How do I know if I am post menopausal?

[steppemum]

I have had a Mirena coil since dd was a baby, she is now 16.
I had very very light periods on the coil, 1-2 days just spotting.
I didn't get one every month, and I haven't had one for a coupel of years.

When this coil was put in they said that I can have it for 7 years 'because it willbe my last' and then I won't need anything.

The 7 years is up. I am 56, 57 ina couple of months.

I have never had any menopausal symptoms.
How on earth do I know if I am properly post menopause and therefore infertile?
My Mum went on having periods into her early 50s, so I'm not that far past that.

I want to take coil out and then be contraceptive free. But don't want ot risk pregnancy.

I think you need to bet the coil out now. Urgently, and then use contraception , but to be honest, the likely hood of you falling pregnant at 57 is nearly zero.

My Mum went on having periods into her early 50s, so I'm not that far past that

and in this context 57 is significantly past early fifties

Why urgently?

It is the time scale I was told, it is due out int he next few months. But why the urgency?

And why use contraception?
Which I guess is the crux of the whole question, if I am post menopausal, they I don't need it.

I should clarify, when I say that I have had it since dd was a baby, I mean I have had a succession of them, and the last was was put in nearly 7 years ago

Well ok maybe not urgently but I’d get it out, the coil should only be in until you don’t need contraception any more or reach menopause, and arguably you have been there for quite some time.

personally I wouldn’t use contraception at all if I was 57, but you seemed concerned, so suggested it to put your mind at rest. Basically condoms.

Thanks Frasers.

I am not worried as such, just really don't know if I need contraception and how I tell?
And I hate condoms!

I'm in a similar position to you - same age and a coil, although tbh not sure what type..think it may be the same. I spoke to my doctor about it last year as I felt I had had the coil in for ages - probably a lot longer than you. She double checked and she said it was OK to keep it in until I was post menopausal. She said this would be when I had not had a period of 2 years. Unfortunately mine were still coming occassionally but not had one since February. I'm only going to go back to get it out when I'm 2 years clear.
So I don't think it is urgent to get it out, but it sounds like you would be pretty safe to if it is 2 years clear. The best thing to do is check with the doctor though.

According to the NHS website the mirena is only effective as a contraceptive for 3 to 5 years so the hormones in it are likely to have run out, but it could still be preventing pregnancy by being a physical barrier in your uterus (there must be a technical term for this!)

You could ask for a blood test that measures FSH (follicle‑stimulating hormone) to see if your levels are consistent with being post-menopausal.

I've had a mirena in for 3 years now and not had a period after the first few months, but I am definitely still going through menopause as I have other symptoms that are controlled with external oestrogen.

My GP told me that in her entire career she has never met a single woman who is still menstruating by the age of 57.

My mother didn't have menopause til 55 / 56 and I'm in my early 50s with no onset of menopause yet. Which is what raised the discussion. As GP was an older woman with a lifelong career then I decided that this was probably 'the truth' of the matter.

If I were you, I'd get that coil out and substitute with provera / progesterone oral tablets for a while if you think there's any chance of pregnancy.

Don't forget that if you have an unwanted pregnancy (exceptionally unlikely) there's the early intervention 'abortion pills' nowadays that are much easier option and can be taken really early. I don't know how you'd know you're pregnant or not unless regularly testing.

I've just been over on this thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4948852-how-old-were-you-when-your-periods-stopped?reply=130942982

and there are women on there who are still menstruating at 58 and 60!!!!!

Oh lord! My GP is wrong. Anyway this is good to know as I shall use it as evidence that I need HRT after my hysterectomy next week. Consultant said oh it's not worth bothering at your age but I've never had any peri-menopause or menopause symptoms yet so surgery is going to put me into a sudden onset menopause. And I could have been menstruating to the age of 60 as we now now! LOL