Aibu to ask about your Menopause ?

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Just wondering at what age you started and finished the menopause - and how it was for you ?

You first !

Garcia. With pleasure..

I've had no periods since I was 41. No side effects, no medication. It just seems so weird to breeze through it. Now 47.

Mines been pissing about for about 6 or 7 years now, I'm 49. I flood a lot and I'm now starting to sometimes get 2 periods a month. Which is nice.

1 period with flooding at about 50. Then just no periods. No symptoms at all. Until after about 3 years of no periods I bled for 3 weeks. Which was scary. NHS found no cause for it. Since then, nothing again.

Mine took a long time. Started flooding periods when I was around 40. On and off irregular periods. Sweats for about 7 or 8 years - at its peak I woke up every 2 hours in the night. Was on HRT for a while. All in it was about 10 years.

My mum and sisters all had different experiences and ages. Lowest age me - oldest 55. Two had no symptoms at all.

There's a very useful & informative menopause topic, in case you didn't know.

Anyway, I don't mind sharing here. Started perimenopause at 44. Got Mirena coil at 46, which stopped periods completely. Had coil out earlier this year at 54, and blood tests since suggest I'm all done & dusted. Sailed through it all really compared to many women, main symptom a general rise in body temperature - I don't feel the cold any more - but no debilitating flushes.

Mine started railing off around 53, ended at 54. Before that years of escalating migraines and then 2 years of awful night sweats before caving and taking hrt. Not going off it till I retire and am less stressed.

I'm 52 and have had no periods for at least a year. For a couple of years before this, my periods were shorter and lighter, first of all arriving every couple of weeks, then disappearing for a few months. So, from age 49 to 51. Haven't had hot flushes but am bloody raging at every bugger who crosses my path

I thought I was done with it but apparently dear old Mother Nature has other ideas. 51, currently finishing a week long period. I have the copper coil too.

Other than that though, it really hasn't been too troublesome. Possible hot flushes, but difficult to tell because my personal temperature gauge has always been faulty. No other symptoms really.

Haha, Clinky I'd forgotten the raging bit I'm now a grumpy woman who takes no prisoners & doesn't give a flying fandango what anyone thinks of me. It's very liberating, actually.

Oh my goodness, what is this flooding that people speak of? Is it more than just a heavy period?

I'm 46 next month and everything is still as regular as clockwork, no signs of changes, at all. I thought I might have had some signs by now, but my Mum passed way 16 years ago - well before asking about this was even on my radar.

I'm 53. Haven't had a period for about 3 years. I didn't really have any problems with that side of things. They were a bit heavier and less frequent for around 12 months before they stopped completely, but nothing too drastic. But the hot flushes....urgh. Ive been having those for around 5 years and they have been awful, especially at night. I have had to change my beddung and have a shower in the middle of the night plenty of times. Don't want to tempt fate, but it does finally look like they are getting milder and less frequent. But other than that,its been ok.

I had my last period at 59. They'd been getting gradually heavier but less frequent for a few months then stopped. No hot flushes or sweats but a few achy joints which went after another few months. Possibly some mild mood swings but that might just be me anyway.

My perimenopause began to cause problems when I was 57with flooding which became something that interfered with life at 58(massive bleeds and constant variable bleeding between periods).
I've since had lots of polyps removed and a Mirena inserted and have only had light sporadic bleeds since.At 59 I still have to have 11 non bleeding months to be menopausal

This will probably be of limited use as it's unusual, but as you asked. . Entered menopause at 32 overnight after surgery. The hot flushes started pretty much immediately, and I'm on HRT due to my age. The biggest physical problems are the tiredness (I feel I've aged 20 years in 18 months) and the joint aches. Mentally I've found it exacerbates my mental health condition, and the first 6 months back at work were awful as I was crying so much. I'm much more irritable than I used to be, too.

Perimenopausal symptoms from about 43 (2015) - really bad night sweats, a few hot flushes & no periods. Also really greasy skin, spots & sod all libido - when I did have sex, it was very painful as well - always bled after it.
GP put it down to a new contraceptive pill - he insisted on moving me off Dianette despite me taking it without any problems since 16 for PCOS. I was at a low BMI for my height & build plus low blood pressure so no real need to do so.
Finally 2018 I had enough & had blood tests - was already in the menopause apparently. They wanted to do an internal to check the state of my uterus but were unable to get anything up there due to vaginal atrophy.
Had an ultrasound - radiographer could no longer find my ovaries as they'd shrivelled up so much but thought what she could see of my womb was ok.
Now on my second type of HRT, trying to get the right mix for me.
Still no libido, hot flushes have gone, still got night sweats and am always incredibly emotional. As for the greasy skin - now have spots all over my face, neck, chest, upper arms & back - far worse than when I was a teenager. Given my age (47), the spots manifest as crusty bumps (plus occasional yellow head) which makes wearing make up difficult and I was severely limited as to what I could wear this summer as I looked like I was getting over chicken pox.
I'm giving this HRT until the 6mths trial is up then I'm going to go private to see if they can help. I no longer feel like a woman, I am no longer attractive.
Ironically my Mum started on HRT in her early 50s & took like it like a duck to water straightaway. She actually had a 2 year deep and meaningful relationship with a man 29 years her junior....
Apologies for the essay, just feel like a piece of shit.

Horror show for me. Started a couple of years ago (I'm 58). The lack of libido is the worst thing. Nothing...nada..Elvis has left the building. Also terrible anxiety and some vaginal atrophy..nice.

I'm taking whatever I can get, but it's grim.

Think I may be going through the peri menopause at present. Currently on day 19 of a period. It’s gradually got worse over past few days, flooding. Last months period was unbelievably light lasting only two days. I used to be so regular, every 28 days, then went to every 3 weeks. I’ve just turned 48. Also getting the night sweats, heart palpitations and the odd irrational anxious thought.. have tried for a Gp appointment both Friday and today but had no luck 😡

At 56 my period stopped, 18 months ago. No other symptoms.

Started missing the odd period, and very mild flushing at 45. Followed by irregular periods and flooding. Perimenopause kicked in properly about two years ago (48) with two stone weight gain in a year, periods every 4/5 months, getting lighter.

Finally gave in to HRT a couple of months ago (nearly 51) when the hot flushes became utterly unbearable. Side effects are crap but better than the flushes. And that's before we get onto the low mood, brain fog, crashing tiredness and loss of confidence.

In short, it's been horrendous. I'm normally a pretty robust type but it's absolutely knocked me west. I had no idea it would be like this.

I had a hysterectomy mid-40s so didn't have periods as a guide. I probably started around 53 and nothing much to tell except occasional flushes that went on for 6 or 7 years. Much the same as I recall DM (who had hysterectomy also) except she did have vertigo with hers. DSis now 55 and has started hers (also had a hysterectomy mid 40s) and no major symptoms.

I'm nearly 63 and am still burning up with so called 'hot flushes' which are more like a steaming inferno from head to ankle. I haven't noticed them reaching my feet but every other inch of me gets drenched - arms legs, everywhere. It's hell, and according to the books should have stopped 10 years ago. They know nothing imo.

I tried HRT several times because along with the raging inferno anxiety sweeps through me (also brain fog, memory out the window, sudden anger bubbling up from within - the rage) but HRT just made me depressed so I gave up trying thinking it will soon pass, surely. But no, it goes on and bloody on. Or not in fact, as I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago.

I have friends who sailed through it without any noticeable symptoms at all, so there is hope!

I had my youngest son at 36 and after that my periods were horrendous. Flooding of Biblical proportions, clots, pain worse than labour, unable to leave the house bathroom for the first two days.
Once I got to about 42 they tapered off, cue spending a fortune on pregnancy tests even though DH had a vasectomy, and they have been stopped completely since I was about 45/6.
The only symptom I've had as such is hot flushes, I can be freezing cold and then boom! Red hot, bright red face, sweat literally pouring from me, to the extent I look like I took a shower, and if I am in bed I have to change the sheets.
They still happen every so often, but not as bad, maybe two or three times a week. I am 49 now.

Itching. Everywhere. Especially the nether regions.
Hot sweats but only at night. Have the mirena so no bleeding.

I’m pretty sure I’m going through peri. I’m 44 Started with Hot flushes and nights sweats about 6 years ago, no longer get night sweats but the hot flushes are getting worse. My periods are all over the place, Example ..Nothing for 10 weeks then 3 within 30 days!
Lasting from anywhere 2 to 12 days, from barely there to super heavy.

Never had spots as a teenager but as soon as I hit 40 they came with a vengeance, take bloody months to heal and leave scars! Never had anxiety before but now I overthink everything, palpitations lasted about 6 months now thankfully stopped. Tiredness is a killer some days.
I think I’ve had every peri symptom known to man at some stage and have good days and bad days but am determined to battle through.

My mother breezed through hers she was about 50, but I obviously didn’t follow suit!