How do I know when I've reached menopause?

[Thatsajokeright]

Morning,

I am 37 and started in HRT 6 months ago.

I've been in perimenopause for at least 2 years, probably more like 3/4.

I think it's important to know whether my menopause, when it eventually happens, is classed at premature or early, but is there a way to know when you've hit menopause without coming off HRT?

My mental health was horrendous before I started on HRT and I don't want to face that again if I don't have to.

Thank you,

You are in menopause when you have gone 12 months without a period. That will happen regardless of HRT.

Hi op. I'm sorry to hear about your mental health problems. I would love to know whether I've gone through menopause as well. I've been using the coil for over 13 years and never once had a period, ever. So at 46 years old I can't say whether I've gone 12 months without a period.

My DD tells me there are 32 symptoms

Even on cyclical HRT? Because my understanding was that being on cyclical HRT would 'mimic' a normal cycle and therefore induce a bleed each month?

Of menopause?

Gazillions for Peri! 😂

I don't think enough is made of the mental side of things. I had severe OCD which all but vanished after starting HRT!

Would bloods be accurate and with the coil? 🤔
I don't know the impact of the coil on FSH.

I appreciate that you might not know if you have reached menopause or not. But if you are worrying about stopping HRT I think nowadays the thinking is that you do not stop taking it. I have not had a period for 6 years and started HRT this year, after thinking I couldn’t . I read up a lot on the Louise Newson\Balance website.

I was told that cyclical HRT wouldn't stop you going through menopause and you'd still go through it as normal. I only took it for two months but my period came on my own time and wasn't influenced by the medication. So my understanding is that HRT won't stop you going through menopause and you don't have to stop it to go through the cessation of periods.

This. Your periods stop.

Most women will continue to have withdrawal bleed as long as they are taking sequential HRT as it is a withdrawal bleed.

I hope I never have to stop! I meant that I don't want to have to stop HRT to find out if I'm finally menopausal.

HRT has been amazing and I hadn't realised how dreadful I've been feeling for years.

That was my understanding too; a bit like taking the pill. A bleed will just happen.

I won't know due to the pill, and still having pill periods, but I can stay on it to the age of 50, at which point I'll switch to HRT.

Well, yes, you'll still go through menopause but the symptoms are lessened with HRT, and you won't know if you've officially gone into menopause as you're having withdrawal bleeds. Which isn't a period.

2 months isn't long enough for you body to get used to external hormones so your periods will still have been doing their own thing, I'm 6 months in and my periods are only just now coming in line with my HRT cycles.

OP: I think what's supposed to happen is after "some time period" the doc offers to move you to continuous HRT. On that, there is no withdrawal bleed. And possibly also a hormone balance that has lower risk of cancers associated with it.

Do you need to know precisely when your menopause happens?

Some people can't just keep taking hrt though. I have been told ( by menopause clinic) it's fine before 50 for me but after 50 it increases my cancer risk.