Never ending perimenopause

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Age 57. Periods still going. Had a five month gap at the start of this year when I thought I'd finally finished them, but then they fired up again and I'm now as regular as I always was. Also struggling now with crippling anxiety. Anybody else at a similar age with the same problem?

It is quite unusual to still have periods at 57. The range is from 45-55 but there are outliers, of course.

If I were you I'd make an appt with the GP and perhaps ask for a scan of your womb to make sure these are actually periods and not caused by something else.

Your anxiety may well be helped by HRT and you could make the appt on that basis and discuss the bleeding at the same time.

I'm so sorry you are still suffering! I was done at 50 but commenting just to say that, in my experience anyway, the anxiety gets much better when the periods have stopped, so hang on in there!

I’m 54 and the same. Never had a break yet but I will be so happy when I do. The HRT has helped a lot with anxiety though— is that an option for you? I do think at 57 it’s worth checking in with your gp. I had to have a scan last year after a particularly lengthy period - might be worth it for you to make sure all ok.

52, started patches last October as I was so, so anxious! Never been an anxious person but it was crippling me! 😭 patches have definitely helped. Periods? Who knows? I bleed a little with the patches when I’m on the oestrogen/progesterone ones. Have a coil also but that 18 months out of date and no one will take it out. Bloody stuck with it. Would love to know if I have periods or not. 🤷‍♀️ Bought Davina’s book and realised I was not alone. Thought I may be going mad. I can cope with hot flushes/forgetfulness but being anxious and the self doubt? No… 💐

The anxiety definitely decreases once you’re out the other side. I had my last period at just past 56 and now a year on. I considered this quite late but after a last very heavy period thank gos they stopped. I’d have a chat with your GP and see what they think.

The longer you have periods the less chance you have of getting dementia. Count yourself lucky.

Im fifty two and have been on the mini pill for the last four years so have no idea where i am

I was similar to you. Terrible anxiety and thought my periods would never end. They stopped for a few months then started again. Last one was the month before my 58th birthday. People say it's unusual but my sister and two close friends were still having periods late 50s. As soon as my periods stopped the anxiety went. I used to get terrible PMT and now feel great. I do feel I've come out the other side.

I’d make a GP appointment if I was you. HRT patches help massively with anxiety for me and you do have a bleed on them, but a doctor will discuss all forms of HRT. I am a similar age to you, the only comfort I take is that the longer you have periods , the less chance of osteoporosis and other things happening. We go through so much as women, years and years of periods. Take care x

Me! 58 and still having periods which have been more like spotting this past year and very erratic. The longest gap I've had without any bleeding has been 10 weeks, this has happened twice this year, prior to that I never missed a period. However, I do have fibroids that have been removed 3 times over the last 12 years and grow back every time. Doctors tend to freak out if you still have periods after 55 so for that reason I've has 3 ultrasounds in the last two years, most recently last week. They never find anything more than the fibroids. This time I've had hormone blood tests to see if I'm actually menopausal and the bleeding isn't periods but fibroids, getting the results this week. I also have anxiety and a whole host of other peri symptoms but it's looking like HRT won't be a good idea because of the fibroids. I just want it to end!

As advised, it's a good idea to get checked but honestly 57 isn't THAT unusual from what I've heard, it's just not textbook. My sister is 56 and hasn't quite stopped yet either- she too went 6 months with nothing then had another period and is keeping her fingers crossed she doesn't get another. There's a woman on another forum who is over 60 and still has regular periods. She keeps being sent for scans by worried doctors but there's nothing wrong with her!

Not helpful if they ruining your life though

I was about 56 but not quite sure as went on hrt at 55. Dr prescribed one that gave me a light monthly bleed to begin with and it was great as stopped my horrendous hot flushes almost overnight. Helped with anxiety also. He swapped me over to conti a year later and l am still on it many years later.

Not quite true @Bangolads

Early or premature menopause has risks including dementia, but having slightly later menopause (eg 3-5 years) is not shown to be preventative although HRT is pointing in that direction in some studies.

I'm 55 and have gone 3 months without a period so am ever hopeful. As a PP said though, I went for 6 months without one last year and then it started again. No HRT, just regular exercise and eating well. Feeling anxious (seems a common theme), sleep is hit and miss and horrible palpitations so I've had to cut out all caffeine.

Erm, With respect, you just relaid exactly what I described. If you have an early menopause then you are far more likely to have dementia, ergo the later you start your periods the better chance you have of avoiding the associated risks of an early menopause. It’s not rocket science, and I pleased I had one of the top uk menopause doctors to describe it to me in candid terms. 🙄

With respect, it's not what you described. Early or premature menopause is associated with dementia because premature menopause is before aged 40, so 12 years earlier than the average. Early menopause is before 45 but having an extra few years ( ie menopause at 55 rather than 52) is not shown to have the same effect. So it's not 'ergo'.

I’m 55 and recently went 7 months without a period, for it to reappear again. A gynae Consultant told me that I’d be done with all this by 55. What a stupid thing to say.

Last period at 58. Like you, everytime I thought I was over it I had another period. It’s not that unusual to be in your late fifties. Doctor wasn’t bothered. Starting periods later, breastfeeding, being on the pill, pregnancies can all affect it apparently. I also had the anxiety. Whooshes of it would wake me during the night. I didn’t want to go down the hrt route. Was bad for about a year I guess and then I realised the gaps between feeling anxious became longer and the anxious times shorter. Make sure you make time for yourself. I found yoga really helped. Walking. Radio. Any distractions.

Good to know!

It’s interesting that some of you have found that your anxiety decreased once your periods stopped. I’m 52. My last period was two years ago and I feel that, if anything, my anxiety has got worse.

I had no peri symptoms but all the symptoms - physical- started around 52 after my last period.

Hi. I have only gone one month without a period. When it did come, it was much heavier. Still regular and longer. My GP said, you are approaching 55; you should be menopausal soon. I don't think so.

My friend told me she is 56 and still has regular periods.

Yes, agree with the others here. Book an appt with your dr and request for a scan. Hope you find answers from your doctor and something for your anxiety. x

56 and still going here. Have had a couple of times that nothing has arrived for 4-5 months but then they start again. Very very light but definitely periods every 26-28 days. I have a coil which needs taking out but I'm #142 on the list as of 11th August to get an appointment and someone said the coil may be prolonging the bleeding. Not sure how true this is as it reduced my formerly heavy and painful periods to a painless mere dribble.

There may be other places you can have coils removed. The old family planning clinics used to so is there a newer version now?

Wtf? It takes 30secs to remove a coil!! They surely could do it in a GP appt?

I had to have mine taken out in an emergency when it was dislodged by the nurse doing my smear test.

Went into GP, said I felt dizzy, she narrowed it down to the coil and took it out. I was in and out in 5 mins.