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Original poster

menopause.... what age are you supposed to have it?

42 replies

bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 20:27

I'm getting a wee bit worried, have had an awful lot of hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings lately (have never been a sweater before), do you think it could be the start of the menopause? I'm only 36! Any ideas?

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 30/12/2007 20:37

Menopause is usually late 40s/early 50s but there is such a thing as an early menopause. Dr can ascertain with simple blood test, so worth making an appt.

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 20:41

I thought it was about late 40s but, wasn't sure. Thank you for that, I keep putting it down to PMT but it's beginning to be constant, and the mood swings....one minute I'm thundering around the house Fee Fi Foo Fummming and the next I'm crying big sloppy happy tears at a film scene where a baby is born!

OP posts:
SantaBeClausImWorthIt · 30/12/2007 20:42

I was told by one of our GPs that the average age of the menopause is 52.

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 20:43

52! Hmmm, better get thee down the GPs in the New Year then.

OP posts:
juuule · 30/12/2007 20:45

Perimenopause can go on for years. Experiencing symptoms on and off can happen around your age. Menopause itself (last period) is around late 40s/ early 50s.
More info here

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 20:46

Oh right, thank you, so according to that, I can expect the symptoms to come and go. Thank you.

OP posts:
juuule · 30/12/2007 20:52

If it's come on suddenly or you are still uneasy it might be worth going for a blood test to make sure everything else is okay, like thyroid etc.

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 20:55

Yes, I'll still go because I think 36 is probably too early, have never had a hot flush before in my life, so I now know why my mother spent 10 years of her life refusing to wear a jumper.

OP posts:
peanutbear · 30/12/2007 20:58

my moms menopause was completly over by the time she was 42

I am only 32 and have just read the other thread with a link that describes me to a tee but I think I may just have paranoia though never suffered from hypochondria before !!!

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:00

Yes, I recognised quite a lot on that link, worryingly enough.... I am not ready for the menopause yet!!

OP posts:
peanutbear · 30/12/2007 21:03

nor me really but if it goes on for 10 y ears it would explain an awfull lot

I would go and ask for a blood test but given my age think they would laugh a me

I must admit its been playing on my mind for the last 4 months

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:05

Sorry, no I shouldn't think you are ready either.

OP posts:
juuule · 30/12/2007 21:08

I was told that unless you are in the later stages, the blood test is not that helpful. Your hormones can be normal most months and just the odd months where they dip/rise. The test is just a snapshot. So chances are it wouldn't show anything up this early on.

Blandmum · 30/12/2007 21:08

Average age in the UK is 50.

To a degree you will tend to follow in your mother's footsteps. If she was earlier than 50, you are more liekly to be earlier too. But obviously there are are people who don't follow this pattern.

The age of menopause is the same now as it was in 1900.

Early menopause can happen

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:09

I'll still go see my GP, she is very good with womens stuff (it's her area of expertise). And she's super sympathetic.

OP posts:
Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:10

Think my mother was mid 40s IIRC, is that early then?

OP posts:
southeastastra · 30/12/2007 21:11

i'm 38 and have the same too

someone on here said to me that it's as you aren't having children your body just reacts in that way. i suppose naturally we should be breeding until we can. so the body reacts in that way. does that make any sense?

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:12

Yes, it does make sense.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 30/12/2007 21:13

the menopause is 'driven' by women running out of eggs.

AFAICR there is no significant effect of practicing contraception. And there is no difference in the average age of menopause now and in 1900, when very few women had good contraception in the UK

juuule · 30/12/2007 21:15

Not really.
I started to have some symptoms around 36. Had my last child at almost 44. Although things did seem to up a notch after that. However, the hot flushes calmed down a bit after I lost some weight. Agnus Castus seemed to help too. Along with raspberry leaf tablets for the times I had flooding.

Blandmum · 30/12/2007 21:17

My HV told me that she didn't have a menopause she had a 'George', so you are in good company Juuule

Original poster
bitembarrasedbutnotatroll · 30/12/2007 21:18

Not put on any weight, (don't weigh myself) but I've been a size 10 for years, although my jeans are a bit looser than normal lately.

OP posts:
juuule · 30/12/2007 21:23

MB

peanutbear · 30/12/2007 21:27

I know this is TMi but I get the flooding and small clots how does Rasberry leaf tablets help

juuule · 30/12/2007 21:32

It's an astringent and also a uterine tonic. As your uterus is more toned the vessels clamp off more and so you bleed less. I think that's a rough idea of how it works. I'd have to look it up again. It worked for me. Although I did take more than it said on the bottle as the doses given didn't have any effect at all.