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?

And then what happened? Mine are getting closer now, and I’m hoping it means the beginning of the end!

That's helpful to know. Thank you.

I'm 51. I had a very heavy bleed last year caused by a cyst. I had the Mirena coil fitted. The doctor told me that at my age she could guarantee that it would stop my periods. She was wrong. They are a bit lighter but still regular. I don't have any perimenopause symptoms either. I'm annoyed to think I might have years more of periods.

I had an endometrial ablation when I was 49, which stopped everything - thank goodness, as I had suddenly had months of a constant, very heavy period. My mother, my aunt (my mother’s sister) and my maternal grandmother had all had similar at a similar age, except that they had hysterectomies (which would have been the next step for me if the ablation had not worked). In consequence, I don’t know when the menopause happened, or when it should have happened naturally. The only symptom I had was the very occasional night sweat or hot flush, so no need for HRT. I have recently had my sixtieth birthday and, on reading this thread, realise how fortunate I am. Strangely, I have dreams every so often where I am suddenly flooding in a very embarrassing situation.

Be very grateful!! I had an early menopause at 44 and didn't take HRT due to family history of breast cancer.

Now 60 and just learned I have severe osteoporosis. Lack of oestrogen for the last 15 years has had it's impact. My Aunt has the same (late 80s) and it's really no fun.

Periods are shit, but please embrace the presence of Oestrogen....

63? 😳
I’m 53 and still having regular periods. I don’t think I could cope for another 10 years.

Yes - you’re hugely unlikely to be producing viable eggs at that age, if you producing any they’ll be well past their use by date!

nearly 54 and still fairly regular, occasionally miss one, but I'm getting fed-up with it all. Got period pains today so probably going to start in next 48 hours 😒

52 and still having periods though they seem to be getting closer together. Used to be a 35 day cycle and now seems to be more like 28-30 days. Heavier than before and bad headaches too around the start and end.

Hair from arms, legs, underarms is about 80% gone and hair on head is dry and frizzy. So something is definately happening.

Wow sounds crazy but not,, knew of a women who got pregnant at 60 ! Not planned was getting dementia and being all uninhibited. Taken advantage of financially as well why random.men. Her grown up daughter's arranged a termination due to abnormalities.
Very sad.

was this in the UK? The oldest known natural pregnancy in the uk is 59.

Yes , it was recorded on.medical notes. Tragic. Age could have been rounded up to 60 in the telling

This thread is so depressing. I suppose I'll just resign myself to possibly having periods for years more.

Never stopped I am on HRT though so have a withdrawal bleed. I am 59 next month.

Tranexamic acid has become a game changer for me .. 53 and my period turns up when I least need it to about 5 times a year Without the tablets I would not be able to get out and about but with them it's very light .

It's a real bummer reading about so many women who have achieved menopause and haven't had an absolute dire life-changing experience along the way. You're so lucky - just like my best friend - sailed through it.

Meanwhile on the other bus that's full of women who would give anything to be in your shoes, or to just continue having periods normally without all the menopausal symptoms (I believe there's about 40 in total). We've all turned into someone we no longer recognise - we can't think straight, can't function, can't do bugger all anymore without a checklist or supervision, no joy, no happiness and no end in sight - and HRT supplies keep going out of stock. It is truly the worst experience of my life and nothing else has ever come close to it. PMT was a walk in the park compared to this.

I had my only child at 40 and this has been going on since I was about 48.

No help or advice needed - after 12 years of it I think the fog may be lifting a little.

Happy days x

Popped back to join the conversation..
I suspect the reason that I have been told my hrt will be changed to continuous progesterone is because I have been on it more than a year - from reading this thread.
My periods don't always coincide with the 2 weeks I take the progesterone now - my cycle is longer so no idea what that means!
I'm pleased to have had the protection of oestrogen for longer but just really really fed up with heavy periods now

It’s really annoying that one isn’t believed. Have they never heard of outliers?
I was lucky in that I asked the GP - who was sceptical - to refer me to a specialist menopause clinic In London and she did so.
Now I see the practice nurse who reauthorises my HRT annually with no fuss.

Yes exactly - even if you're somehow still ovulating, the science shows that by the age of 40 three quarters of your remaining eggs "aren't viable" meaning they'll result in miscarriage/chemical miscarriage.

So the chance you're still ovulating with these periods is tiny by 50, then the chance any of those eggs are viable after 50 is miniscule.

But, as pp stories show, it is possible - just a bit of a medical miracle.

58 when mine paused, had such heavy ones in 50s that had all number of internal tests and explorations (thank you NHS and thankfully all OK). Inconvenience is the least of the worries ... Holidays ruined by needing the loo every 20 mins because of floods, expense of pads and tampons and new underwear, anaemia, lack of being able to say yes spontaneously...
I'm 59 this year and still hoping it's not coming back ... Started at 11 so that's more than enough!

So does that mean all of you still having regular periods have no vaginal dryness or any other symptoms? I’ve been having all the symptoms of menopause but they haven’t stopped. So vaginal dryness, palpitations, lighter shorter periods but still going. Osteoporosis already too and I’m only 50. But periods still happening!! How can this be?

Possibly, but keep in mind that this thread (due to its title) is attracting those whose menopause has been a lot later than the average. Average is 51 I think.
I was 53, and most of my peers have been early 50s

All but one of my peers were in their 40s. I'm coming up 52. Other than perimenopause symptoms in general, my last cycle was earlier, but otherwise still very regular. I live in hope. I just found it a bit discouraging to see so many going on so long.

Thanks for your encouragement though. :-)

54 and i still get a period, though quite often skip a month or so

It's a real bummer reading about so many women who have achieved menopause and haven't had an absolute dire life-changing experience along the way. You're so lucky - just like my best friend - sailed through it.

My periods had stopped by 50 but I didn’t have an easy time of it - not mentally at any rate, was a car crash. Awful mood swings, terrible anxiety, I was a beast to myDH who was so wonderful about it all. And these symptoms continued for several years after my periods stopped.