No periods for three months. I'm 49. Is that it?

[HowNice23]

Had some irregularity, long periods of bleeding and the occasional missed period for a couple of years but nothing now for nearly three months. Is that it? Can you just hit menopause like that? When people talk about period irregularity it seems to usually be the odd shift not a massive gaping void all of a sudden 😂

Anyone else's stop forever at 49? I did the fsh home test and it came back positive.

Apart from being constantly shattered I'm otherwise ok I think. Could be healthier.

My great-grandmother thought that was it at 49 after 3 months of no periods. Six months later, she discovered she was pregnant with her 10th child. The guidelines are a minimum of one year of no periods, so I'd be cautious.

Omg yes did did cross my mind needless to say I've done a dozen pregnancy tests!! Fortunately all negative...

It's possible that's it for you. But I had gaps of 3 or 4 months over a couple of years, and once I went 9 months (then went on HRT as I was 56). You won't know until a year without periods.

I went 11 months period free twice and then they came back in my late 40’s, early 50’s.

Thanks. It's so disorientating! I mean I dont miss them but our bodies certainly like keeping us guessing...

I went from August to March at 48 so don't get too excited.

I've got a beach holiday booked for August. Something tells me it'll show up then just to piss me off.

I've got a beach holiday booked for August. Something tells me it'll show up then just to piss me off.

Honestly this kept happening to me, I’m sure the aeroplane caused it. My DH and I were hoping for some good holiday sex and then I’d go and get a heavy period after months of nothing.

Hiya,
Where do you obtain the Fsh home test? From the pharmacy or Amazon?
Thanks.

I am 55 and had around 3 years of periods every 6-7 months, with the occasional one after just one month! Then just when I thought I was done another would appear!

Its been 16 months now I think. My period tracker app was withdrawn and I can't see when last one was but think it was just before Christmas 2022 - I would advise you to write them down somewhere to keep track instead! Especially for when the brain fog hits!

Sadly not. This year (at age 55 ffs) I have had 5 periods with weird gaps in between.

Just got it off Amazon for a few quid. Two pack pee stick things. It tests for follicle stimulation hormone levels over 25 which is peri/menopausal or an indication that it's likely. As I understand it the hormone is rising in levels at this stage because it's trying to stimulate ovulation which just isn't happening / it's usually halted/reduced by other hormones following ovulation. In pregnancy the level is less than 1, and normal menstruation doesn't take it much higher than 21. But I'm not a doctor!! Am seeing mine next week.

Mine stopped for a year at that age and returned on my 50th birthday! Then a full near before the next one, and the next, stopped completely at 53.

I had two yrs of irregular periods of about 6 each yr, weird spacing. I'm finally now in the glorious post 12 month period-free position. We don't want to wish our lives away, but it is wonderful not having periods!

Wow!
I was just gonna say to the OP
"Yes, I think that's it!"

Agree that guidance is 12 months of no periods. Then if you bleed after not having a period for 12 months then see a GP to rule out other issues.

Well, I'm 45, started feeling extremely nauseous
and periods became light about half a year ago.
I also think that might be it, but it's so hard to guess, otherwise I'm okay as well. Don't know much about peri- or menopause.
Wouldn't miss them. 😁

I think my longest gap was almost half a year. They are absolutely all over the place: sometimes a 29-day cycle, sometimes months go by then I barely bleed for 3 days and it stops, absolutely no way to predict. I travel quite a lot so I have a bag of tricks that I just pack in every suitcase: extra mega tampons, 3 changes of period pants, back-up emergency pads just in case.

As someone who has been through this, this was my experience fwiw.

A few years of irregular cycles - sometimes circa 21 days, sometimes circa 56. Then my last 2 periods were both afte a gap of 6 months. My last period was when I was 50. The guidance is, to be sure you have gone through the menopause, you need to be 1 year past your last period if you are over 50, and 2 years after your last period if you are under 50.

So, no, you can't know for certain yet that 'this is it', but it certainly could be.

It certainly is!

I'm 45 and I'm at this stage. Have been for a few years now. It's awful. Other peri symptoms are ramping up too.

I'm 48. I went 6 months without a period last year & half convinced myself that I was that lucky woman who one day just stops with no problems. I then had 3 normal cycles, dammit 😀

Then at the start of this year I got to 4 months & thought I was on my way to another long break...before they returned. Dammit mark 2 😀

I have a friend of 53 who has basically had one period every 10 - 11 months for the last 5 years. Every time she nearly gets over the one year finish line...only to be foiled at the last minute.

You wish lol. Seriously, I don't know. Am 53 and only just missed my first period this year. I do remember my Mum going nearly a year without one a couple of tines and then ta da there it was.

Haha op good one 😂

🩸

They are a sheer waste of money @HowNice23

If you have these done by a doctor, they do 2 tests on 2 cycles, and they do the test between days 2 -5 of your cycle.

Why are you seeing your dr?
This sounds like totally normal peri and no need to see a GP unless you want to discuss HRT, for example. All they will say is yes, you're in peri. Maybe reconsider?

Periods can come and go for years before your last one, as other posters have said. A common pattern is miss a few, have a few months when they are normal, miss a few more- rinse and repeat!

You need to go 12 months before you can consider them over!