Has anyone gone through the Menopause without any issues?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I've just realised that I didn't have a period last month. I've been very busy with work, and didn't really clock it. But I've looked in my diary and my last period was at the start of June, so 9 weeks ago.

I appreciate that it's only one missed period, so may not be the start of the menopause but I'm almost 55 so it's going to happen at some point soon

The thing is, I've Googled peri menopause and don't have any of the symptoms. Has anyone gone into menopause with the only sign being missed periods. Or do the symptoms tend to come once your periods have actually stopped?

Not too bad here. Hot at night and a short period of foggy brain. I dont sleep as well as I used to. I didn't really notice peri stage as had a mirena and assume at 58 its kind of done.

Not at menopause stage yet but take exception to the ignorant remark that some people overdramatise it... ill-informed, selfish viewpoint - just because you had few symptoms. I can't stand that sort of attitude.

My symptoms appeared a couple of months after my periods stopped. The annoying ones at least (hot flushes, poor sleep, weight gain on tummy), up until then I had none of these and smugly thought I would sail through menopause like I sailed through pregnancy etc. Not so, I am now on HRT.

Oddly enough I’m a bit calmer now I’m officially in meno, compared to how I was when I still had periods. The last couple of years I had raging PMT of the sort I never had in my fertile years.

Early 50's - periods became intermittent then stopped. And nothing else.

Same happened with my Mum - but she did say to her GP that she thought some people made a fuss, and he told her she should realise how lucky she was!

DH might have something to say about moods, but personally I think that is related to his behaviour rather than the menopause!!

I went through menopause at 52 when periods just stopped. That was literally all that happened!

I went to the GP about something else and asked when I might expect to get symptoms etc and when I counted back how long it had been, GP just laughed and said I was through it now.

I've realised the secret is carrying a bit of extra weight, as the hormones are fat soluble and stick around there. Not highly technical and probably a wildly inaccurate description of the effect, but that's the gist.

Sadly, 15 odd years down the track it's caused another problem - endometrial hyperplasia (sp?) - which had to be treated and I've been told the extra weight is a cancer risk, not to mention Covid, so it has to go now!

I believe women need to be prepared things do change, it may not be pain sailing for some but it can be a relatively painless transition for many. Of course if people choose medication then fine but reading boards like this to get a mixed and often positive view is very helpful.

Raging PMT is my worst symptom, but I’m not prepared to take HRT for that.

I'm too young yet but my DM and her mother had hardly any symptoms at all.

@inksinkbink

Not at menopause stage yet but take exception to the ignorant remark that some people overdramatise it... ill-informed, selfish viewpoint - just because you had few symptoms. I can't stand that sort of attitude.

This.

My DM said the same because she'd had very few symptoms.

I pointed out that she should count herself lucky and that her experience isn't the only experience that matters.

It's like a woman who has an easy childbirth saying that they think other women over dramatise it instead of being thankful they didn't have a back to back, serious blood loss, breach, etc, etc.

@JaniieJones
For you- querying stats on osteoporosis.

ilcuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OsteoporosisUK.pdf

^Osteoporosis affects over two million people in theUK; more than double the number of people affected by dementia. Every year 300,000 people suffer a fragility fracture (a broken bone resulting
from a fall at standing height or less), including over 70,000 hip fractures. Fractures cause significant pain, disability and loss of independence for patients and in many cases can be fatal. Indeed 1,150 people die every month in the UK following a hip fracture. The UK has one of the highest rates of fracture in Europe – we risk being left behind^

This is 138,000 deaths per year.

@JinglingHellsBells wow!

My menopause was uneventful apart from some hot flushes. I didn't feel ill in any way. It was nice to see the back of periods.

1150 people die every month following a hip fracture! That’s more than Covid during much of this pandemic! In UK anyway.

We don’t really do preventative medicine here do we?

I had a hysterectomy and ovaries removed in my 40s so very sudden menopause. I was fine, I've always been a poor sleeper so that continued the main difference, apart from no periods, was I stopped having crippling migraines. It was absolutely wonderful.

@Howmanyusernamesonmn

1150 people die every month following a hip fracture! That’s more than Covid during much of this pandemic! In UK anyway.

We don’t really do preventative medicine here do we?

My doctor arranged a bone scan some years after my hysterectomy. It showed a very slight sign of osteopaenia in one area. I can't remember the exact details but they scan certain areas and then you get a score so say a healthy score was 20 well I got 20 plus in all areas except one where I got 19. I was put on vitamin D and calcium straight after that. So I think I was very lucky.

I was even lucky with the scan as I was told I would be waiting a few months as not an emergency, two days later I got a call from the hospital to say two people had cancelled at short notice, could I get down to the hospital within the hour rather than waste the appointment. I was straight out the door.

Ironically I am recovering from a fractured ankle now. I was told by doctor that it was not connected to osteopaenia as my ankles showed no signs of osteopaenia and it was just one of those accidents.

@Howmanyusernamesonmn

1150 people die every month following a hip fracture! That’s more than Covid during much of this pandemic! In UK anyway.

We don’t really do preventative medicine here do we?

Exactly.

But also many women don't realise this risk.

Up to 25% of bone is lost within 5 years of menopause.

'Feeling fine' is no guarantee that what you can't see is also fine.

If you have any family history of it, have smoked, taken steroids, have ever had an eating disorder, irregular periods, are small and weigh under 9st, (wrist measurement under 6 inches), and especially if you periods stopped before 50, you need to push for a bone scan.

@StCharlotte

I'm very grateful to have "sailed" through it and I never had PMT either. My DH is also very grateful

My mother on the other hand turned into a total termagant.

I never had PMT either. Is there a connection?

@ancientgran

Ironically I am recovering from a fractured ankle now. I was told by doctor that it was not connected to osteopaenia as my ankles showed no signs of osteopaenia and it was just one of those accidents.

Presumably they gave you a full body Dexa scan (spine and hips) and not just an X-ray of your ankle? (Because that won't show osteoporosis.)

NICE guidance is women who have a minor fracture like yours have a DEXA scan and also the Frax score done (you can do the latter yourself online.)

My periods just stopped suddenly. No hot flushes, no other symptoms.

@JinglingHellsBells yes I've had the full scan. Menopause over 20 years ago, one area, I think it was one hip, was marginally into osteopaenia range but Dr prescribed vitamin D and calcium.

Had my last period aged 45. I’d been regular, but short cycle, up to then. Had a year whe I had a period after 7 months without it, then nothing since, and that was 2011.
Prior to everything stopping, I remember being very emotional, but I was also in a very difficult time of my life, so can’t say for sure that it was connected to the menopause. Other than that, nothing.

As a retired nurse I’ve seen lots of hip fractures but the average age is well into the 80’s.

I'm now 50 and haven't had a period for 6 months. However I have got a Mirena fitted and wonder if that's why I'm not really getting any symptoms of hormone changes. I get the odd night sweat but have always thought that was my T2 diabetes and the dawn phenomenon.

I do however feel very fortunate when I read some of the threads on here.

My periods became irregular at about 43 with the last at about 49/50.

49/50 coincided with DH working abroad and teenaged children. I became hot of temper and hot at night (enough to interrupt sleep). HRT had it sorted within three days and was very worth it for me - took it for about 5 years. I managed it and had very limited impact on my life.

At 55 I fractured my ankle arising from a low impact fall. I was referred for a dexa scan and osteoporosis was diagnosed. Six month later I had another fall and wedged a vertebrae badly. Subsequently I have had three annual infusions of zolendronate which have sent the osteoporosis into retreat and the last dexa scan was normal. Now having management doses every 18 months. Those couple of falls meant I took up pilates, strengthened my core, and have stopped rushing at full tilt.

Overall I don't think I suffered badly during menopause and continued working, even being promoted several times. Am still working full-time.

I think the greatest issue with the menopause except for the symptoms is that it often coincides with high impact periods in women's lives - teenagers, career, elderly parents. Add in the effect of aging and what it does to confidence and I think it is often a catalyst to escalate the mental load of a variety of other issues.

I hope that makes sense. Mine was a little early I believe due to long term thyroid disease.