How did your menopause start?

[NigellaWannabe1]

I wonder if mine is starting? I've had no symptoms but my period is a month late. I did a pregnancy test when I was two weeks late and it was negative, so it shouldn't be that (or should I test again?).

I haven't really been tracking my periods as I did enough of that when trying to get pregnant! They have been reasonably regular, I think, with the odd late one. The one thing that springs to mind is that about 18 months ago I had two periods in the space of 2 weeks (really odd).

Could I potentially never had a period again, or is it rare to stop suddenly?

It would be great to hear how it happened to you.

Yes more frequent and erratic periods is common. You may start to feel very warm and find sleeping more difficult soon - thats the next stage

Can't remember .

It was when I no longer needed to wear a cardigan in work during the summer.

I've been on cerelle for years so no periods so I couldn't use that as a guide.

Anxiety, aches like growing pains, periods erratic and just odd. Then basically bleeding a bit all the time. About 36at the time.

Then night sweats, loss of sleep, more anxiety, depression and The Rage.

You may not get all of this and repacking the lost oestrogen with hrt sorted it.

Night sweats first, then anxiety at night and anger during the day. Oh the joy

periods stopped suddenly, hot flushes, mood swings, anxiety - basically I got it all like a ton of bricks - I was 46

Following with interest. I'm 46 and wonder if any of my symptoms are perimenopausal. I don't have periods as I had a hysterectomy (left ovaries in).

I've been having hot flashes...but then it is hot and I do sweat a lot naturally. Although I find myself sitting right in front of a fan trying desperately to cool down while everyone else is acting normally.

I've been getting night sweats and disrupted sleep more recently. But then I used to get night sweats years ago when ds was a baby.

Whereas pmt was always quite dramatic with extreme mood swings, anxiety and anger, I feel similar symptoms all the time but more mildly. Does that resonate with anyone?

Thanks everyone. Keep your comments coming! I'm tempted to take another pregnancy test, although I know it sounds deluded at my age (46). It wouldn't be good news, by the way, so I'm praying this is the menopause......

Missed a period at around 52. Blood loss was quite minimal for some months previously too. Realised that in the weeks when I was missing it I was getting slight hot flushes. Had another run of normal cycles but periods were very light- 2/3 days. Missed 4 cycles in a row and the hot flushes and insomnia set in. Had another couple several months apart.

OP you may find you miss the odd cycle or a slight variation but then go back to normal for a few years.

In hindsight, headaches and short weird-for-me irregular periods. It didn't really click for me until I was getting hot flashes, but in the year before that, my periods were really short, more painful, less regular and I got really bad headaches at the start.

This started for me when I was 27. Like QueenoftheNights said, my periods disappear and come back for a bit before disappearing again. They very much throw off my emotional balance and everything when they do so though. I'm quite looking forward to them going for good...

Feeling of being absolutely shattered all the time; rapid weight gain; sniffling at cute animals on adverts; deep aches in my joints and limbs; flashes of feeling really warm, then after two years of all that, abruptly periods stopped. They got lighter and shorter for about a year first, which was lovely after decades of grinding pain for eight days a month.

I started having very erratic & much heavier periods from age 44. Got Mirena coil in at 46 which stopped all that & I haven't had a period since - I'm now 54. My temperature control changed in my late 40s, I stopped feeling the cold. I've never had hot flushes though. I think I'm through it but the Mirena is still in so I'm not sure. I'm delaying getting it out as long as I can.

Fucking insomnia.
tbh, I've had insomnia lifelong but I feel 90% sure it's made worse due to being peri.
Can't really claim any other symptom. I manage brilliantly on minimal sleep. Still fucking annoying.
Can't claim a symptom start date unless it's the birth of my eldest 18 yrs ago.
I LOVE sleep. Weanh.

I had light but regular periods, insomnia, body aches, insulin resistance and brain fog. I diagnosed at 42 but I guess it started a year ago.

Periods just got shorter & lighter from about 46/47. Stopped within a year. Main symptom for a long time was epic anxiety levels & insomnia. THink so far I’ve got away lightly !!

Not naturally is the answer I guess. Had breast cancer at 47 and after surgery was put on a drug which wipes out my oestrogen. I was fast forwarded into menopause overnight. Hot flushes (unbearable at night), anxiety, aching joints, low mood.
Two years down the line now and coping better.

For me it has been periods just lasting one day and being really light, and the most awful hot flushes that make me feel like I am melting. However my GP refuses to send me for a blood test to confirm, as he said it is likely to be inconclusive because I have PCOS and am only 39. I have a family history of early menopause - grandmother done and dusted at 31, mum started hers at 37 - yet can't get anyone to take me seriously. Speaking to my mum and nan they both started the same way so I'm fairly certain. I can't imagine another 15-20 years of coping with this.

@AndnoneforGretchenWieners (phew- long user name!) You need to ask your GP for a referral to a specialist.

Premature menopause is linked to many serious illnesses ( heart, bones, brain,) if it's not treated with HRT.

If they won't, you can self refer to some specialists privately and they will write to your GP with recommendations for treatment.

Don't allow your GP to dismiss you like this- it's potentially serious stuff.

Drama do you know you should have the Mirena replaced every five years?

Last June (age 48) I skipped a period, and got noticeably more 'dry' down there. Had a few hot flushes. Got slightly excited that this might be it .... nope. Periods returned the following month, back to normal flow and interlude.

This June (age 49) my period was five days late, after being regular for the year, but turned up as normal following that delay. No dryness, no flushes.

I've come to the conclusion my body doesn't like June.

LaundryHepburn (love your username) I wondered if anyone would pick up on how long I've had my Mirena!

As I understand it, the guidelines are that if you have your Mirena put in at age 46 or over, as I did, it's fine for it to stay in for seven years instead of the usual five for younger women.

My GP, who's very clued up on menopause issues, is happy enough for it to stay until I'm through the menopause which I'm fairly sure I am now so the plan is to whip it out later this year - I'll have had it almost 8 years.

@Drama The Mirena is licensed for 4 yrs for HRT ( along with a separate estrogen) and 5 yrs as contraception. It won't have any progestogen left after 7 years so it won't be doing a thing for your meno symptoms.

Thanks Queen, that's interesting. I'm no longer having menopause symptoms, so I guess I needn't worry about what might happen after I get it taken out! GP & I have already discussed me having another Mirena put in & taking oestrogen if I want to go down the HRT route, but I don't feel I need to at this stage.

Thanks Drama

I didn't know about the menopause benefits. I'm 44 and using it for contraception, due to have it replaced next month. I'm assuming I won't be able to have HRT when the time comes, because of a family history of breast cancer, so good to know about Mirena's other benefits.

What is the family history of breast cancer?

The only relevance I was told is 2 with BC at a young age and if they are first degree relatives ( mum and sister.)

Anything else doesn't count.