Does the menopause creep up on you? Missed period ahead of late smear

[Whyiseveryonesomean]

Inspired by the ‘chin hair’ post…

I’m 45.

My periods are not particularly regular, by this I mean I cannot predict when it will come, however, I’m ALWAYS within 4-5 days of my apps suggested date. I have an app and can see my last ten years of cycles.

I am now 7 days late. There is ZERO chance of pregnancy. I’m also showing no signs of pre period. My two children are teenagers (in case that’s relevant).

Would my periods just stop suddenly?

I’m a teacher and one of my ‘jobs’ for this summer was to get a smear test, I’m about 6 months late with this). I’ve had horrifically heavy periods for about two years (and do have fibroids). I was waiting for the next one to be properly over (can take two weeks) and then book a smear.

Typically, I spend my life hoping it doesn’t come and the one time I want it (to get over and done with) it’s nowhere to be seen.

Should I …

a) call the GP tomorrow and book the smear for a fortnights/ three weeks time (if period is late then I might be bleeding at this point and they won’t do it.

b) wait for elusive period and then book (need to book two weeks in advance at my surgery).

Please don’t respond if you are going to put me down or belittle me (please just scroll on)- I’ve stopped posting on MN because of all of the horrible posters who seem to delight in telling others how stupid/unreasonable they are. I don’t have anyone I can as this IRL.

I don't think they just stop but I am 39 and fully expecting perimenopause with irregular/missed periods in about 5-7 years time.

I would just book for 3 weeks time and cancel if you need.

Look up the symptoms of perimenopause - the years leading up to menopause. Irregular periods can be a symptom.

I'd book after my next bleed.

I'm perimenopausal at 42 btw, was having irregular cycles before I got fed up with that and started the mini-pill and HRT.

Periods can just stop suddenly but that wouldn’t be the norm. More likely to start drifting by days, or weeks, even months, then to appear again. Also periods getting very heavy/flooding, then eventually lighter and lighter.

I've been having irregular periods for 2 years (I'm 44) and now suddenly I am 2 months late which feels very sudden! So I have no idea but following. I have just been for blood tests to check hormones but not sure how much good they will do!

They can just stop. Mine did. I missed one (and I was regular) and had an awful fear that I could be pregnant, but it wasn’t the case. I never had another period, and no symptoms at all. I know I was lucky!

I'm also 45 and also have fibroids- although they have never caused any issues at all. For the past 3yrs, my periods have been getting closer together. I've gone from a very regular 32 day cycle to now being a regular 27/28 days apart. I've read that they will commonly do this- then change and get longer and longer apart- before actually stopping. To stop suddenly without other symptoms does seem unusual OP.

As for the smear- I'd just book it in. If you need to cancel it in AF starts, then so be it.

Thank you, it’s interesting to hear other’s stories.

I know I can’t be far off and have no idea what to expect!

I also just bought a mooncup and will be annoyed if I only get one months use out of it!

If you book before your period....

• Your period will arrive just in time for your smear.

If you wait until your period before booking...

• Your period will arrive in the last week of the holidays.

On the basis of the above, I would book asap and postpone if necessary.

I'm similar age to you and haven't had symptoms of menopause except last winter I had spotting between two periods (similar reliability to you) which I haven't had before. I then didn't get another period for about 2.5 months. To my disappointment they started again and gone back to normal.
I did check with the GP and they did a blood test and smears and all was normal "for someone my age" (doesn't that make you feel ancient?)
They said they suspected it might be the beginning of the menopause, asked me about HRT, which I said no for the time being. The only symptom other than period related was a did get very sudden hot flushes, but not very often.

Everyone is different. I had no signs of menopause at all. Periods were regular. When I was 46 I had a heavy period that lasted about 10 days and then never had another one. That was 5 years ago.

Yep, I expect you’re spot on here!

I agree everyone different. I had six months of pinky blood turning up for a day or a few hours every 35 days - looking into there were were a number of reasons - to much weight loss in a short space of time to being deficient or peri. Took period delay for a week and put a few pounds back on and suddenly it’s run red again.

I’ve had the stray hair growing out of both chin and top of one hand which I zap away on a regular basis but I’d never put it down to periods.

I booked a smear for a month after hospital discharge as the most soonest available appt from my hospital bed as being the only thing I could do in woman’s health checking. It took another 4 months to get near a scan.

I have a fibroid but it’s actually symptomatic and for the apparent size it is I do not understand it but daresay I’ve a long wait to get if any answers. I live for the day to get up and never have the feeling back.

if you feel you need to get checked, then you must.