Anyone feel they're nearing the end of perimenopause....

[ParisUSM]

and want to share the journey to the mystical Final Menstrual Period?

Been perimenopausal for 5 years when periods became irregular. So want this to be over - over the past 2 years I've had gaps of 2 or 3 months, but then after I hit 50 in October I had them ever 3 weeks again, lasting for well over a week.

I'm now on day 49 and hoping for a longer gap. Seriously, could put up with anything if it means an end to clotty painful flooding periods, iron depletion and growing fibroids!

You might be waiting a long time yet! There are treatments for heavy bleeding if you are suffering unduly with this.

I don't think I will be waiting a long time Bellaciao, I've read a ton load of medical studies and all the signs are there that I'm in the final year. Plus everyone in my family was done before the age of 51.

I do take tranexamic acid - managing everything as well as I can but an end to periods would be very welcome, as would the shrinking of fibroids which I am hoping will happen.

What are the signs ParisUSM that things might be coming to an end?

I'm 51 and have been missing periods for the past 4 years, and last year missed about 7. I'm not having many symptoms though - I can be a bit raging every now and then, have had a few night sweats, have a terrible memory and dreadful fatigue - but no hot flushes, flooding or very lengthy periods.

Hi DroopyTulips, when you have a gap in periods of over 60 days they say you're in late perimenopause which usually lasts 1 - 3 years. I had the first gap of 60 days 2 years ago and am following the same pattern as the rest of my family so feel I'm on the road to the end! (I live in hope!) Am on day 52 and counting at the moment!

Not everyone has difficult symptoms so hopefully yours will just come to an end like that.

Ah, OK - thanks - very interesting. My first 60 day gap was about 9 months ago, so with any luck, I'm on the final straight. Can't wait to get it all over with.

I'm actually browsing the Meno boards as I have some strange symptoms that I was wondering might be peri-meno (racing heart, light-headedness, pulsing head/tinnitus, bloating, gall-bladder spasms and heartburn) - turns out they probably are. Oh the joy of it all .

I had a period in Feb having not had one since September. I have had aabout 3in the last year. I am 51. I went through a phase of feeling crap but sorted it by drinking loads of water! Sounds ridiculous but it got rid of the brain fog and bloating within three days. No other symptoms so far.

I think I'm in the same phase, nearing menopause, but it's so unpredictable I could well be wrong. I'm 51 soon. Had a gap of 90 or so days last year, then back to more or less regular, then all over the place again. Currently on day 43. Taking my basal temperature in the morning seems to show no ovulation this cycle yet. I find this helps a bit to know where you are, although again very unpredictable.

Having a lot of night flushes, rather than sweats. DH is noticing me giving off heat! The duvet is on and off all night, and disturbed sleep. Not so much flushing during the day. Otherwise could be worse ... What is an improvement is the reduction in PMS when there is no ovulation. I feel quite level mood wise which is a definite plus. I don't want to try HRT as I don't want a return of PMS, as I seem to be very sensitive to progesterone (hormone based contraception has not been fun in the past!)

Hi @Purplefoot

That sounds like me, had a 90 day and then 80 day gap early last year then all over the place, then regularish again, and this time got to day 64.

I don't really have PMS irritation like I was having a few years ago, but I do get ridiculously emotional. I knew the day 64 period was due as I was crying at Jack Nicklaus' grandson getting a hole in one - what's that about? I don't even like golf.

It's all so very unpredictable, when I do have a period it stops and starts too so I might only bleed for about 2 hours in a day.

Let's hope we're near the end :)

Interesting what you say about being in late peri. By that token I must be due menopause this year. I had 3 over 60 day cycles in 2016. But then none in 2017, just had one again this year. If this period lasts 1-3 years then that time is nearly up for me. I can't believe it somehow - it doesn't feel imminent (whatever the fuck that means).

Here's hoping Loveatthefiveanddime! The other studies I found said that there's a 5-8 year gap between the first 7 day difference in cycle and the final menstrual period. Another said there's a 1.5 - 2.3 gap between the first 90 day cycle and final menstrual period.

All of these leads me to hope that my final period will be between September this year and September next year. I know these are only averages but that's what I'm clutching onto. :)

I can get that if someone has bad bleeds and heavy then it's good to get tot he end of peri. But I never really had 'peri' except for a few months and all my symptoms began once periods had gone AWOL. So don't understand why some women are looking forward to the end of peri. It got worse not better for me!

For some women it does LovesMaltesers, but for others peri is worse. It isn't just bad heavy bleeds, it's horrendous period pain, fibroid growith, problems with ferritin depletion, and digestion issues to name just a few.

I'm almost 49 and my periods spent about two years being erratic, with the gaps growing longer and longer, and they finally stopped two years ago. I still get the odd hot flush, but nothing like they were - and the odd palpitation. But I actually feel great now! Back to my old self - in fact better. 🤔

I’m certainly feeling that something is afoot. I told my doctor about irregular periods a couple of years ago, but he said it wasn’t menopause but the usual things about change in activity levels or weight. I’m not so sure - they have been very irregular since and my last period was in November. I’ve certainly noticed some increase in anxiety and there’s some related difficulties with sleep. I’m 45.

@Apocalyptichorsewoman Thanks for that, you so rarely hear from women through the other side on here! All the women in my family had an awful peri and then were fine, so I'm sure I'll be the same. Good to have that target in sight :)

I won't know when I have my 'last' period. Unless I die very soon afterwards I suppose. I dont' keep track & they mostly have always been fairly irregular.

I’ve been keeping track llljkk because as sure as eggs is eggs someone is going to ask me at some medical appointment or other when my last period was.

So, mine came today. At more than 150 days that’s the longest gap so far.

150 days is a very long gap indeed. I am surprised at your doctor dismissing peri-menopause,. Or thinking about it, maybe I am not. I know a not-insignificant number of women who had menopause before 45.

how do you know when its over? i havnt had a period for 2 years now.

It's over once you go 1 year without a period. Women on hrt or with a mirena won't know when this happens though.

I don’t think I’m near the end yet but I really wish I was. Having periods less than three weeks apart at the moment and I am so fed up. It’s really starting to affect my mood now.

And I’m tired. Really fucking tired. Bah.

After many years of the perfect periods (painless, pretty predictable, three day bleeds) suddenly in my late 40s every month was a bloodbath and eventually periods got closer together, like every three weeks.

This month I had a light period on the 6th Apr (three days or so), then got it again on the 20th and am still bleeding, not heavily but not getting any lighter. It's like a period in slow motion. I use washable pads so it's quite a task staying on top of keeping enough clean/dry ones when you don't know when the end is in sight.

I started around the same age as my mum and assumed (guessing) I might stop around the same age, so if that's the case I'm just about on target.

I'm having trouble sleeping well but I suspect my hypothyroidism is a little undertreated, which might explain the light sleep. Otherwise, I have some fluttery heart stuff and missed beats (that could also be uat) but aside from that I feel pretty great. After years of being constantly cold I'm warm and comfortable much of the time now but I don't suffer from hot flushes.

I had a confidence blip around Oct (around the time of my 50th, though in retrospect it may have started 6-12 mos before that). I grappled with shopping/spending that felt out of control. That seems largely behind me now, touch wood.

I spent many years depressed and anxious but I've been happier in the last 10-15 years than ever before. I wondered if my hormones put a damper on moods and maybe now the change is actually making me happier - ? There have been a lot of positive changes in my life so who knows, I don't have to understand it to enjoy it.

I really wish I knew what is going on with me. I had a hysterectomy 13 years ago with ovaries left in so I can't track anything. My Gp hasn't been very helpful at all.

This afternoon I was watching the new series of New York housewives and I cried because a lady completed the marathon? I'm just an emotional wreck.

And due to having autoimmune issues I can't work out what's a hit flush from the menopause or from the disease. I'm hoping that because it's all getting a lot worse I'm getting near the end.

So if you have 2 years period free, and are 56
Does that mean the meanapause is done