How did it happen for you?

[Lushmetender]

I’m peri menopausal- known it since having IVF 10 years ago. I’m now 48 and period length is varying from 25/36 days per cycle. I’m sure I’ve missed one period and think I may this month as I’m already 3 days late, had bad menstrual cramps but no period as yet. But I’m having awful bloating! ESP when I miss a period. My face is very red and dry. But the night sweats have stopped. Do you think menopause is now close? How long did yours drag on for? My mother says she hit menopause at 46.

I believe there has to be a year of no periods before it is classified as post menopause.

Your erratic periods could go on for a while with bigger gaps between. Everyone's experience is different though.

Everyone is different.

The average age of meno in UK is 51. Before 50 is considered early and carries a risk of loss of bone density and heart disease later on in life.

Most women find the slow changes of peri can last for anything from 3- 10 years.

The sweats and flushes may carry on for life (so my consultant has told me.)

Don't think that the end of periods means all these symptoms stop.
They don't, because you are then without estrogen for life.
You may be fine and have no issues but most women do have symptoms for a good many years. Sweats and flushes may stop but other issues like vaginal dryness, bladder problems, loss of bone density, happen over many years post meno.

If you are suffering now you might want to be thinking about HRT.

To answer how did it happen for you, my periods had a slight blip around 49, but were more or less regular bar a day or two right up to 53 when they stopped over around 9 months with bigger gaps between them. I started HRT then and have carried on with it to help flushes, and loss of sleep mainly.

I have no uterus, so the period thing made it hard to tell. I’m 47 now, but last year I was hit by an overwhelming sense of doom that was unshakeable, insomnia, no sweats, but overheating, alopoecia, rapidly cycling migraines, dry, itchy skin, loss of bone density, etc.... so sexy. Of course I have chosen to use oestrogen gel and anything else I can get my paws on.

I’ve been trying to lose weight. Am doing a lot of exercise for a triathlon -lost 4 lbs and just before this due period- added back the 4lbs so keen for it to come as usually loses the water again🙄 does HRT help with bloat?