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Menopause

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Original poster

I didn't have a Menopause

148 replies

Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 09:58

..as such.

I don't mean I didn't go through it as I am sure I did, but my periods just stopped at 49. I never had hot flushes or night sweats. I did not gain weight or go doolally. I just carried on as normal. When I asked my doctor about it she told me lots of women are the same but you don't hear about them do you?

Just sayin.......

OP posts:
newlabelwriter · 14/07/2020 11:00

OP I think I might be the same and it's really surprising after years of horrific PMT, period pains& heavy periods - I just assumed my menopause would be equally as awful. I'm 49 & my periods have pretty much stopped (not altogether) and so far none of the other symptoms - really don't understand it but I'll definitely take it after decades of hormonal misery.

HollysBush · 14/07/2020 11:01

Thanks OP that’s good to know. I wonder whet the statistics are?

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:01

I realise this. My best friend really suffered badly, and she started with it early and it went on a long time. I watched her suffer and wondered when it would start for me. It's just one of those things. You can't predict what will happen. I'm just glad it didn't.

OP posts:
IsItDownToTheLakeIFear · 14/07/2020 11:02

This is good to hear, as I have been worrying about it as I approach 40. Hope I’m one of the lucky ones.

What about sex drive OP? This is one of the things that worries me the most - I don’t want to lose it (again, having got it back coming off the pill).

SallyWD · 14/07/2020 11:04

That's very reassuring to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience OP. I hear that women in Japan have minimal or no menopause symptoms too. Something to do with their diet.

RhodaCamel · 14/07/2020 11:04

I naively thought that as I’ve been fit and slim all my life, haven’t smoked, don’t drink and lead a boringly safe life I’d skip through menopause. How wrong I was. I’m 47 and although I still have my regularly, horrendously heavy periods, I now have the extra joys of many perimenopause symptoms (although not many hot flushes yet). I would love to have sailed through but sadly that doesn’t seem to be my luck. You are very lucky. Do you have any tips? Was there anything you think you did which you think may have helped?

Bluntness100 · 14/07/2020 11:06

Apparantly one in four women have debilitating symptoms, due to oestrogen deficiency. So whilst that’s an enormous percentage, it also means 75 percent do not have debilitating symptoms.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:09

I have always exercised on and off, running, step classes when I was younger, and walking.

I eat a reasonably healthy diet. I haven't eaten meat for about forty years. I don't smoke and I'm not really a drinker although I do enjoy a drink when pushed :)

Being active might help. Who knows?

OP posts:
Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:10

I don't know about the oestrogen thing. I had an ectopic pregnancy when I was 30 and lost an ovary. It did not stop me from having children.

OP posts:
RhodaCamel · 14/07/2020 11:13

I do wonder about eating meat, there are so many hormones pumped into meat these days. I wonder if vegans have an easier transition through the menopause?

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:17

I'm not vegan. I eat fish. I don't drink milk though as it makes me constipated. I use almond milk.

OP posts:
newlabelwriter · 14/07/2020 11:18

@RhodaCamel

I do wonder about eating meat, there are so many hormones pumped into meat these days. I wonder if vegans have an easier transition through the menopause?
I've been vegan for 4 years and I did wonder about this...
Fatted · 14/07/2020 11:22

It's good that women can talk about different experiences. I would like to see more research done on the menopause, more figures about how many people have symptoms and more resources put into helping women at this time in their lives. I'd like to understand why some women suffer so badly and why people such as yourself have no symptoms at all.

I think where a lot of people probably get quite angry about it is that it is bloody hard enough getting 'women's problems' taken seriously enough as it is. Without people coming along and saying 'well I didn't have it that bad'. I can understand people probably think that minimises what they have been through.

I suspect I have been peri menopausal for a while. Since having my youngest at 35 my periods and my hormones have never been right. I don't think medical professionals have taken me seriously because of my age. I've only just turned 40. No one can tell me why my periods are so heavy that I end up anemic and no one seems willing to offer me a solution other than telling me to go onto the pill.

RhodaCamel · 14/07/2020 11:23

newlabelwriter do you feel healthier on a vegan diet? Has it helped you through the menopause?

CallarMorvern · 14/07/2020 11:24

I do wonder about eating meat, there are so many hormones pumped into meat these days

There are no hormones pumped into British meat (and shouldn't be in EU meat). Though there are naturally occurring hormones in dairy products (and presumably meat).

I've just gone back to eating meat after years without, and feel better for it. Hope I haven't scuppered my chances of an easy menopause. I don't drink milk though.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:29

@Fatted

It's good that women can talk about different experiences. I would like to see more research done on the menopause, more figures about how many people have symptoms and more resources put into helping women at this time in their lives. I'd like to understand why some women suffer so badly and why people such as yourself have no symptoms at all.

I think where a lot of people probably get quite angry about it is that it is bloody hard enough getting 'women's problems' taken seriously enough as it is. Without people coming along and saying 'well I didn't have it that bad'. I can understand people probably think that minimises what they have been through.

I suspect I have been peri menopausal for a while. Since having my youngest at 35 my periods and my hormones have never been right. I don't think medical professionals have taken me seriously because of my age. I've only just turned 40. No one can tell me why my periods are so heavy that I end up anemic and no one seems willing to offer me a solution other than telling me to go onto the pill.

I've got fibroids in my uterus. Before my periods stopped they were heavy. I would flood at the most awkward times. I remember sitting at the swimming baths on the side of the pool watching my son in his class. I stood up and it felt like my insides had just dropped out. I would pass huge liver-like lumps. It was not acceptable. My gynaecologist recommended I have a hysterectomy but I refused. Instead they fitted the Mirena coil and it worked like a dream until my periods stopped. In fact it is still in situ. I don't know if it is still a viable option but it worked for me
OP posts:
TheNavigator · 14/07/2020 11:30

I am a lifelong vegetarian and love to exercise, very fit and slim. Still having a shit menopause. I can handle the physical elements, but the mental impact is truly appalling.

@Anordinarymum your OP did sound smug and gloaty. Lovely for you but not much help to the rest of us to 'just say' how easy you had it. As the first response said: 'lucky you'.

potter5 · 14/07/2020 11:33

Me too. Mine stopped at 53 and no menopause symptoms yet!

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:33

Well if you read the thread you will see I did not mean it to be so :)

OP posts:
scarfaceace · 14/07/2020 11:34

I had a premature menopause and it was all done and dusted by the time I was 42. I never really had any hot flushes or night sweats and like the OP I just carried on as normal. I do know I've been incredibly lucky.

Thinking about previous comments and if there are any reasons for it...

-My mum was 40 when I was born so I'm guessing she had hers much later.
-I've always smoked.
-I drink (socially)
-I have a terrible sweet tooth.
-I eat meat, fish, and dairy, but have very few take-aways as I usually cook from scratch.
-I have two DSs, and was sterilised in my 30s.
-I'm probably half a stone overweight and don't exercise much.
-I'm over 60 too.

So, I've no idea...

DramaAlpaca · 14/07/2020 11:36

I think the more information women have about menopause the better, so it's good that OP has posted to say it isn't always awful.

It can be utterly horrendous for lots of women, you only need to read the threads on here, but many do sail through without too many issues.

I was one of the reasonably lucky ones, as was my mother. My periods went a bit haywire in my mid-40s but a Mirena coil sorted that out and saw me through the other side. I don't actually know when my periods stopped - sometime between age 46 when the coil went in and 54 when it came out!

I had mild brain fog, no bad hot flushes, just felt generally warmer all the time. That was about it. I haven't felt that I needed HRT, just vitamin supplements for menopausal women - which might be a placebo, I don't know, but I think they helped.

But as someone upthread said, thank god for Vagifem Grin

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:36

Fatted, thinking back, I was also very anaemic. I had to stop giving blood for this reason. Ask your doctor about the Mirena coil or it's modern day equivalent. It's worth a try.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 14/07/2020 11:38

My friend was the same as the op, the only thing it has affected is her second drive, she has described it like have a tap completely turned off. Gone from wanting it daily to quite frankly happy to never bother again Shock

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 14/07/2020 11:38

I've got brain fog now but I've always been 'moist'

gets coat

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 14/07/2020 11:46

I also exercise and don’t drink milk as I really dislike it. However I tend to low carb so do eat a lot of meat, veg and salad,. And little sugar, wheat etc.