Has anybody gone through early menopause and how old were you?

[Khanny]

Just curious really. I have recently turned 43 and my periods started to change as soon as I had my copper coil out when I was 39 4 years ago to try for a baby with my now husband (we wanted to start trying before I was 40 and have been unsuccessful). I now totally believe I am peri-menopausal due to my cycles. I have no other symptoms others than my cycles have been so long and irregular and really heavy with huge clots. My last proper period was November 23 and I just started to brown spot on Friday which has turned into ever so slightly pinky red mucus. That cycle was 112 days.

I'm just wondering what to expect moving forwards and if this is starting to be the end for me. I'm devastated if truth be told, I'm not ready for this stage, I really wanted another baby and I don't feel old enough to be going through this.

I was 46.

No problems whatsoever and no HRT. That was many years ago and I have no health problems.

Don't be alarmed by the scare mongering in the media.

40 due to hysterectomy.

43 periods stopped. 45 post menopausal. Fine until 53 (now) but have always taken hrt.

2 friends the same.

Thank you @DrJoanAllenby , yeah you're right I think its talked about so much and everybody is much more aware of it nowadays x

Thanks @AdriftAbroad1 Do you have to go 2 years to say you are post menopausal?

If you want another child, the best thing you can do (if possible) is to see a fertility consultant privately asap. They can do tests and you will know where you stand.

Early menopause is classed as a disease.

There is a total consensus amongst doctors (worldwide) on the risks of early menopause. That's before age 45.
The risks are clear.
Early menopause is treated with HRT to avoid bone loss, heart disease and possible dementia.

However, you're not yet classed as early menopause. Your periods could carry on dwindling until you reach 45. That is still considered 'early' (average age is 51) and many doctors would suggest HRT to at least 51.
Bone loss post menopause can be as much as 5% a year for several years.

Women saying they had early menopauses and are 'fine' won't know that unless they have had bone density scans (in their 50s) and unfortunately that often means paying for them unless they have a GP who's supportive.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-definition.php

This is a good place to start. You can click on the menu and find out about risks/ treatment/ etc.

The site is run by a consultant gynae working in the NHS.

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells for the information I didn't know there were risks involved. I have a phone call with the GP next week with regards to fertility so I will mention the lack of periods etc then x

At 42. I am on hrt 6 years now.

Oh gosh you were really young. Do you have children? Apologies if that is insensitive of me xx

I was 30, premature ovarian failure

No I have no children and it was a shock for me. I am in a better place now.:)

I started peri systems at 43 and was done by 46. Soldiered on without HRT for a bit and started it at 48. I had my kids in my 30’s. I wasn’t expecting to hit it so early, I don’t think enough info is out there, as it seems common tbh.

Started very early 40s. Didn't take HRT as my MIL had scared me off it (she died early from breast cancer). Suffered hot sweats etc. Now aged 60 and have developed osteoarthritis over past couple of years which is severely affecting my mobility.

41 my symptoms have started- bloods confirm I'm actually post menopausal so must have been going on longer

I had more son at 36 (IVF)?and never had a regular period after that. Periods fully stopped around 37/38. Frustratingly with all the blood tests and treatments around IVF over at least 5 years, no one ever mentioned the possibility of early menopause, and no one since, even after blood tests with the GP had offered any guidance. I'm on HRT, which I asked for, but there's never been any guidance or support related to early menopause.

I'm on HRT, which I asked for, but there's never been any guidance or support related to early menopause.

Sadly this is another example of the poor state of support for women's health, as a country.

Women and their health are ignored mainly.

The stats for women suffering from osteoporosis are shocking. 1:2 women will get it. And many will spend decades in pain and with disability from spinal fractures, broken hips or wrists. 100,000 older women a year die from the complications of osteoporosis. More than most cancer deaths for women.

And early menopause is a key risk.

Please look after yourselves if you have risk factors and insist your GP listens and sends you to a specialist.

Noticed perimenopause symptoms at 41/42, periods insanely heavy, night sweats, fatigue, debilitating anxiety, painful joints, severe brain fog, tearfulness, sense of humour failure the list goes on. Private menopause clinic, blood tests, Mirena coil, patches and testosterone and I'm good as new, well, for 49. It took me by surprise, I thought it was something I'd be dealing with in my fifties not early forties, but apparently very normal. We are basically in the dark on this, it's crazy.

Yes, I find it strange. Every friend I have went through menopause in their early/mid 40s.
And my female family members.
I have warned my daughter.

First diagnosed with early menopause/premature ovarian failure at 38 following symptoms including flooding periods that lasted a week and then not having periods for around three months/anxiety/hot flushes etc. Attended early menopause clinic and was told I was highly unlikely to be able to get pregnant and that my ovaries were failing ... eight months later I was pregnant with twins. I never had a period following their birth and once I had finished breast feeding, menopausal symptoms returned and I have been on HRT ever since.

My periods just stopped, I was 44 and had no premenopause symptoms at all. Didn't have any symptoms going through the menopause as well other than feeling a bit hot at night.
I think I was incredibly lucky and took after my mum who was exactly the same. I never even had one hot flush.

After more than a year probably closer to 2 years (Gp was nice enough but really didn’t think much of what I was saying and put it down to stress etc saying thing like maybe sleep with the windows open and sort out a your sleep hygiene.) of saying to the gp I was experiencing odd things going on.
nightsweats (with horrendous smell that was so bad I was having to throw pyjamas away because washing wasn’t enough) hot flushes, erratic periods, mood issues and various other weird symptoms I finally got two blood separate tests and a referral to the menopause clinic and a diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency (early menopause) at 38. So probably would have been early to mid 30’s but 36/37 when things got bad enough to harass the gp.

menopause clinic were very clear that hrt helping any symptoms was a bonus but that I was to take it to help stop cardiac and bone issues etc. I am to think of it as a preventative medication and not as an optional choice to control symptom's apparently.
saying that it has helped a bit to settle things but hasn’t been a wonder cure.

Children aren’t an issue for me but if it had of been then this was definitely not my radar as something I would need to worry about for years so could have potentially been devastating.

apparently the statistic is 1% under 40 so it’s quite rare really. I mean by that it’s probably not something lots of women need to panic about happening to them.

OP l was 38 - was on hrt then came off it - have regular bone density scans and sonfar all ok. Was gutted l couldn't have another child but have come to terms with that now. 48 now.

I was 37 - due to complex autoimmune issues. I went on HRT but it caused a lot of issues with my pituitary problems and I had the most severe horrendous bleeding, huge clots etc. I persevered, kept changing types and timings of things with the HRT but it just became horrendous and I felt the bleeding was ruining my life. So I had to stop taking it after trying it for a few years. I am now 43 and feel better without the HRT. I have regular DEXA bone density scans which are fine and I take prescription strength calcium and vitamin D. I am lucky that I already had 2 children by the time I went into menopause.

I think this is me now. I have had irregular / infrequent periods for the last 18 months or so and various investigations. Now trying a trial of HRT and the other somewhat nebulous things I was experiencing (brain fog, low mood, crushing fatigue) have all improved hugely within a month. I have yet to have the follow up with the GP but it seems pretty conclusive.

I have very mixed feelings. I am child free not through choice so this feels like a momentous time, but I would like to find a way to embrace it positively somehow.