Is this the start of the menopause??? I'm TOO YOUNG!!!!

[rambunctious]

This week I've had two hot flushes. Never had anything like it before. Both times I was sitting quietly, minding my own business, and then whoosh! I felt absolutely roasting! Had to put the fan on / open the window etc. After a couple of minutes the feeling totally vanished.

I'm 43, and I don't know what my periods are like at the moment as I have a Mirena coil in (but I do have a heavy discharge most of the time, which has started in the last two years).

Please can someone reassure me that I'm too young for The Change????

Embrace it! Firstly, it could be years before you're finally done (I started at 41 with all-over-the-place periods and have now finished at 47 with a final couple of warm episodes after none for months - periods stopped yonks ago and just a few palps and flushes last year, no bother.)

Secondly - no periods, no sanpro, no contraception (unless you need to prevent STIs) - no hassle!

So this could be the start gobbin but it could go on for years??????
I guess I was hoping that someone could tell me that I was too young to be starting the menopause even though I know I'm not, I just assumed it would be when I was nearer 50

Officially, it's the start of the perimenopause, which is the run-up if you like. It hit me last year at 44 with very irregular cycle, sore boobs (thought I was pg at first!), weird aches and pains, grumpiness... when I realised what it was, it was a shock. You do think "whaaa-aaaat? MEEEE?"

But it can be on and off for years. The menopause is when your periods have stopped and that might not be until you're 50. I feel much more OK about it now. There are loads of good websites like Menopause Matters with lots of helpful advice.

One of the most positive things I have read about it was to think of it like a new you gradually getting ready to emerge - the next stage of your life when you will move on from pouring your energies into preparing your womb all the time, and you will have new energy for other things. Ursula K Leguin apparently said:
"The woman who is willing to make that change must become pregnant with herself, at last" I love that.

I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet.
You might have a few of these odd symptoms then nothing else for years.
But- I keep saying this on MN!- if your periods stop before the age of 45-47 it's advised you take HRT up to the average age of menopause (52) to protect your heart and bones from loss of oestrogen a bit earlier than is normal.

The average peri meno can be 10 years from the first minor symptoms- irregular cycles and spotting etc- to no more periods. And some women have hot flushes until their 80s.

Seriously, if these symptoms carry on you should see your GP and discuss HRT because with a Mirena in place you won't know if you are post meno or not.

Thanks ladies! I like the Leguin quote, zoom.
Interesting that you mention sore boobs. I've been getting shooting pains in mine for a few weeks now, so maybe that's linked.
frocks, yes, if symptoms continue I'll see the doctor.

I tried the HRT patch for three months last yr to alleviate mood swings. They did bugger all, so I didn't renew the prescription. Docs not v interested really which suits me. It's a natural process after all.

My Gastro consultant keeps an eye on my bones and I know I have osteopaenia anyway from Crohns and past steroid meds. When he gets concerned I'll maybe start worrying. Got DXA scan soon as it happens.

I was told I was perio-menpoausal when TTC at 42. I would have an early menopause they said. At 55 I was still having regular periods. No baby though, but there you go.

When the menopause DID arrive it was done and dusted in just over two years, so thankful for small mercies.

You might want to have a look at the MN menopause topic including this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/menopause/1928015-Premature-Menopause-Support-Group-anyone

Think yourself lucky, I've started perimenopause and I'm only 34! Family history so not a surprise.