Menopause. How old were you?

Like Dumpling I had a hysterectomy at 40 due to fibroids. I never had bad periods (in fact, towards the end I was glad when my period came as the bleeding was less than from the fibroids). I asked my mother when she had her menopause but that generation don't talk about that sort of thing and she couldn't really remember anyway.

I remember feeling a monthly cycle after the hysterectomy (ovaries weren't removed) but I couldn't say if and wh3n that stopped. So the answer for me is somewhere between 40 and 62.

My sister in law had breast cancer and chemo- and radiotherapy put her through the menopause in her early 40s. After some years her periods actually came back! So she has had to go through the menopause twice and she suffers really bad hot flushes and night sweats.

Another lucky one here. I had regular periods till I was 55, which just stopped. No other symptoms at all.

I was early forties. I was very surprised because my mother had been over 50. We both started periods at eleven - I was a bit of a celebrity because I was the first in the class.

Apart from some annoying irregularity and heavy periods I had no real menopausal symptoms. Not a single hot flush or night sweat.

I was 48 when my periods stopped completely for 15 months then I did the same again, went 15 months and had a really horrendous period that was the heaviest I have ever had. I was on the phone to my doctor about something else and I mentioned it and she had me in the following day and booked me in at the hospital for loads of tests including womb biopsy, CA125, scans internal and external and MRI. Turned out I had an ovarian cyst and the consultant said as I had been through the menopause he recommended a full hysterectomy which I had within four months of going to the doctors. I already had an ovary removed when I was in my 20’s due to a cyst that was causing extreme pain as it had twisted on its stalk.

43. No ill effects.

I had hot flushes for about 10 years before on and off. Actually went on the menopause at 34 and then after some HRT everything went back to normal again for a few years and I had a baby at 37, nearly 38

It's so strange how different we are all affected. I had no idea I'd been through menopause - and no periods since 2009 thanks to the coil!
Should I be on any supplement ? What are the benefits of estrogen?

Had horrendous hot flushes when I was 40, and experienced dreadful flooding for a while. Periods then stopped when I was 44, but I'm still getting the odd hot flush now, 14 years on, just when I think I might be finally through it all. It seems never ending!

Had an xray a couple of years ago on my back and through that they discovered I had osteoporosis so now I'm on medication for that.

I remember reading somewhere (but can't remember where) that it was more likely to have an early menopause if you were late starting your periods. I think I was 13 and one of the last in my group of friends to start.

well, from time to time I have had the occasional hot flush, usually at night. That is the only symptom. I had a blood test aged 38 and the doc said I was 'peri-menopausal'. a blood test 6 months later said I was post-menopausal'. pity really as I would have liked more kids, but life didn;t work out that way for me. am now almost 68, happy, healthy, and fit. what more could anyone ask for? oh, and yes, I have great friends too!

Denil963 - yes yes yes to HRT. You are very young still. I had my last natural period at just under 54 and went onto HRT before being postmenopausal ie less than a year after last period). Now mid 60's and still on it. Perhaps you can ask for your blood results? It is impossible to tell whether you are post-menopausal from these result alone. Depending on what was measured FSH levels can vary and can go into post-menopausal range even when still peri-menopausal. However the lack of bleeding with a coil 7 years old may indicate that you are but you can't tell for sure unless you take the coil out and wait a year.

The good news is you can have another one (coil) fitted and start to take a low dose replacement oestrogen which will help protect your heart and bones for a good few more years. It's not a good idea to have a coil in if you are post-menopausal without adding oestrogen as it can cause over-thinning of the womb-lining.

Someone asked about still having cyclical HRT even when post-menopausal - I do this. Still have a bleed once every 6-8 weeks. No reason to stop HRT - unless a medical reason to do so. Guidelines have changed.

Nowadays women who go through early or premature menopause before the age of 51/52 ( the natural average menopaus age) are advised to take HRT at least until this age - regardless of whether symptoms are present.

All done at 54 with a rotten year beforehand and now get hot flushes but manageable

Sorry Gillybob only just saw your post. I'm permanently on oestrogen only HRT. Premarin. I've tried other chemically manufactured versions but this was the only one which worked and which I do have a bit of an ethical problem with as it's made from pregnant mares urine. It means the mares are kept in foal and then there's the problem of unwanted foals. I tell myself that unwanted calves are destroyed and it's only a miniscule amount that I use.

There's so many different sorts of HRT now that it can take a while to find the right one for you.

I had to stop it for the month before my knee replacement op as it increases very slight possibility of blood clots and I did notice I was more irritable (which means it was probably worse than I felt!), more tired, my skin was dry and my memory noticeably got much worse. Oestrogen HRT also apparently helps defend against osteoporosis. I know there's a small increase in breast cancer chances (I'm continuing to have routine mammograms), but my fear of dementia certainly keeps me taking it.

I was 52 or53 when my periods just stopped. No symptoms whatever.
It’s interesting how many here have been quite old. On Mumsnet they seem to believe they’re “perimenopausal” anytime from 35 and expect the menopause in their early 40s. They also seem to think it’s almost impossible to conceive naturally after 45. A lot of women of our generation know differently.

I start to feel menopause symptoms when I was 48. The worst is vaginal looseness. What I've been using is myotaut serum it has helped a lot to reduce loseness.

Interesting that quite a lot of us ( about 14 so far on here) had no symptoms at all, because talking to friends and reading bits and bobs about it you feel that it’s almost compulsory to have horrible hot flushes and everything that goes with it

My periods stopped at 38 when I had an emergency hysterectomy after a C section for our last baby. I had a few hot flushes at about 50 but under 10 in total so I think I escaped very lightly.

First period at 13, last at 50, never suffered cramps or flooding. I still get hot flushes, but put them down to a faulty thermostat; all my adult life I have had hot flush when I wake up, but they hit me at any time of day and through the night around the menopause. I still get the morning one, and it lasts long enough to run for a pee and get back into bed without needing a dressing gown in our unheated house. If I doze off during the day I get one as I am coming round. The only other side effect was palpitations, but that has eased off now, 20 years later.

My periods stopped completely when I was about 52/53 and aside from occasional itchy dry skin no other symptoms . I also never had the hot flushes

I haven't had any HRT.

Am I being thick here... What is vaginal looseness??

After suffering heavy periods and flooding from the age of 11 i had a total hysterectomy aged about 40 so was thrust straight into my menopause within a week. I've had flushes and fuzzy head and sometimes the period bellyache but so much happier without periods.
Some of you were so lucky with no symptoms.

I never had HRT and never felt the need for it, but now, in later life, I wonder if I would have had the same problems with arthritis if I'd been prescribed the patches. No point in speculating though.

I had my last period at 40 but had horrendous symptoms for years until I tried HRT. Would recommend it to anyone suffering hot flushes, palpitations,feeling low or bad tempered as result of menopause.