Does menopause age run in families?

[HollyRocks]

I'm really really hoping it doesn't. I'm 58 now and still have a strong cycle, I changed to a continuous regime and had breakthrough bleeding so i'm back to sequential with a bleed every month. I really thought i was finished with all this, but my mum had regular bleed until she was 60.

Yes (although obviously not guaranteed) but not right down to the precise year. Both 58 and 60 would be considered late menopause and I'd say it's likely you've inherited that. But that doesn't mean you'll be exactly the same age. Just in a similar ball park.

I think so, all the women on my mums side have been early. I've started HRT at the grand age of 33, my mum was late 20s when her periods stopped, my nan mentioned something about never having used contriception as she wasn't able to have more babies after having her last at the age of 30.

While I enjoy not worrying about tampons or PMT, I do wish I had a few more years left as I feel like I've lurched into middle/old age before I've made the most out of being young.

I'm 60+ and on HRT and still going. Granny did too apparently.

Mum started her periods very young, think around 10. I was quite late at nearly 14. We both went through meno in our early 40s. Mine was a bit odd in a way - I'd conceived 3 times in a year and a half (2 miscarriages, 1 baby) just before I turned 40. No periods for 2 years after giving birth. Started again but very very light and only now and again. GP kept telling me I was too young!!

I was very lucky to conceive DC3!

Sister, early 50s, hasn't followed the same pattern. As for grandmothers, one died years before I was born, the other one probably never even had a period and found her children under a gooseberry bush!!!

I'm mid 40s and have a period roughly every 2-3 months. I'm really hoping this is me phasing them out.

Surely that's a good thing??? Or when periods stop do you feel "old".

No mum was 40 ish. I was 53.

I wouldn't know as my mother, aunt and grandmother all had hysterectomies in their late forties owing to out of control periods. I had an endometrial ablation at 49 for the same reason. None of us have/had a period since. As far as I know, my younger sister, who is almost 53, is still having regular periods.

My mum was in her late 50s, but I've been told mine may be earlier as I only have one ovary.

I thought HRT meant we were just going to have monthly bleeds regardless. I’m expecting it to carry on forever basically. Luckily I only bleed for one day pretty much and then it’s done.

I am 34 with very low ovarian reserve which means I will probably have early menopause. I am desperately trying to conceive a second child before that happens. I am aware that I will be at greater risk of a wide range of health issues not to mention going through menopause with (hopefully) a young child to care for. Early menopause is shit so please don’t be jealous of it.

Wow.

You might want to rethink this stance. Many of us are on this board due to early menopause and have the infertility that goes alongside that.

I was 11 when I started and am still going at 53. My Mum was older when she started and done by 44. Our practice nurse has a theory about early start equals later finish, not sure that is backed up by science, just anecdotal.

It is definitely not good. Just imagine sex being painful, the skin of your vulva tearing and becoming increasingly delicate, UTIs, loss of muscle tone, waist being thicker, hips becoming squarer, hair thining. Basically no longer looking or feeling like you anymore. It's horrible mentally and physically. If only it was just periods stopping.

@BusterGonad it isn’t like this for everyone. I realise l am fortunate but apart from the occasional hot flush I have had no problems whatsoever and many other women are the same. After the horrendous continuous periods I had before the endometrial ablation, it has been blissful. I am sorry that you are suffering, though.

In my family we are finished by 45. Although there are other things that come with menopause, nowhere near as dreadful as periods.

Yes, I believe that menopause age runs in families. The average age is 51 in the UK, so there will be a fair amount of scatter around that age with outliers in either direction. You, unfortunately OP, appear to be at the higher end. I must ask my DM when her periods finished, but I think it was early 50s. My friend, who I was just on holiday with, is 54 and hasn't has a period for over a year now and I felt so jealous when she told me! I'm 49 and can't wait for the damn things to finish. They're very erratic now - I get about 4-6 per year - but I spot for weeks when I get one. I'm so fed up with it. Although period pants are amazing and really help. Such a great invention!

I think so. My mum was through it and done by 48, and I'm peri at 44.

My grandma had a menopause baby at 47 though.

My Mother only stopped having them at 60. She was very grateful to see them go. I detest my periods but early menopause would not be a good thing imo.

If you want to try and stop periods, try a Mirena coil for the progesterone part of HRT.

I've had one for six years - still having periods. It does stop them for about 1/3 of women with one fitted though. I just knew I wouldn't be in that lucky third!

Acecdotal only, but my mum had a very early menopause (40) I am mid 50s and still having erratic bleeds. I believe it's more linked to onset of menstruation.

It stopped mine - I had mine fitted after my son was born 9 years ago and I haven't had a period since.

It now works very well in combination with my estradot patches.

Me and my 2 sisters all around age 54. Don't know about DM. (She was talking about having a baby with her 2nd husband at 48 so she must have gone on into her 50s)

Thank you. I'm the unlucky one then. I've been feeling off for a few years, totally not myself, I went to the doctor about painful sex and was told I'm in menopause. I'm only 44. I must have been in menopause for about 3 years. Not a happy part of my life.

DM had horrendous peri from having her last DC at 35 to hysterectomy at 50. The consultant told her she needed the op as it was the only way to put her into menopause - it would not happen naturally. Of course, total hysterectomy before HRT caused even more problems.

I started peri before I was 40, but my periods didn't stop until I was 58. Now I have all sorts of post menopausal stuff going on and they won't give me HRT because they say I am too old!