Menopause at 40

[soveryconfusedagain]

Just looking for some insight from others who've been through this. I was 40 last April - my periods have always been pretty short but every weeks. I didn't have periods for two years after each of my pregnancies, due to breastfeeding.

Over the summer, I had some night sweats but put it down to hot weather plus sweat child glued to me in bed! I've also put on some weight this year - nearly a stone. I've been getting worse PMT and frequent headaches. Have also been getting up in the night with the desperate urge to wee, which hasn't happened to me since pregnancy!

Then in October, I had a really heavy, two week long period - just seemed to go on forever! I hadn't even thought about menopause until this point but Googling my symptoms brought up the suggestion that it could be that.

Now I've had a blood test which has shown FSH levels of 82 which seem to put me post menopause! It's all happened so fast and I feel in a bit of a daze. I'm having a scan at the weekend to see if that can detect what's going on and then another blood test in 5 weeks. Dr has mentioned HRT. It just all feels too early and a bit upsetting if I'm honest.

Any pointers would be great - has anyone else been through this so early? One other thing is that I occasionally feed youngest DC at night which I know could alter FSH levels, although dr knows this and didn't seem to think it would have much effect.

Thanks in advance.

*that should say 'sweaty child' not 'sweat child' by the way...

Hi if you have had periods as recently as October you are not menopausal, you are peri menopausal, you need to be period free for 12 months to be considered meno. The bad news is peri can last for up to 10 years so the symptoms you are having would suggest that that is what's happening to you. Your FSH does suggest meno but this can fluctuate wildly during peri. It's really positive that your GP is on the ball as many aren't .

Thank you. Yes, peri sounds more reasonable. It's just that on my blood test result my FSH is apparently classed as 'post menopausal' which confused me! Does it sound too early for HRT though, if it's only the early-ish stages?

Theres not really a 'too early' for HRT' it all depends on the severity of the symptoms that you are getting... the nice guidelines say hrt should be prescribed for symptoms and not blood test results so really it's down to how you feel and what your GP thinks. In peri your symptoms can vary from day to day but if they are interfering with how you want to live your life then yes HRT is a consideration.
It may be worth waiting for your scan (I presume it's an ultrasound) to see if there's another reason for your heavy periods. I was in the same situation as you in my early and got a mirena coil which stopped my periods totally, I then added an oestrogen patch when I was 49 and having awful peri symptoms and have never felt better!

Early 40s🙄

Hello OP I had a very similar experience with a GP at 41 and I have been on HRT since. She explained to me that it was not only about the symptoms but preventing osteoporosis as my menopause was earlier than most

I started hrt at 41 and I am 3 years on it. My consultant is adamant that I need it at least until 50. Afterwards it is up to me.
Premature or early menopause is a medical condition and it needs therapy.
I was also infertile but I had absolutely no idea, so the whole situation was a real shock for me.
Take care! :)

IsItLunchTime same here. Menopause at 41 and on HRT as advised by GP for the same reasons

Thanks for the posts - yes, the dr said it was because of the long term risks of early menopause - osteoporosis, dementia and Parkinsons (which sent me into a tailspin of panic, I'll confess!)

He said it was to replace the hormones I'd be missing out on for the next however many years, if it is early menopause.

The other thing is that I'm feeling a bit down - after many years of looking after young DC, I'd recently felt that I was sort of 'rediscovering myself' and now I'm feeling utterly exhausted and sort of old before my time. But I know that's not really rational thinking and I need to hang on for the scan and second blood test really anyway.