What age where you when you started the menopause

[littlemissdizzy00]

I am asking out of curiosity really following on from another post around this subject I have just been reading. I am 42 and have started getting awful headaches, hair lose and times where I am extremely hot and sweaty.

I feel 42 is a bit young for the menopause but maybe I am wrong?

The average is 47 I read recently.

I don’t know whether I am or not. I missed a period a few months ago.

No idea.. am feeling quite amused I may never know.
Is possible that what I thought were periods were actually erratic bleeding due to cervical erosion.

ps: we were told in sex ed in 1970s that average age for menopause was 52 years old.

@YellowYoshi i’m not the PP but I really rate Natural Calm magnesium powder. You mix a small amount (gradually building up to a teaspoon a day) into a small amount of water and then dilute into a whole glass full. The natural version is easiest to drink. Only thing that stops my night time leg cramps (the better you spray did nothing for me)

56, I think - well, that is when I had my last period. But as there is no need to see a doctor for a normal life event, it isn't officially confirmed so I am a bit wary in case I get "ambushed" again!

All over by 45.

I'm waiting on blood test results at the moment, but my symptoms are very peri, (def not thyroid) and have been for about 2 years now. I'm 41.

Started not feeling myself around 45, now 49 and its really kicked in in the last 12 months. I'm now on HRT which has helped so much, no more night sweats or hot flushes, but my body has changed especially around my middle. All the woman in my family have had this issue.

Just to maintain my weight, I have had to cut down on carbs, Started light weight training daily, really readjust my whole diet.

I also take vitamin D, apple cider vinegar tablets and chia seeds.

Please try not to feel too overwhelmed, it's just another stage of life, much like the horrid teenage stage.

I went into full menopause at 51 but before that, looking back I had symptoms such as anxiety, feeling very flat, narky, mood swings, loss of focus, tearful but it's only in hindsight it makes sense! Argh

It is settling down now at 53 with hrt oestrogen and progesterone the night sweats are under control.

I had a blood test as I've been quite ragey and anxiety seems to have come from nowhere.

I thought I was peri as my periods have changed but apparently the covid jab can do this to your periods.

Blood tests came back normal no peri.

Maybe I am just a crank with after effects from the jab.

Thats about right afaik, menopause being one day after the 1 yr date of your last period and then you are post menopausal for the rest of your life. Think its 2 yrs without a period if you are under 50 but not certain if i dreamt that!

49, very peri and very grateful for HRT!

Your menopause is defined as a single day, the day on which you haven’t had a period for a year. The average age for this is 51.

Perimenopause on the other hand can be a prolonged period up to 10 years before, so on this maths, albeit using averages, 42 is not too young to be perimenopausal.

During these years your hormones fluctuate widely so there isn’t a definitive blood test you can do to ‘diagnose’ perimenopause. It should be done on symptoms such as low mood, hot flushes. There are at least 40 known symptoms. In the main oestrogen starts to decline and all cells in the body have oestrogen receptors.

There is significant ignorance surrounding this topic so we owe it to ourselves to fully research and take control, particularly as the drop in oestrogen is thought to have a long term detrimental effect in the bones, heart and brain.

First peri symptoms at about 42 … still not finished with it all 8 years later though fingers crossed it’s getting closer to the end of periods

Periods stopped at 38 so was most likely peri for some times before this but put any symptoms down to other things as was "too young". Did have blood test where it was confirmed.

38. Took me two years to get a diagnosis and was told I was too young.

At 47 my periods went a bit weird until they go so heavy I had to take back to back pill. No periods now thankfully. I also had first hot flush ever at 47 but it was a hot summer day and I didn't get another til the following summer.
I'm 52 now and I guess I'm menopausal but periods stopped by pill so it's not so bad. No terrible symptoms.

Around 40. Very few problems. All over by 45. I considered myself quite lucky as other than a few hot flushes I've had virtually no other symptoms and no medication.

40 mine started. Jist as I got pregnant so had 9 months respite & then straight back on the peri wagon. It’s awful.

When I was 40 my periods became irregular. Had my last period about 4 months before my 42nd birthday.

@littlemissdizzy00 The average age of menopause in UK is 51. The peri-menopause (the slow down, leading to no periods ever again) can take 10 years.

Women whose periods stop before 40 are having Premature Ovarian Failure (also called premature meno) and before 45 it's called Early Meno.

I noticed peri symptoms around age 51 (with a slight cycle variation from about 48) and periods stopped at 53.

Also @littlemissdizzy00 anyone whose periods stop before 50 are advised to take HRT up to age 51-52 at least, to protect bone and heart health.

Some women who feel fine when their periods stop early don't appreciate the risks. Later down the line they can get osteoporosis.

A friend of mine 'sailed through the menopause' at 45. Now, in her 50s, she has severe osteoporosis and is in daily pain and having treatment.

Be forewarned!

I've had Peri menopause symptoms since I was about 42. I'm well in the thick of it now at 46.

I was 40. Numerous blood tests to confirm, and every single symptom under the sun. Sadly for me I had to have genetic screening before I could start HRT due to family history of female cancers. Finally after 2 years I got the go ahead for HRT - total game changer.

I'm 46, on HRT the last few months.

Looking back, I was having hot flushes from my late thirties as well as severe anxiety and depression, brain fog, night terrors (7 months off work)
Went through a prolonged divorce at the same time which I feel has exacerbated my symptoms

Period free for the last 5 months preceded by 2 years of periods going from 19/47/99
and getting progressively lighter after years of heavy ones.
In total 7 periods in 2 years now I think.

Firmly of the belief that peri can strike in late 30's but we get lost in family life etc so tend to disregard

Keep a close eye on your cycle, I thought I had some kind of brain disorder or complex trauma and overlooked the peri aspect - likely they were both happening at the same time

Time will tell but the last 7 years or so have been immeasurably shit for my confidence esteem and self worth.. HRT and am understanding employer are helping