How did you know you were menopausal?

[SparklySneakers]

I'm 42 and have been though a medical menopause as treatment for endometriosis about 7 times in my 20s. It was not fun. Horrendous hot flushes, I'd go bright red if I spoke to anyone male , big spots, sweaty as anything, insomnia, mood swings-such anger that would end abruptly in tears, headaches that put me in hospital, and I still had pelvic pain pain that required opiates.

I'm currently taking the combined pill 3 packs in a row to control my periods and pain as much as possible so am now period free. Pain still requires opiates

My last period was Christmas I think. In the last year they had gone a bit haywire. 3 days of bleeding but sometimes 4, or 5 or 7 or 8. Pain lasted 3 weeks generally. One month I had two periods and was bleeding for 2 weeks on the second one and flooded for the first time since I was a teenager. I've never had heavy periods particularly.

Lately I've had a virus so could be that but I've woken up a few times wet through with sweat. Prior to this I'd sometimes wake up and have a sweaty cleavage (TMI sorry!) but certainly not like the hot flushes of my 20s. Also taking fluoxetine so could be a side effect although would have thought they'd be all the time if that was the case. But more moody lately as though the fluoxetine isn't working that well anymore. But could be brexit stress and this never ending virus that I've had for months

I'm breastfeeding my youngest but only at bedtime mainly although he sometimes sneaks more in the day if unwell.

Basically I'm hoping for experiences of how you knew you were menopausal, how it started? For me those medical menopauses were sudden and aggressive as my ovaries were shut down in a few weeks. There was no natural depletion of hormones, just wham bam have some yams ma'am! (I took tibolone HRT which is made from yams ).

My mum had a TAH in her 40s so never had a natural menopause either so she can't help me on this. I know the average age is 52 and hormone blood tests are not very good at telling anything until you are well into the process.

Not sure how I'd feel if it was the menopause tbh. My family is complete so no issues there but there's still that finality of not being able to have more children. The choice is no longer yours. Hope that makes sense.

Sorry, I've waffled-it's the drugs!

Medical menopause is a year without periods.

I'm not quite there yet. Managed 6 months then my hormone levels lifted and I had a period and have just got through my third duff cycle (all the symptoms, including elevated heart rate, but no relief)

I had menopausal symptoms at 40, all the usual, horrible moods, loss of libido, hot flushes, etc etc. Historically, the women in my family have started and completed menopause before 50. However, at 42 I fell pregnant with DS. Symptoms largely receded until the last two years when they returned alongside very heavy periods, lasting for two weeks at a time with a gap of no more than two weeks or so. I will be 50 this year. I haven't had a period since December with the exception of some light spotting last week. I have just had a Mirena coil fitted to see me through until it's done and dusted as I couldn't cope with the flooding anymore. It's hard for me to monitor how I actually "am" on a day to day basis. It's just me and DS (who is now 8), I have a FWB for shagging purposes but nobody lives with me! I don't have the terrible breast pain anymore, I suspect I am on the last legs of peri and will be out the other side soon. It's not been as bad as I anticipated to be honest!

I had elevated FSH, lighter periods and meno symptoms ( aches, brain fog, insomnia, dry mouth, thinner hair, night sweats and so on).

That sounds awful Sparkly.

Mine was more gentle, I can pinpoint the day. I was always as regular as clockwork then I missed a period. I wasn't pregnant.

Then erratic periods but nothing else for 6 months, then night sweats started and then I went completely mental and out of control, anger, depression.

Went onto HRT but never really recovered mentally. Sometimes I feel the good part of my life is over.

Came as a complete surprise when I realised one day I hadn’t had a period for at least 18 months. A few months of night sweats, the odd hot flush and definitely less patience for day to day shit but overall not awful and at least I don’t have the fortnight of cramps every month which I did for years. Not quite 50 yet and should probably make a GP appt just to see if there’s anything I should be doing that I’m not but actually I don’t feel any different to how I did when I was having periods so I’m pretty ok with it.

@SparklySneakers
You really need your GP to refer you to a menopause expert. You have a lot of issues going on.

Assume you were on Tibolone short term to prevent loss of bone density when you have a medical menopause ( to control your endo?)

42 is young for menopause, though not young for peri which can last several years.

Your symptoms are being clouded by the ADs you are taking- these are sometimes prescribed for women who can't use HRT as they can control flushes- and also by breast feeding your own estrogen levels will be lower.

You can have blood tests at 42- the guidance is no blood tests for women over 45- but at 42 you'd be considered as having a premature menopause.

Bit confused over your lack of periods- surely if you are on the back to back pill for 3 months, you'd not be having a period anyway? Except the withdrawal one after 3 months?

Also, the CCP is often given to women with early peri symptoms because it's stronger than HRT so if anything that ought to help!

See about a referral - you may be at risk of osteoporosis with your history of stopped-periods and what's going on now.