Am guessing this is it?

[Bugsy73]

I'll be 48 at the end of the year. Periods always been regular, every 4-5 weeks. Its now almost 7 weeks since my last one. Have had the tiniest bit of spotting but that's all.
Nothing else has changed; no hot sweats, not particularly short tempered, sleeping ok other than incredibly weird and vivid dreams.
Is there any point in talking to GP? Is this maybe a one off?
Would really appreciate any advice from anyone experiencing similar.
Thanks

Have you done a pregnancy test just in case?

Menopause can be as simple as periods stop and thats it, or can be a longer more drawn out affair. I am starting mine, a minimal spotting period at the moment... Christmas eve was my previous, and July before that.

It would be good to discuss it with the doctor since, as we go through this phase of life, we need to make sure things like bone health are taken care of.

I'm 52.....last few years periods got closer together and heavier. but I also had a fibroid. now I am 36 days since my last period. .longest ever gap. I don't have any other symptoms except anxiety. ,but I have alway had that! you may find your periods simply stop..or that they become more unpredictable. ... am not on hrt but have also been thinking of asking the dr about it..For my anxiety and also for benefits of bone health.

I'm in a similar situation. 46, periods have been heavier, longer and more erratic for about 18 months. Now I've not had one since December. Did a pregnancy test yesterday just in case - negative. So I guess this is it?

No other symptoms except a general lack of energy but that could be from juggling work and home schooling, same as everyone else. NHS website only advises seeing doc if symptoms are troubling, but I'm aware bone health is a concern especially as I'm at the younger end of the typical age bracket.

Don't really want to take HRT unless I need it. Is it worth seeing a GP for advice? What would they do at this stage?

I’m 47. Longest I’ve been without a period is about 6 months, but then another one will appear within a few weeks. It’s v annoying! I’ve had a few hot sweats and generally feeling a bit down and anxious etc but that could be the covid situation or my thyroid problem manifesting rather than menopause so who knows?!

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm definitely not pregnant , chance would be a fine thing. I would be delighted never to have another period, but I don't like the uncertainty and not knowing what's to come. Also cannot believe I'm old enough . I guess all I can do is wait and see.

I also really, really don't want to have to deal with heavy periods so am hoping that's not what's coming. I had enough of that throughout my teens. I appreciate I may just have to get on with it though

That's how mine started, when I was 44 or so. I'd had regular periods, every 28 days, then noticed the gap between them was getting longer. Then I might have a shorter gap, or not have one for six weeks. They got heavier too, it was horrible having them so heavy and unpredictable when I'd always been so regular. I got a Mirena coil put in at 46, and never had another period. I'm 56 now and not sure when I actually went through it thanks to the coil.

As for seeing your GP, of course you should if you start having horrible symptoms as if you do you might want to consider HRT, but there's no official test for diagnosing menopause. Blood tests can be done but they'll only tell you what's happening on the day you have the test.

One thing I did was buy a test from Amazon that's like a pregnancy test in reverse. You POAS and it tests your FSH levels on that day, then you test again four (I think) weeks later and if the levels are high on both tests you can pretty much take it that you aren't ovulating.

Ah that's good to know dramaalpaca, I'll have a look for some tests.

So it finally turned up, about 8 weeks since my last one. Its been pretty full on . At one point went about half hour between trips to the toilet. Think its starting to settle down now. Fortunately its been over the weekend as would have been a nightmare at work.
I think I'm going to call the GP tomorrow and ask for some tranexamic acid in case the same happens next time. Has anyone any experience with this? I took it briefly as a teenager but I don't remember how effective it was.