Is it normal to just start suddenly skipping periods?

[Lesmiserables2024]

Hi all, I'm 43, I was starting to experience what I think are peri-menopause symptoms but cycles continued to be regular until this month when I skipped it completely and no sign of my next one yet either which is due around about now. I didn't expect to just start suddenly missing periods...is that normal? Thanks!

I’m a bit older but have skipped a couple of periods in the last 18 months and currently 13 weeks since my last one. I’m otherwise pretty symptom free. It’s nice to not have had a period for so long but I constantly feel like it might just take me by surprise.

Any chance you're pregnant?

You could be having anovulatory cycles.

I've started skipping them every few. But PMT seems to ramp up. I get period pain and no period. Ended doing preganacy tests. 46.

I’m symptom-free but haven’t had a period since early June. I’m 51 and assume that this is it. So seems reasonable to me. You are on the young end though at 43. I had a baby at 43 so wouldn’t leap to assumption of menopause without other symptoms.

It's my main symptom at 48. I seem to go just long enough without one to think maybe this is it then one arrives with a vengeance! Usually when I have something special planned like a weekend away or especially inconveniently, the school outdoors residential I was on

Thanks all. Definitely not pregnant, I even did a pregnancy test to check but if I had been it would have been the next immaculate conception! I guess I will just monitor and see and maybe speak to doc incase there is anything else that could be causing it.

These were my symptoms at around 45 and the skipping continued for about 2 years. If I had my time again, I'd have gone to the GP to see about HRT a lot earlier than I did for the emotional/mood symptoms which were worse than the physical ones.

I started skipping periods in my forties. It was my first menopausal symptom but I got to 48 before I looked for HRT when I needed it.

Don't suppose you've had covid? That messed with mine and I missed two periods

I'm also 43 and have skipped twice in the last year. Just started HRT and GP said the skipping was one of the things she took into consideration.

Thanks all, naively I thought it would be a bit more gradual, e.g, my period arrives a bit outside of the usual routine but wasn't expecting to just start missing them out the blue. Seems I have a lot to learn!

My anxiety has been through the roof this year. I did have a few trauma demons that needed some therapy to be put to rest but I think perimenopause might be playing a part in how I am feeling.

This is probably another naive question but is hrt tailored to the individual and their symptoms rather than just being the same thing for everyone?

No covid that I've been aware of

Yes. Have a look at the ‘balance app’ by Dr Louise Newsome. Everyone is different. Personally I chose - oestrogen Gel, micronised progesterone and testosterone to suit my needs. I balanced the oestrogen and progesterone before deciding that I needed testosterone after 6 months. The latter provided the boost to libido and mental acuity.

Also, I skipped a few at a time and had none for four months and then had a few in quick succession. Just all over the place (at 48). I opted for the Mirena Coil. Then I went on oestrogel a few months later. There is some variation in the type of HRT and the dose.

I was regular until mid fifties, though had been having brain fog, palpitations, itchy ears,joint pain,insomnia from my mid 40's .
Then I suddenly stopped for 8 months, then resumed normal monthly periods for around 7 months, then skipped a month had a period and then that was it.

50 and still regular here, although my last cycle was only 18 days - it’s usually 35ish.

Went through a phase of night sweats a couple of years ago. Have occasional bouts of insomnia but nothing else of note.

Yes I think that is normal. I uses to be as regular as clockwork and then it became anyone's guess when it will turn up.

Erratic periods were the start. It started 2022 weight loss blamed.
I imagine if I’d gone for a private scan/tests sooner I’d have found out soonest, erratic periods are not just a thing on their own.
My faith in nhs gynae went a long time ago and I just thank Progesterone.
42 have no periods didn’t seemingly worry the GP who may have batted an eyelid but unable to comprehend who would know are bodies most. No blood tests for female health carried out in the area I live but this seems to vary up and down the country.

Seems normal. Am 48 and have only had 2 periods this year so far!!

That was normal for me, yes. In my mid-40s.

Yes mine have been a bit random for the last 3 years (I'm 45) I even went for 5 months with no period then they came back again. Dr said it's normal.

I went for my smear recently and the nurse asked about my cycles, I told her I haven’t had a period in over 18 months. She told me to go to the GP for further investigations. Has anyone had this and what was the outcome?

How old are you? If you are under 40 then you may need HRT if you are going through an early menopause. Could you be pregnant?

I’m 34, definitely not pregnant I’ve taken many tests