Periods stopping suddenly

[slugjelly]

I am 45 and my periods— usually heavy and regular— have just stopped. Curiously I have got a PMT/bloated feeling around the time they should be, but no bleeding.

This is since August. I’ve done two pregnancy tests and both negative.

Is it possible this is just the sudden end? Not really any other massive symptoms except a bit of sweating.

Mine stopped suddenly at 46. We’re all normal and then I just never had another one.

Did a load of other things happen then @wendywoopywoo222? or was it you the same as normal more or less just minus the periods?

It's far too soon to say 'that's it.'

Not exaggerating but it could be stop start for 5 years or more.
Missing 2 periods at 45 is normal in perimenopause. You might have another one soon and then a run of 6 months, all regular and normal, then another gap and so on.

If you do not have another, do consider HRT. It's now considered important for bone and heart health for women with younger menopause (which is below 45 but 45 is till young.)

The risks of using it before 52 (average age of menopause) don't apply to younger women.

Yes this is exactly what happened to me when I was 40. No previous change in periods and then they just stopped one day and never returned. It was a year or two later before I went on HRT and I did get a bit of cramping and a light bleed when I started which is normal, but apart from that, I’ve never had a period since.

Menopause is confirmed when you haven’t had a period for 2 years (if under 50) or one year (if over 50).

So you’ve a long way to go before you know. Periods becoming irregular, missing periods and changes to cycle length can be the only signs you get that you’re in perimenopause - the period leading up to your menopause, which is when your periods stop completely. So the most likely thing is that you’ve started on that road towards menopause. See what happens over the next few months.

Mine took another ten years from where you are now, but this could be both the beginning and end for you if you’re lucky!

I doubt whether they've stopped completely at 45, and August isn't that long ago. Mine were between 70 & 90 days apart for about 2 years, then I thought they'd stopped and I had another after 6 months.

Reassuring to hear of others’ stories. I can’t believe it tbh. I hate having them so much I felt they were a curse for life! Also relieved I’m not pregnant.

@KnitOneSlipOneKnitOnePassSlippedStitchOver Menopause is 1 year with no periods at any age.

Contraception needs to be used for 2 years if periods stop before 50, or for 1 year if your last period is 50+.

I’ve literally just posted this exact thing. I’m 44 and regular until this month. Nearly 10 days late.

i hate having them but like the predictability of knowing when they’ll happen. Do I just need to carry round sanitary towels permanently now!

How odd.

I had a beautiful summer at the same age as you when my periods disappeared. It was blissful. June to September with nothing, not a drop of blood. How I frolicked. Then they came back.

Mid fifties now and just switched to continuous HRT to end the damned things.

Yep, i need to carry pads all the time as I never know when now! Used to be so regular. Have been having bigger gaps between periods fir a couple of years (I'm 49).
My last was in August, just as I was thinking this might be it, I came on heavy a couple of days ago.

For the last couple of years I've had a period roughly once every three months (before that I was regular). Then no period since Feb so I thought maybe that was it, but no, it came again last week. So in my experience this may not be the end for you!

I really thought I was too young and that periods would be the last thing to go after millions of other symptoms. Mine have never gone, even when taking the pill back to back!

That must have changed since I started my perimenopause ten years ago - it is just what I was told then.

Maybe whoever told you was confused?

The NHS has info online with the definition.

Women with POI (premature menopause- before 40) are advised that sometimes their periods can resume after longer than a one- year gap.

I was in peri 20 years ago and it was the same definition then.

Mine stopped dead at 47 and never returned, till then they were regular as clockwork so it’s perfectly possible you won’t have any more.

Nothing else happened at the time and I never had another bleed. I did have hot flushes that started a couple of years after. Didn’t start HRT until I was 60 due to a severe change in mood/depression.

Wow, thanks all. I feel quite shocked to think I could be there already. Very sobering to take a pregnancy test only to realise it is essentially the opposite.

Mine got lighter then stopped around 45/46 and never had another one. I was through the menopause by 47/48.

It is an odd feeling when you finally know it’s over. I wasn’t able to have children due to PCOS and was very happily reconciled to it, but it’s still a Moment when it happens. I’ve just been through the same feelings in miniature again a year or so after I was officially in menopause, because I recently had a total hysterectomy. I know my ovaries had ‘shrivelled up to nothing’ in the words of one radiologist, and weren’t much cop even before that, but the finality of it still gives you a bit of a jolt, in my experience at least, and even though I was into my fifties!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Does it suddenly age you in some way, them stopping? Will my skin sudden lose elasticity? Does it catalyse a change? Or is it, in itself, the change?

I didn’t notice anything different other than much greater clarity of mind and being way less emotionally incontinent/angry. In that respect it was a beautiful gift 😍.

I’ve had night sweats for about 30 years so that didn’t change before or after. I feel I’ve aged perfectly normally with no sudden acceleration.

That’s reassuring! I was worried about overnight cronehood.

Oh, I'm jealous, 47 here and mine are heavier and coming more frequently...wish they would just stop.