To think I shouldn’t still be having periods!

[pensionsums]

I’m 55! Still having periods. I’m so done with this. Anyone else dragged on this long?

I am 47, why I have periods every 21 days now. It used to be every 28 days

Same here, still regular.

i kind of thought there were benefits to late menopause? Skin, hair, muscle mass etc?

what’s the benefit to forcing a stop? Other than the obvious lack of bleeding.

I am 58 and mine only stopped 18 months ago. Were pretty regular until they stopped too. And quite heavy. I do think my skin and hair is not bad for my age and understood late menopause had some protective effects as regards ageing. Not sure I’m right about that though.

Mine stopped when I turned 50. Good riddance!

54 here and still having periods. Mum had her last period at 55. I have colleagues a decade younger who have more menopause symptoms than I do.

I was two months past 54 when my last period came. Started getting sketchy, having 6 week to 2 month gaps between them at 52 and a half-ish, then I went a full 7 months without one from nearly 53 and a half to nearly 54. Then I came 'on' at 54. Then I had 3 periods in 5 months. Then the last one was when I was 54 and a quarter. Nothing since. (Now almost 60!)

49-54 is the age most women will have their last period ... Don't pay attention to people saying it's not unusual to have them til you're 60 to 62. Of course it bloody is!!!

Still had them at 57 and a few at 58. They buggered off at 59.

I’m 51 and having been regular as clockwork all my life they’re now anything between 3-7 weeks apart and far heavier than they’ve ever been. Fed up with the (literally) bloody things.

I thought late menopause would be a good thing? What's the issue? Is it just the hassle of having periods?

56 and still going- although only once a year, for the last few years. Which doesn't entitle me to say I'm now in menopause, apparently. The doc said you can only assume you're in menopause when you haven't had a period for two years.

Most unfair if you ask me.

Why on earth is late menopause a good thing?

Of course, no woman wants it in their 30s! But what is so good about late menopause?

Sorry, OP, I was 56...... Just such a relief when it happens!

I don't know if it's good but it presumably means that your hormones are doing their thing so you have less years without oestogen etc which is probably good for bones and everything else which suffers in menopause.

Because the hormones means issues like osteoporosis, muscle loss, loss of skin elasticity etc aren’t as likely.

if it were a bad thing why on earth do you think HRT exists? What would be the point of replacing the hormones if it were a good thing you’ve stopped producing them?

Had a quick google which clearly show why later menopause is a good thing- longer life expectancy, lower risk of heart disease and stroke, lower risk of osteoporosis, metabolic health…

there are many many good things about late menopause.

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway Apologies, I thought it was obvious and well known why a later menopause is a good thing.

Well, the first thing that came up for me on Google when I looked it up...

Late menopause can potentially increase a woman's risk of certain health issues, including an elevated risk of breast and endometrial cancers due to prolonged exposure to oestrogen, a higher chance of blood clots, and potential concerns regarding heart health as oestrogen's protective effects may be present for a longer period, potentially leading to issues once hormone levels drop later in life; it's important to consult a healthcare professional regarding individual concerns related to late menopause.

Hmmmm, not necessarily a positive thing to have late menopause! 🤔

When I read this thread I am glad I had a Mirena fitted - they stopped my periods at the age of 41 - I know there is the issue of the 'fitting' but if you can get over that it does save this hassle!

I'm 53 and still having them regularly. The monthly cycle of mood is the most annoying. And I often feel unwell and more in pain in the first part of my cycle. Yuk.

Feel sorry for that patient, but also grateful that she makes me less of a freak 😂 Last period was at 62, same as my mum. We both started menopause (hot flushes, mood swings) at 50. Twelve bloody years.

I went on HRT at 50, continued bleeding, stopped HRT for a few years, still bleeding, went back on it at a lower dose, stopped it again. As the article says, menopause is a universal experience but the details are far from universal!

My DSis is 62 and still has periods. She has started getting hot flushes so she's hoping this is a sign she's going through the menopause. Her GP told her she is the oldest woman he has seen who is still having regular periods. She's completely fed up with it.

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway Yes, that shows issue with Googling things, doesn't it.

I'm 57 - my last period was last April so I have all digits crossed that I'll soon be officially menopausal. Until December 2023 they were pretty regular still, though were starting to get lighter. I was so fed up, thought they'd never end.

outweighed by the postives though.

or we’d be stopping periods as soon as possible, as per pp, and HRT would be too dangerous- which we know the above are all risks of.

Why do they want to stop your periods?