Talk to me about how your periods stopped

[daffodilviolet]

I’m 43 and feel I have been perimenopausal to some extent for several years. Looking back I started to have some short cycles since my late 30s (as short as 18 days) with the odd long one thrown in.

I’m now on day 48 of my cycle as my period just didn’t show up last month.

My sleep has got progressively worse with constant night waking and poor quality sleep, which makes everything else harder.

With the missing period I’m starting to wonder of it’s really kicking in or just part of the long slow journey into menopause.

Can anyone share how your cycle stopped? Did you start to miss periods and when?

Wish I'd paid closer attention. It went on erratically for years then stopped without any further drama.

Mine just stopped when I was 44. Never had another one, few night sweats but that was it. I think I was incredibly lucky though.

To add to above - I'm early 50s now

Am 55- still have regular periods and have had 1 possible flush about 16 months ago.

BTW since then I haven't slept for years - frequently observing Mumsnet threads during the long nights, thanks for the companionship and entertainment!!

Thanks all. I can deal with the other symptoms but the sleep thing is what may have me discussing hrt with my GP before long. It makes everything so much harder

My periods became increasingly erratic from 45 to 47, shortest cycle was two weeks, longest four months. The year I was 48 I had a fairly standard period once a month like clockwork (this was bizarre but interesting as my mum got pregnant with me aged 48 and assumed her periods had stopped due to menopause) then it was very light periods every three or 4 months until I was 50 when everything stopped.

I have occasional, mild to moderate flushes and dry skin plus odd random mood swings, which are very reminiscent of pms, but it's all been manageable.

Mother Nature played her final cruel trick when, after no periods for 7 months, she decided to send me a final doozy when I was at a festival with questionable lavatory facilities

Mother Nature is an absolute laugh, you have to admit!

@daffodilviolet

Mother Nature is an absolute laugh, you have to admit!

She certainly is. I've got HRT all ready and waiting to start taking. If periods are regular then you are best to take it first day of your cycle. I'm still waiting on day 32. My cycles have been 21-28 days max for a good couple of years now. I did miss a period in May. This is bloody typical! I don't know what to do!

It seems so variable. Mum had her last period at 55 having not had one for over a year. I still have regular periods at 50 but DSis who is 10 years younger is already having irregular periods which really surprised me because I was having my DC at that age and got pregnant the first month of trying with each one. I had assumed we'd both be similar to DM.

Hilarious @HemanOrSheRa! Do you mind me asking how old you are? I’m trying to get past my concept that I’m too young for hrt and that I can’t be on it while I still have periods

That’s interesting @JaninaDuszejko I had also heard that it tended to be like your mother. Mine was finished in her late 40s but I don’t know if she had anything going on at my age.

My periods are all over the place occasionally normal but often 40 plus days or missing a few months. I have been on the coil for 3 years though and got no periods at all for the first year and a half after it all settled down so wondering if it's that.

I am considering going to my gp. Periods are heavier but still regular but other symptoms including night sweats, very painful breasts, whooshing in my ears at night and constipation. What joy.

daffodilviolet I'm 49, so definitely in the right age range for periods to stop. I'm reading this thread and bloody well know that my period isn't going to arrive this month, at least. Gah!

I've been prescribed Femoston 2/10 - so 14 days of estrogen only, then 14 days estrogen and progesterone. It's supposed to mimic your natural cycle if you are still having periods as you get a bleed after the estrogen/progesterone tablets. You can start it any time if periods are erratic. But I think then there is more chance of breakthrough bleeding/spotting.

I'm going to explode in a ball of peri meno RAGE at this rate!

Mine started to get erratic a couple of years ago, heavier and unpredictable, with some long gaps. This year, in May, on the day after my first COVID jab, I started the most awful, heavy period that lasted for 2 miserable weeks - and since then not a dicky bird. Meanwhile, the hot flushes that started last year have become progressively worse to the point where they wake me 4 to 5 times a night. I saw my gyno the other day and she has suggested a herbal remedy, but if that doesn’t help, we will then look at HRT. I am so very tired of it all.

What a lot of bloody mess us women have to (silently) deal with (while dealing with everything else)

I had the contraceptive implant for years and expected my periods to return when it was removed when I was 46 but they didn't.

I was 44 when my regular 28 day cycle started to change. I might get a period after 21 days, or I could go six weeks, and when it came it would be really heavy. I put up with this for two years then my GP suggested a Mirena. I got it put in at 46 and never had another period. Thank God. I'm 57 now.

Mine started to go erratic at age 42ish. Sometimes really close together (2 in 3 weeks) sometimes far apart (3/4/6 months between them). I tried cyclical HRT but hated going back to a period every month after having 4 or 5 a year so only took that for about 9 months.
I'm now 47 and have gone over a year without a period so am officially menopausal.

It’s interesting I hadn’t thought of an implant/ coil as a way of just cancelling it all out! Would this help perimenopausal symptoms like the terrible sleep though

My cycles got longer. Started out at six weeks, (which resulted in a lot panic buying of pregnancy tests!) then stretched out to seven, eight... eventually I only had four periods a year for a couple of years, then three one year, then they just stopped completely when I was 40.

Gosh 40 @SingingSands! I’m amazed at how young it can happen. Were you advised to go on hrt?

My periods went from monthly to one every two months, then every three/four months , then I went a whole year and thought that was it, then had one more