Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Talk to me about how your periods stopped

77 replies

daffodilviolet · 13/10/2021 18:51

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?

OP posts:
PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 13/10/2021 22:28

@daffodilviolet

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

I don't know. Maybe. I haven't really had noticeable symptoms. Certainly not the awful sleep. I've got a bit of brain fog and anxiety but thought that was just lockdown and stress.

jazzandh · 13/10/2021 22:33

I went for 3 months with no period and got the hot flushes and poor sleep, those symptoms eased and then I had a couple of periods, the they stopped and started again and peri symptoms with them. At that point I went on HRT as couldn't be messing about (and my Mum had been on it for years due to Osteoporosis etc) Almost instant reduction in flushes and sleep so much better. No longer waking up every 2 hours etc.....

Really - don't waste time not sleeping and feeling like crap! have a go at HRT. Skin, weight, sleep - all positive.

fallfallfall · 13/10/2021 22:36

From monthly, to skipping a couple, then a few, then six months apart, then nine, then a couple years of one every 11 months, then done.
I was very angry, gained weight, mild regular hot flashes, insomnia very late in the game.
No HRT.

Everly18 · 13/10/2021 22:40

This is a really interesting thread to read.
I was so sure I was going into premenapause due to having very light periods every 28 days like clockwork but not lasting a whole day, then they switched to gradually getting longer and longer inbetween and much heavier which lasted days and also awful nightsweats and hot flushes, however i fell pregnant in July, with a surprise baby but unfortunately I recently miscarried and now that my pregnancy hormones are coming back down my night sweats and hot flushes have returned but I had non during pregnancy 🤷‍♀️🤔

LoveFall · 13/10/2021 23:12

For me, the cycles stayed the same length, but the flow got lighter and lighter, and then just stopped at age 51.

superblondie28 · 13/10/2021 23:23

No more children for me. Hubby had the snip about 4 years ago as I couldn't tolerate progesterone birth control.. Its more like all of my friends are still regular cycle wise and the same age, early to mid 40s. Two have had children at 41!! Silly really 😕

Original poster
daffodilviolet · 13/10/2021 23:45

I am sorry for your loss @Everly18 Flowers

OP posts:
JustSinginInTheRain · 13/10/2021 23:51

My Mum died and my periods stopped. Age 50. Average age but I think the shock meant it happened suddenly.

SunshineCake1 · 14/10/2021 15:33

Does anyone know about FHS levels? Found out today mine are 78.9.

Washeduponthebeach · 14/10/2021 16:21

@JustSinginInTheRain

My Mum died and my periods stopped. Age 50. Average age but I think the shock meant it happened suddenly.
Yes the same thing happened to me. It was my Dad.
Scarby9 · 14/10/2021 16:24

For me, they were monthly then missed one, then had one, then never had another. Aged 49. No fuss, no drama, they just disappeared.
Meanwhile, the hot flushes went on for about three years...

utican · 14/10/2021 17:03

I was all out of sorts with this, as had DC at 39 and due to breastfeeding, my periods didn't come back for nearly two years - I appear to have plunged into peri from there on in!

About a year ago I had a heavy period the likes of which I hadn't experienced since I was a teen - flooding, lasting a few weeks.

I've only had a couple more since then, with no rhyme or reason to them. It's been about four or five months since my last one. I'm wondering if that's it!

RockinHorseShit · 14/10/2021 17:13

Shorter cycles, heavier periods & then just suddenly stopped dead

RockinHorseShit · 14/10/2021 17:16

Should have added, I had DD at 42, & seem to come straight out of BF into menopause & after a couple of hellish years periods wise, it all stopped dead at 48

Bigfathairyones · 14/10/2021 17:26

Periods were just a bit 'off' for about 3 years, but not terribly so; sometimes heavier, sometimes lesser. Hit 25th July 20 (remember the date) and no period but huge hot flushes started, every 30 mins to an hour, 24 hours a day. Next period in September 20 and in the Aug week that would have been a period, the hot flushes were seriously bad. No period then until Feb 21, flushes lessened but brain fog a bit worse. Not many symptoms until August 21 when sleeping started to be all over the shop - keep waking at 0300 to 0400 and then can't get back to sleep. Flushes at night and also with really odd hand tingling. I keep remembering being told that once you've had a year without periods, you're through the menopause....yet to experience that. I have also been told that if you then get any bleeding after that year long break, you must go to the GP as it could be a sign of cancer. Fun times!

Bigfathairyones · 14/10/2021 17:26

Oh and I'm 51 now, so was 50 when it really kicked in.

Giggorata · 14/10/2021 17:26

Mine just stopped at 50.

quirkychick · 14/10/2021 17:27

Flowers @Everly18

I started skipping periods at 42 (but had also had baby and stopped breastfeeding not long before). Just the odd one or two a year, at this point some flooding and heavy. Each time I skipped one it coincided with night sweats, I guess as my hormones dropped. My mini pill was changed and then I rarely got periods. I was told I would only be able to have HRT if I had the Mirena Coil, as I can't take oral oestrogen. This turns out to be wrong, a different doctor has put me on Evorel Sequi patches, but it took 8 years. At 50, I now have between 4-6 very light periods a year.

I would agree, to get on HRT, it made a very radical difference to my sleep, which affected all the other symptoms. I would also recommend the Balance App, which is free, to track your symptoms and has loads of information too.

SingingSands · 14/10/2021 22:24

@daffodilviolet

Gosh 40 *@SingingSands*! I’m amazed at how young it can happen. Were you advised to go on hrt?
@daffodilviolet I'm trying, but my doctor seems to think I'm fine without it. I don't have a lot of awful symptoms (any more), but I'm worried about the long term effects of early menopause - bone health, dementia etc. I'm currently very sporty/active, which helps me cope with some aspects, but I'm also being investigated for a pituitary adenoma which has thrown a spanner in the works.

Hopefully I'll be receiving some HRT before the end of this year 🤞🏼

HPFA · 16/10/2021 15:16

January 2017 had one that went on for about two and a half weeks. Only very light for the last week so not too traumatic.

Then went a few months without one.

Then they started up again, coming quite regularly.

After that I missed a few months again - then had about three close together - I was trying to get a smear test done at the time so it was a complete nuisance.

After that went about a year - then had spotting so had to go through all the tests.

Six weeks after the hysteroscopy I had a period-like bleed - which the doctor said was probably an actual period.

And that's where I am now - I don't know what would happen if I had another one within the year as I don't know whether that one would "count".

Truthfully, I'm fed up of being a woman at the moment. I had a borderline smear result which won't be retested because I was HPV negative, then all the stressful tests after the spotting and now I've got a notice for the three yearly breast screening. Just feels like one thing after another.

Original poster
daffodilviolet · 17/10/2021 09:49

It really is one thing after another @HPFA. Hopefully you will get the reassurance you need. It seems hard for women to get a definite answer on where they actually are at in terms of menopause.

I’m getting close to the “60 days with no period”, which I didn’t even know was a thing but apparently it means you’re in late perimenopause.

OP posts:
SunshineCake1 · 17/10/2021 09:55

I had nine months with none @daffodilviolet and I think my FSH levels mean I am in menopause Confused. So frustrating when the receptionist says these are you results, one asks what they mean and they say I don't know and there is no other explanation or offer to ask someone to ring and explain.

Spidey66 · 17/10/2021 09:58

I had a hysterectomy aged 49. They were heavier and more painful for a few months before, due to a huge fibroid (which was why i had the hysterectomy).

Original poster
daffodilviolet · 17/10/2021 09:58

Surely you can request the GP to phone and discuss with you @SunshineCake1?! I get that they’re busy but I don’t understand how it is the receptionist’s role to give out that kind of information.

OP posts:
whensmynexthol1day · 17/10/2021 11:30

Maybe a really stupid question - but if you're on the pill/ coil how do you even know if you are peri or gone through menopause? I regularly have 6 months without a period and then maybe 1 or 2 outbreaks and then a long wait again.