Is this it?

[BooseysMom]

I'm 50 and have been having regular periods every 4 weeks to the day but suddenly this latest one is late by 4 days and I'm panicking. We don't use precautions but also don't dtd very often! I've been getting some peri symptoms like aching, brain fog and light sweating and have tried different hrt but since coming off it, I actually feel better and the pain in my right breast has gone. The worse thing is the constant waking between 2 and 3am every night hence why I'm on here!

So could this be actual menopause starting? How old were others when their periods finally stopped? (I've just bought more supplies too!)

It is extremtly unlikely but not impossible that you're pg as you don't use precautions and have regular periods.

At 50 though i would guess peri. Most women start with fluctuating and depleting hormones from 40 onover so by 50 you are prime age for it.

Just eat well, limit booze and caffeine to promote good sleep, lots of activity to also promote good sleep and see a hcp if you want to try HRT again. Lots of info available online on gels etc if the one you had before didnt help.

I'm on hrt and still wake every night often more than once. I've stopped looking at the clock as it just annoys me and makes me less likely to get back to sleep.

Yes, it is probably peri meno that you are in now but you can't discard contraception safely for 2 years after your last period if you are under 50, or 1 years after your last period if over 50.

That means many women still need to use birth control into their mid-50s as the average age of meno is almost 52.

I was shy of 50. Mine slowly became farther and farther apart over a number of years and stopped altogether at maybe 48 to 49?

The 2 - 3 am thing is exhausting, isn’t it!? I have no issues going to sleep, it’s staying asleep that is the issue. I’ve had that for YEARS. Because the hot flushes are manageable and I have no other symptoms I’ve just been living with it. But I’ve just now bought some magnesium supplements which are supposed to help. Fingers crossed.

Thank you for your advice. I am cutting right back on wine as it gives me chronic heartburn and headaches. I just need to incorporate exercise into my day as the office job really doesn't help matters.
I would be terrified if I was pg at this age!! I had DS at 40 and he was my rainbow 🌈 baby

Thanks for your advice. I was the same on HRT. I thought it would be a cure-all but no. The insomnia continued along with the aching and the feeling of crawling ants all over me. I have just grown used to it. I'm lucky that I don't get bad hot flushes and sweating that much

Thanks. Yes it's hell isn't it? When I feel myself waking up, I think oh no! My body just starts up of its own accord and my brain is saying no, I want to sleep! My DM had exactly the same. She said you have to get up and work! But if I was to do that, I'd be ready to go to bed in the middle of the afternoon!!

I've thought of trying magnesium too.

My great grandmother had her last baby at your age. She thought she was in menopause for 8 months, turns out she was six months pregnant. Until your periods have stopped for a year, use contraception.

@W0tnow.. the 2 - 3 am thing is exhausting, isn’t it!? I have no issues going to sleep, it’s staying asleep that is the issue. I’ve had that for YEARS.

I meant to ask when did the sleep issue start for you? Mine began when DS was born but when he started sleeping through, I was able to sleep for a straight 7-8 hours without waking. Now I rarely have a night where I don't wake. I can't remember when it started. Like you, I have no problem falling asleep, I just don't stay asleep. The gp prescribed Mirtazapine but I'm reluctant to take it as it knocks me out and makes me drowsy the next day.

Omg no you are kidding!! I thought I was ancient having a baby at nearly 41 but 50 ..it can't possibly be that!! 😳

It's not as unheard of as you think.

I always wanted another after DS and it took ages to come to terms with it not happening. Now DS is so special I can't imagine having another. Anyway sadly most pregnancies in older women don't make it. I should be more careful I know.

im 49 July period was after 50 days from last one, I really that that it was finally going to be end of periods but then it came, Aug normal 28 days then not a thing for 47 days then a 3 day period. Wish my body would stop fucking around

At 50 I started getting much longer gaps between periods - 48 days, 72 days, 100+ days. But they still appeared, generally when I was finally enjoying not having them 😅Now I'm 53 and currently on day 171 without a period, so I think this is finally it.

I'm 52 and went 11 months without a period (so I thought this really is it!) and then I had one. Turns out that it's quite common for that to happen at 11 months. Which resets the clock again. So don't get your hopes up just yet. 😘

Thanks for your replies. Still no sign of af. The aching I'm getting is awful especially on waking but amazingly have slept better the last 2 nights. 😊

I’m almost 54 and I’d say the sleeping thing started at around 50. I took my first magnesium tablets last night (310mg dose). No change but perhaps I need to build up a store? 🤷‍♀️

AF is here so no miracle pregnancy after all! Phew!! It was the worse ever run-up to a period. Nearly a week late. So it must be getting longer between each period before it stops altogether. (As pp says above)