No period for almost a year - what next?

[SanctusInDistress]

I am 47. I started perimenopause symptoms when I was about 37, textbook perimenopause for a decade. 9 months ago I stopped HRT as felt it had stopped working. Not had a period since April 2024.

am I almost through to the other side, and any advice as to what to expect? Magnesium supplements have surged out the hot flushes.

I’m not sure what you are asking for? You will have to wait until you are a year and a day after your last period to be classed as menopausal, then you’ll have to see what you are left with.
Did you consider staying on HRT for the prevention benefits?

If you had irregular periods from 37, you'd not be ovulating as often. This puts you at risk of osteoporosis. And if you were post meno by 46 (time will tell) that is considered early now compared to the average of 51.

Ideally you should have a bone density scan now to weigh up the pros and cons of going back to HRT. Bone density scans are just as, if not more important than breast and cervical screening, as more women die from osteoporosis complications in older age. Talk to your GP.

Hrt never 'stops working'- you probably needed a higher dose as your own estrogen dropped away. No one is ever 'out the other side'. Loss of estrogen lasts forever.

Sound advice from Jingling, OP. Bone density scan and look into the benefits of hrt.

Everyone says 1 hear on but I had a period 18 months on and then 19 months on then I started bleeding and didn't stop for 35 days had a d&c and finally didn't have a period. I went hrt route and it did help particular on the need to pee every 2 minutes.

Just changed to estrogen only pessaries and it's working well

However it is so different for each person.

Strength training exercise can be as good as HRT in preventing loss of bone density and has other health benefits. (Maddalozzo (NIH) 2007; Wright (UF) 2003; Harvard Health, 2024 etc, plus advised by Mayo Clinic, Bupa and so on).

On the British Menopause Society videos on their website, Prof John Stevenson who's a metabolic consultant with expertise in osteo says exercise makes very little difference.

@DustyLee123 hi, my last period was on 6 Aug 2024 but today 30 July I have spotting.

Does that classed as a year of no period or 11 months? It's actually day 358 so a week off a full year.

I didn't have my period for 9 months booked to see the GP and lo and behold it arrived