To ask post menopausal mumsnetters

[cantmakeme]

Is life post menopause more like ongoing PMS or ovulation time?! I have horrible PMS and a really obvious ovulatory time in which I feel confident, cheerful and lively. I'm in my late thirties now and worrying that life post menopause might be like one big long PMS. What has your experience been?

Nope. It's completely brilliant! It's like being 12 again! No periods, no cramping, no fixing everything round a calendar, it's just great. White trousers when I want, no mood swings, I've never felt more happy and content. You'll love love it!!! ☺ xx

My post menopause has mirrored my experience pre menopause, in that I’ve had an easy time of it. Knock on wood, as it’s early days.

Peri menopause was awful, but once past that, I haven't felt so good for years and years. I don't take HRT or anything else for that matter, but have never felt so well and relaxed.

Yes, I totally agree with Clionba. I've never felt happier and it's like gynae stuff never happened I've forgotten what it was all like.

^ What Clionba said. I love it!!

Since having a year of hideous periods I had the merina coil.

Totally brilliant. I am slimmer, fitter and feel more attractive now then in my 30s. Mind you having grown up kids and sleep helps.

No op it’s bloody brilliant

Me too, lidoshuffle you just put all that stuff behind you, isn't life a million times easier? It must be like this being a man!

What Clionba said! But not everyone is the same. I didn't need HRT or suffer hot flushes but my friend did, she also had horrific mood swings. HRT did sort her out. I had more problems with the peri-menopause!

Another for peri menopause is awful, mainly because it takes so long to realise it's happening (well it did for me!) but then a huge relief, don't miss any of it. No HRT either.

What lovely responses! I've been dreading it - I'll stop doing so.

Also having an easy time. I had a Mirena for about 12 years from 40 and when I eventually removed it, I was post menopausal (at least, I assume I am, it was a few years ago and I have had no periods etc since). Didn't have any hot flushes, irrational outbursts, nothing. Still don't.

Not.much libido either, but we're working on that. :)

I still experience an occasional "tropical moment" otherwise being not bothered with contraception or sanpro is a blessing. ( TMI ) even stopped wearing knickers ....

I went through the peri menopause without even noticing; I suddenly clicked I hadn't had a period for over a year. I had no peri symptoms at all (well, maybe a bad reaction to alcohol).

You only seem to hear the horror stories and some women do have a bad time. But I bet loads of us sail thorough it, but that doesn't make interesting magazine features etc.

it must be like being a man Ha! Never thought of it being like that but yes, absolutely! Peri was a bit grim, 5 years post meno never felt so good. (Although trying to lose 10 pounds and it’s bloody impossible . . . )

Another one saying I have had a pretty easy time of it. I do seem to run at a higher temperature but that is it really. No PMS type symptoms and not really much in the way of symptoms at all. Am now fully menopausal and the liberation from periods is great.

Post menopause is amazing. No mess, no cramps, no PMS, complete freedom. What women did to deserve menstruation I have no idea.

Also having an easy time. I had a Mirena for about 12 years from 40 and when I eventually removed it, I was post menopausal (at least, I assume I am, it was a few years ago and I have had no periods etc since). Didn't have any hot flushes, irrational outbursts, nothing. Still don't.

Same here.

I had pretty rubbish symptoms in the peri-menopause and went on HRT - and I'm now fine.

So there you have it: if you're lucky, you'll sail through it (as many posters on this thread seem to have, the lucky buggers). If you're not so lucky (like me) it's easily fixed. So you'll be fine either way.

Hysterectomy (kept ovaries, ditched underwear!) at 46, menopause hit exactly 2 years later. Joint pains were excruciating, sweats annoying but bearable, memory loss bugged OH but I forgot about it :) Now 54 - for another couple of months - and, apart from having to be very strict with my diet to avoid the dreaded middle age spread and not sleeping as well as I used it, life is pretty damned good!

Another with Mirena that pretty much missed the peri menopause. I discovered I was post menopausal when I went on a clinical trial. Not had a period in 14 years. Had a few hot flushes but not unbearable.

I also missed most perimenopause horrors thanks to a Mirena coil which I had put in when my periods started to become unpredictable in my mid 40s.

Post menopause, which I'm fairly sure I'm at now aged 54, is great. I've never felt better actually.

Best thing ever! No cramps, no heavy bleeding, no contraception - what's not to like!

It’s great. Never took HRT.

The hot flushes have stopped so "I'm enjoying it. I still remember how painful periods were and so happy never to have them.
I used to frequently get thrush but that's stopped. Never had HRT or excessive dryness. You get your life back.

I am still on HRT patches age 54 although have 1 a week rather than 2 a week and have no hot flushes and no periods and life is fine. I never had much in the way of PMS premenopause though, just got awful hot flushes and flooding perimenopausally.