as when I was about 15.)

Looking back for any signs of impending menopause, I did get quite anxious about things v suddenly around that time. And remember another (older) mum saying she was feeling over anxious too. (But didn't think I was anxious at the time! Didn't put 2 and 2 together!)

I think I might have been acting a bit weird at the time too - in the lead up. But at the time, I just put it down to life events/general stress/start of middle age angst. (Now I think it was hormonal!)

Also I had my 1st (and only so far) panic attack. (Mild but scary.)

So I didn't get off entirely scott-free, but I am still extremely grateful for my luck, as my symptoms were nothing compared to other horror stories I have heard about peri-menopause and menopause.

Adding my experience as I hope our collective experience on here will help other woman to know what to expect. (And to see that we are all different.)

I didn't ask my mother about her menopause as we were not matey like that. And didn't discuss my menopause with her either. (Shame. She's dead now.)

I have told my daughter (mid 20s) what my experience as been though, just in case she follows the same path. But so far her periods are not like mine, so she might be following DH's female line? (They were much older to finish their periods AFAIK.)

Good to know I am not the only one who stopped menstruating in early 40s. Cos I always thought the average age of menopause was early 50s, so I felt that I was too young and hence was a bit worried at the time!

Heavy, painful & regular as clockwork up to 52. Still getting random ones. No HRT yet. Practice nurse told me hers went on to 57.

Mum was 55, her mum was 58.

They started getting a bit random at 50. Last one was 52.

Started quite early 11/12 but had an early menopause at 39. Had the usual hot flushes but not as horrendous as some. Many years have passed but I still get the occasional hot flush still.

40, awful insomnia but hot flushes not so bad , family history of early menopause so was expecting it

I was 42. I'd had very easy, pain and symptom free periods, so this was all a bit of a shock! TERRIBLE hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia and weight gain.

Ladies can I ask how you felt just before menopause. I am 41 and my periods have gotten a bit heavier but I find I am turning into a right cranky cow. I am wondering is this anything to do with the menopause? I seem to have zero patience these days.

At 53 I've been having periods every 5 or 6 months for a couple of years or so. Hot flushes a nuisance, but better than they were. Will try black cohosh since it has been mentioned here. Any other ideas for flushes? I can't take HRT.

I'm 53 now and haven't had a period since I was 50. Never heard of Black Cohosh but will definitely give it a try as I have awful hot flushes.

My doctor said on the good side is less risk for osteoporosis... Average is supposed to be 52 or so I've read.

I'm 45 and I wish my periods would piss off. Over the last year they've become very heavy and painful, it's like being a kid again. They started when I was 11 and were heavy and painful then. They're becoming closer together too.

50 but it was about a year after what I had thought to be the last. And on holiday

Had a horrendous few years with seemingly endless bleeding or flooding before they started slowing down so it was a massive relief when they stopped.

SparkyBlue - I literally was The Mard for a few years. Full on head spinning personality change and I've noted similar in others since. I'm convinced there's a link.