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?

No problems here, in fact, the strongest, slimmest and fittest I have ever been, hysterectomy at 48, now 55. Maybe one slight hot flush a week for a year or so? But I wouldn't have noticed them if I hadn't been looking out for them.

Similar to pp. I think I've sailed through it. 54, only had 2 periods this year ( though I have had period pains at least once a month). Last year during Lockdown I had hot flushes for a fortnight, took black cohosh and they disappeared. Stopped the black cohosh ( experienced side effect of heavy limbs), but I would have stopped anyway.
Other than that, I'm fitter, stronger than ever. Lots of energy etc.
My mum was dreadful through The Change ( we used to hide from her !!). My younger sister ( by 11 months) has had problems for at least 7 or 8 years and my older sister has had problems.
Ironically, out of us all, I'm the one who has suffered with bad periods all her life ( fainting, vomiting, being awake with pain, taking sick days). So, I feel its only fair !

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.

Gosh, I tick at least 5 of those.

Good job I have a bone scan booked for September (as part of a general meno check up proposed by my gynae). I had assumed that a lifetime of sport, sunshine and a fairly good diet would have offset some of that risk. I am now even more curious about the results.

@Heliachi overdramatise? That's a bit harsh. Surely you must realise that many women have a terrible time with menopause.

For me it hasn't been too bad. No noticeable symptoms of peri menopause, except that my periods all bunched up together for a few months, then became more spaced out. Then they just stopped. No flooding or anything. After two years with no periods, I have more weight than I would like around my middle and I am a bit more emotional! But no hot flushes or aches and pains. I took up running last year and feel physically very healthy.

After two years of heavier but intermittent periods and some hot flushes, I thought I was coming out the other side (age 52). Nope, after a gap of over four months, I'm having a period. Which means I haven't escaped yet, and I still need to be prepared. I wish these flippin' things would stop for good

@fallfallfall

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

That's your own limited experience.

I know someone not yet 60 who has 2 broken vertabrae only just happened and only risk was menopause at 45.

They are in constant pain and injecting with a drug daily.

[quote ancientgran]@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.[/quote]
Calcium and Vit D does nothing.

You can buy that from the supermarket.

The only people it's recommended for now are those elderly people who are indoors and don't get sunlight or who have a poor diet.

Calcium supplements are now linked to arteriosclerosis- build up of plaque in the arteries.

@fallfallfall

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

This is it isn't it. Hrt only protects you against osteoporosis for as long as you take it, however guidelines recommend taking hrt at the lowest dose for the shortest time. So what the point in taken it in your 50s with the known risks and inconvenience of reviews and prescriptions when by the time you're 80 you'll be in the same boat as everyone else. If it gave long term protection maybe.

@DinosaurDiana

My periods have got closer together in peri !

Mine too!

Thanks for all.the responses. Interesting that 25% of women have no symptoms, I thought it would be a much lower number.

So far it's just one missed period, so not sure if this is it. But good to hear everyone's experiences.

Nothing at all. Went from regular periods to just stopping one month. Thought it would be awful as I had always had extremely heavy periods, but didn't come the next month and that was it.

Never had hot flushes or any of the other symptoms. It was just over two years ago, I'm 55 now. I'm vegan though and I think lack of dairy helps. Good luck!

@EmmaGrundyForPM, it is interesting. Thanks for this thread. I was wondering if I had it all to come, and haven't spoken about it too much to family and friends as I didn't want to 'jinx' it. Whilst I wasn't exactly worried ( I'm just not that type), I feel now like I can be a bit more open about it.

@Heliachi

I'm 58, no period for 2-3 years and few symptoms. Bit of sleep difficulties and less heat tolerance but no major problems.

I think a lot of people overdramatize menopause, frankly.

Do also think that period pain is exaggerated, there's no such thing as PMS, teenage acne is just down to a bad diet and dodgy hygiene, almost everyone could have a drug-free home birth if they just did a natal hypnotherapy course and that there's no reason not to breastfeed as long as you actually have breasts?

Thanks jingling for the osteoporosis info link. Interesting reading. I couldn't see hrt mentioned once though in preventative measures?

It would seem more dexa scans then bone protective medication serms
would be the plan of choice. Though tbf I don't know much about serms other than they target specific bone oestrogen receptors to improve osteoporosis without the other risks of hrt? Happy, as always to be corrected.

A friend of mine aged 60 tripped over the dog and broke her hip. She now needs a hip replacement, but they’re reluctant at her age -62.
She has been told that they may put her on HRT, yet she has actively tried to avoid it. Going vegan and taking all sorts of supplements.

Not me but my mum. She started missing random periods here and there. It's now been a year since her last period and that's the only symptoms she's had. I hope it's as easy for me when it's my turn!

Thanks jingling for the osteoporosis info link. Interesting reading. I couldn't see hrt mentioned once though in preventative measures?

That's because the report is not about treatment, it's about number of cases.

@JaniieJones I could spend all day talking about this :)
I've been through it all with a close friend, currently being treated, written about it for medical websites and so on.

HRT is listed as both a preventative and treatment on the British Menopause Society website and also the Royal Osteoporosis website.

As a quicker resource for you, the products here listed with a * after them are licensed for prevention and treatment.

www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/prevention-and-treatment-of-osteoporosis-in-women/

For @JaniieJones

December 2018 I was fine ( aged 47)

January 2019, I thought I’d entered hell. Couldn’t sleep, hot, anxiety out of no where and crying all the time.
Couldn’t drive my car ANYWHERE in a straight line, thought I’d got dementia over night .

Some women are lucky, whilst others can’t wait to return as a man in the next life!

You can miss a period if you've recently been vaccinated also. as reported by lots of women on here.
You can get a menopause test from superdrug through the post that will give you some indication of where your at.

@DinosaurDiana

A friend of mine aged 60 tripped over the dog and broke her hip. She now needs a hip replacement, but they’re reluctant at her age -62. She has been told that they may put her on HRT, yet she has actively tried to avoid it. Going vegan and taking all sorts of supplements.

That's odd. I wonder why reluctance since 62 is only a bit lower than the average age for getting a hip replacement.

Age 62 is likely to last until death, too.

All the people I know personally who have had hip replacements were men, ages approx. 68, 72, 78. I also know a guy who had knee replacement about 25 years ago at age ~25.

@JinglingHellsBells thanks for the advice but as it is what the doctor at fracture clinic and my GP advised I think I will go with it.

Thanks for the info Jingling. Yes I understand it was about cases but treatment with bisphosphonates was mentioned that's why I was surprised hrt wasn't.

You would think regular dexa scans would be a priority post menopause, even if people didn't go on hrt, just to forewarn people so other meds could be considered before an actual fracture occurred. The cost to the nhs would surely be balanced out by the reduced fracture management.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@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.[/quote]
That is a very spurious way to cite the statistics.

Hip fractures very often occur with other huge comorbidities.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg124/documents/hip-fracture-final-scope2