41 and missed period

[Screenager]

I’ve never missed a period… bar pregnancy! Although it has been getting shorter and shorter, averaging 2-3 days and super
light.

I am currently 6 days late. I haven’t take. A pregnancy test as I al adamant Inam not pregnant. My dh had the snip 3yrs ago (i know it can fail, but realistically?)

I have not pregnancy symptoms and actually feel like I’m in my follicular phase… energetic and not aches or niggles.

My boobs aren’t sore in the slightest!

So what is going on?!!… Starting to freak me out a bit, and I might actually go but a pregnancy test tomorrow!

My 1st language is Englsih, but my fingers are fat!

I had to do this a few times - bodies are strange things! Always negative.

You could be peri menopausal.

I bloody hope so!… the alternative is scary 😦

Is it common at my age though?

If there’s a possibility the quickest and easiest thing to do would be to take a pregnancy test to rule it out. Irregular symptoms can also be a symptom of menopause but I’d take a pregnancy in the first instance.

Well it could be perimenopause. So really, the obvious answer is do a pregnancy test and if negative, looks like peri!

If your DH had the snip 3 years ago pregnancy is incredibly unlikely.

This is the main reason I haven’t tested yet…. And the fear!!

I’ll buy a test tomorrow and report back.

I had my baby at 41 but that was planned.

However not long after I started skipping the occasional period and that was the start of peri for me. I would’ve been about 43 though. I’m 47 and nearly out the other side, we are early menopause in our family so DD was something of a miracle!

Well i did a test this afternoon ace is negative. I'll do another in the morning, but given I’m 7 days late, is assume that an afternoon test would also be clear.

@Screenager That's good news - try not to worry as vaesectomies very rarely fail (and not early days after your DH's). Easier said than done though, I know!

This was my first peri menopause symptom. I skipped a period when I was 40 then again when I was 41. A blood test can show if you are menopausal. I didn’t manage to get a blood test until I was 43 and I was definitely menopausal. I started HRT straight away and have been on it for 8 years. I regret not pushing for it sooner (my GP said I was too young at 40 and she felt it was because I had a low body weight!). If you have an early menopause you really need HRT asap.

Thanks! Everything I’ve read is to not pursue it unless I’ve missed 3. But that might be more for medical issues.

Have you noticed anything different since being on hrt?

I'm almost 45 and pretty sure I'm peri - not sure if it's related or just coincidence but started getting a few "small" symptoms after I had a fallopian tube removed during emergency surgery for an ectopic when I was 42. Still having regular periods but lighter, a little bit of hair loss, the very occasional hot flush.

You really don’t need to do anything unless you have symptoms that are difficult to manage. I’m deep in to peri and don’t need any HRT yet. It’s best to just see how it goes. Whilst it is brilliant there is more awareness of peri/menopause it isn’t a given that it is bad for everyone and not everyone needs HRT.

I have had a bit of brain fog and itching. None of it worthy of medicating. You may have years yet of relatively normal cycles with just the odd blip. It’s not all doom and gloom ☺️

@Screenagerthat’s definitely not correct. I haven’t read anything that states you have to wait to miss 3 periods. A simple blood test from your GP will let you know if you are peri but bear in mind your hormones will fluctuate so the result may not be accurate. The average age of menopause is around 51. If you are peri menopausal just now your body will be missing out on years of oestrogen putting you at risk of osteoporosis and possibly heart disease.
I noticed when I started HRT my mood lifted significantly.

Thanks. I’ll wait and see what happens next month. I have no other symptoms that would lead to peri. And feel fine otherwise

Well, it arrived this morning!!…. Preceded by awful cramps for the past 3hrs, which isn’t usual.

But it’s here 🙌

My GP says absolutely no need for HRT if you don’t have symptoms and are over 45. I’m looking likely to be one of the lucky few that escapes significant symptoms. I’m almost 48 and down to 2 periods a year, minor brain fog and some itching.
I asked about risks from lack of oestrogen etc but she said it is only a concern if under 45 with regard to bone density etc.
Obviously if it changes for me at some point I will have it, but they don’t do a blanket HRT prescription for all women.

@FancyCatSlave but the OP is well under 45 so my answer was in relation to her situation-yours is different. Early menopause is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and possibly dementia risk so HRT is recommended. It’s a different clinical scenario for women aged over 45.

She’s not there yet though is she, just a slightly late period. My point is that lots of women at the moment think the minute they have any cycle changes they need to jump on the HRT as an essential. It’s amazing there is more awareness now and I am very pro HRT but there is a bit of hysteria too and “peri” is the catch all for absolutely everything any woman has going on if they are a sniff over 35.
A lot of the time a cycle blip is just a cycle blip.

I went from a baby at 41.5, 2 years of breastfeeding, 2 years of “normal” to a very quick canter through peri and am almost menopausal within 3 years. My current cycle is 8 months long so far so almost over the line. But I know I am on the younger side (as was my mother) and I could get all the symptoms at any point.

I’m also in the middle of a divorce though so it might just be that my cycle comes back more regularly once my life is less of a shitfest. It’s not a given I’m almost “done” and the night sweats might make an appearance.