Signs approaching last period

[user14714585527]

Just wondered if there were any consistent signs or patterns that might indicate you’re approaching your last period? I’m 49, on HRT, have been having varying period issues for about 8 years. My iron levels are on the floor despite an iron infusion and I’m thoroughly fed up with it all and want it to be over!

My last one was really heavy. I am now 13 months from my last one, which was when I was 59. I was in Disney in Paris and was a messy time!

i had a few months of passing large clots and painful periods then they returned to normal for a few months then just became sporadic so it was a while before I realised they had stopped for good.

Thanks both. I’m at the (very) heavy, newly painful, and still very frequent stage, so sounds like I might be a way off. I can’t contemplate another 10 years of this.

From what I've read on MN, it's all over the place - every woman's different. Crucially, if you are struggling in any way, go to the GP and keep going until they find solutions that help you. Persistence is key.

Here's my info:
I have not had any HRT nor a coil. I've been off BC since about age 40. In general, periods have been a nuisance rather than a misery: mild cramping if at all, medium flow completely manageable lasting 5 days on avg.
Thing started to change when I was 39 after DD2 and so I thought at the time it was related to that. I had the occasional heavy or even v heavy period for 10+ yrs but mostly I was v regular. The heavy ones were shorter - only a few days of insane deluge rather than the usual med flow for several days.
At the end of peri - final 3 yrs or so, I often went a few months between periods and they were lighter. Like @tinytemper66, after many months (9?) I had a surprise one on holiday - so annoying. I can't remember one after than but maybe there were. My final 2 were about 2 years after that; they were v light and in consecutive months.

Thanks for the info! I’ve been seeing GPs and consultants for years unfortunately. Nothing really seems to stay the same for very long (symptoms change and fluctuate) and nothing has really solved the various issues. Seriously considering pushing for a hysterectomy but that seems crazy if I’m only a year or two away from it all stopping. Definitely not crazy if there’s another 10 years of it!

@user14714585527 Has no one offered you the Mirena coil?
That's the obvious solution.
Look at the NHS website under Heavy Periods for different treatments.

Hysterectomy is out dated now unless a last resort. You should try a Mirena coil and if that doesn't work an ablation. All on the NHS site.

Mirena coil saved my sanity when I had it fitted at 45.

Massive clots, flooding and low ferritin.

Once the coil went in, I took iron sulphate plus 100mg of vitamin C every second morning on an empty stomach and didn't consume anything for 2hrs.

Ferritin went from 16 to 118 in a year.

I also opted for HRT, though I assume you are avoiding that as you didn't mention it.

Also, are you not taking transexamic acid to stop the worst of the bleeding? My GP made sure I was using it when I reported to her with flooding. It's a miracle drug. It doesn't stop the cramps but it does stop the flow.

Sorry I correct myself. You are on HRT.

Have you tried mirena? I still bled horrifically on progesterone tablets.

I should also add I had a D&C to remove the uterine lining, which also helped the Mirena do it's job.

My periods went wonky at 38 - having been light and trouble free all my life suddenly became super heavy and sometimes only a 15day cycle. That was fun…After 6mths or so i was prescribed Transexamatic Acid as I didn’t want a coil, which was a massive help, made bleeding very light and carried on okay with that for 5yrs or so, they then became really light and sporadic at 43ish. Personal record was 6mths with no bleed where I thought it was done, but no…started HRT at 46 which fired them up again for 6mths or so, now 50 and last one was about 6mths ago so I am again hopeful that they've stopped!

I did read on the internet, (so it must be true😂) that if the mean average of your last 10 cycle lengths is more than 42 days, you are “most likely” in your last year of periods.

I had shortened cycle but not by much maybe every 24 days for a yearish , then it just stopped i had my last period the week after my 50th birthday, my menopause was horrible but my actual periods were fine, if that makes sense? Hrt was my saviour.

You need to have your HRT adjusted @user14714585527
If you are bleeding profusely, that's not right.
You will probably need more progesterone.
Has no one suggested the Mirena coil as PART of HRT?

Thanks all I really appreciate your advice! I have previously been told I can’t have mirena due to biscornuate /separate uterus, but latest consultant is doing an MRI to see if there’s room to squeeze one in somewhere (eek). I also have fibroids so don’t think an ablation is possible but will ask at next apt, treatment suggested for that was UAE (I’ve already had one removed under GA - made little difference). I have taken tranexamic acid previously (a lot of it) but it only ever reduced the flow from unmanageable to heavy. I’ve now been put on medroxyprogesterone to reduce bleeding but after a month on that I’m now on day 12 bleeding so that doesn’t appear to be working (yet?). Can’t take tranexamic acid at the same time. HRT is 3 pumps oestrogen gel and 200mg micronised progesterone every day (for sleep benefits). Ironically the first consultant I saw when I was about 42 was keen to just whip it all out as I’d finished my family. I was absolutely horrified at the time, but now wish I had agreed!

I think you don’t realise you’ve had your last period till about 18 months after your last period.
its as long as a piece of string (just not a tampon string).

Agree, you have no idea it's the last one until some time afterwards, and the only reason you know is because the next one never appeared.

@user14714585527 mine were the same. Had the coil and my periods stopped completely. 3 years period free.....bliss. Only knew I had gone through the change when I had a blood test done.

I had a year or two of very short menstrual cycles - every 22 days - but interspersed with the odd missed period. Then in the year before they stopped altogether, I had six months of them being back to normal, pretty much every four weeks. Then I had nothing for three months and the hot flushes started, then one more period - and that was that. I was 46.