Early menopause

[Sleepingonthebus]

I went to see the doctor today because my periods have been getting further and further apart. He said that this was probably the beginning of the slide into menopause. I'm 38 and my mum was 37 when she started going through it.

He won't do blood tests for another couple of months, but advised me to visit Holland & Barrett for something to help with the symptoms.

I've had a wee cry. I feel so stupid, because I don't want any more children, but it just feels so final. It feels like my body is switching off, and I feel so old today.

I started going through the menopause at 38 too. Like you, I expected it as my mum was young as well.

Although I was glad to see the back of periods, I wished I'd known when I was having my last one for some reason - it does seem so final and the end of an era iyswim. I don't miss having them though and certainly don't miss the hormonal ups & downs that go with them.

I don't know if it's because I was young but I've never suffered from hot flushes or night sweats or any of the usual menopause symptoms unless you count grumpiness.

Because we have a family history of osteoporosis, my gp recommended HRT and I took it for 10 years - didn't feel any different when taking it or when I stopped. Have you considered it, or has it been recommended by your doctor? I've also had a bone density scan.

Are you having horrible symptoms Sleeping? H&B sell lots of different remedies and their staff seem quite clued up on the alternatives (I have friends suffering!)

Don't think of it as a slide into old age, but the end of messy periods, PMT, cramps, contraception - and the start of good things. When I can think of some I'll let you know

I've thought of one at least - I can wear white trousers any time I want to.

I'll stop rambling now!

I realised at 38 that my body was giving up on periods too. I felt old, a freak compared to my friends, scared I would no longer enjoy sex. Now I'm 41 and I have come to terms with it so much more. I've had two periods in the last 12 months and bizarrely I now get v excited that 'there's still life in the old dog yet!' All those years of them being a nuisance and now they feel like a rare treat! I too always wonder if that is the last one ever...

Healthwise hormonesnomore is correct. you need to get a bone density scan. Once you hit menopause you lose bone density up to 4 times as quickly as pre menopause and having an extra 10+ years of rapidly diminishing bone density can lead to osteoperosis in the future. I have had one and been told I need to take HRT for the next 10 years. Am about to start taking it so good to know it made no difference to how you felt hormonesnomore.

What symptoms are you having? I haven't had any that needed treated medically but did get a referral to an endocrinologist for investigative tests and the bone density scan and the chance to talk to someone about what was happening to me medically did help me deal with it emotionally. Lots of women find it difficult to come to terms with especially when it happens ahead of your peers.

Also what do you mean by further and further apart? If you mean only a few days longer than before you could have a long time to go yet. Looking back my periods were sometimes drifting out to 35 days instead of 28 seven years ago. I then started skipping periods about 6 years ago - to begin with only one in about 6, then one in three.

3 years ago I went six months without a period and that is what got me to the doctor. In 2009 I had six periods, in 2010 I had 4, so far this year nada. To be honest I think they may have stopped now but I have had a 200+ day cycle before so who knows!

So you may find you are having infrequent periods for years.

Thanks for your replies. I'm trying hard to look at the positives in it, although I don't think I'll ever have the figure to wear white trousers.

The only symptoms I'm having so far, apart from the disappearing periods, are hot flushes. They are frequent and unpleasant, but they don't last too long. Holland & Barrett gave me Sage Leaf and Evening Primrose oil capsules. The assistant was amazing and asked me to come back in and let her know how I get on.

My GP wants me to wait and see what happens before he intervenes with HRT. It has only been 3 months, and although he is sure this is what is happening, especially with the hot flushes, he wants me to get another few months under my belt before he starts on the blood tests etc.

Easy for the GP to say 'just keep on having hot flushes for a few months and we'll see how it goes' He's not the one breaking out in a sweat in front of all and sundry several times a day!!!

Go back and explain that you are find them hard to cope with and you have tried natural remedies. And ask about your bones. He should be advising you to take HRT from when your periods stop to when you are 50 and if you need it for symptoms you should be able to start it now.

Choux It is only been the last 3 periods that have been affected. The first gap that was longer than normal was only 35 days, then it was 49 days, and then 57. The length of time between periods is increasing every time, and I have always been 28 days on the dot.

Not massive gaps like some of your are experiencing, but certainly noticeable enough to go for medical advice. I was aware of the connection with my mother's age when she went through it, otherwise i may have chalked it up to stress or other factors.

I've just found out that my sis went into early menopause at 34.
She listed a few of her symptoms and am now panicking that I might be go through an early menopause as well, am now 35
Does anyone know if it is more likely with the family link? IYSWIM

Debs - definitely a link in my family. On my mum's side I know of 5 of us who were early menopause starters.

The thing was, my gp wouldn't believe me and didn't do blood tests till I was 40 - she said it was a hormone imbalance and menopause doesn't begin till a woman's in her 50s!

My periods didn't get further apart, they gradually got closer together until I was having one almost continuous bleed - not nice. That was why it was such a relief when it stopped.

My Mum was 50 when she went though the menopause. She had a huge period where she daren't move for a few days she bled so much, then nothing. She had no hot flushes, which I am getting or lack in sex, although that might be because she was single and off men.
My sis had a 1 year old dd and had just come off the pill to try again, she got hot flushes was irritable and short tempered and the periods never came back. She found out after 6 months that it was definitely the early menopause and that was 5 years ago now.
I have a 7 month and a 30 month old and i only had 1 period between and that was horrid and lumpy and quite long.

I can see why your Gp says wait for tests but TBh with your family history is looks pretty clear cut. Is he trying to save a few ££s?

You will still need more than 1 test- my gynae always gives women 2 tests- one around day 3 of their cycle and one after the mid-point.

A single blood test is rarely enough as your hormones can be up and down like a yoyo.

As others have said, you deffo need HRT if you are having a meno 10 years or more early.

Thanks for all your advice. I'll go back to the doctor next week I think, and see what he says.