No Symptoms

Me too . 10 years ago at 54. A few irregular periods and some " tropical moments " and then nothing. No HRT . Been fine .
I think this is a common occurrence it's just that we only hear from the poor souls who have a bad time of it .

I found some of the hormonal changes a challenge at times but nothing that I couldn’t cope with. I find as an holistic therapist, that everyone seems to be different. Some people find it an easy, seemingly uneventful time, other than periods stopping....others have some issues...but I hate the way it’s often ‘medicalised’ as if something’s wrong, when it’s a natural process, even if it is challenging at times.

Had my last period at 48 (60 now) They has always been irregular and it took a while before I realised that that was it! Took my daughters on a very hot 18 th birthday holiday the following year and remember having an almighty hot flush in 40 deg of heat... but that was that. Thank goodness. And I’m very grateful as some friends have had an horrendous time.

The menopause was a right pain!

I was working in a very responsible job, travelling to see clients etc, did a presentation to Heads of Departments at Harrods among others (yes, really!) and needed to be well presented and confident.

Difficult to pull off when you are having a major hot flush and just want to remove your jacket and stick your head out of the window.

Getting off the train and literally running to the nearest loo because you can feel the flooding, worrying it's going to go through the trousers of your smart suit.

But one of the worst aspects was when I had to come off HRT, my confidence went to pot, on occasions I would feel as if I was about to have a panic attack.

Wasn't too bad in the office, had a very supportive and understanding team that I worked with, but harder to manage in client (or potential client) meetings.

Surely as women we can simultaneously be very happy for those who don't have any symptoms while showing empathy for those who do. Those who don't are fortunate. I agree totally that education is key. The menopause is something we don't talk about enough. It often takes a long time for women to put together all the symptoms and realise they are menopause-related. Not all doctors are especially helpful, or even knowledgeable. The much demonized HRT gives a whole host of protection to our aging bodies that again, are not talked about enough so women can make informed decisions rather than those based on attention-grabbing headlines aimed at selling papers, not helping women. I went into menopause at 41, a few months after my husband died suddenly. I didn't have hot flashes, about the only symptom I'd heard of, and it was 3-4 years before I joined all the dots of my different symptoms to realise they were due to the menopause. Went on HRT and have never looked back. Am still taking it at 64 as when I stopped it, one of the key, very inconvenient, symptoms came back. Let's support each other and help prepare younger women, giving them the information they need.

A friend, now 80, who rejected HRT years ago as being unnatural, now deeply regrets it as she has severe osteoporosis and has cracked vertebrae as a result. With hindsight she would have had HRT because of the protection it gives to bones. Like so many things there are pros and cons to HRT but I am very glad to have taken it for many years.

Me Too, my last period was really heavy and then nothing since (4yrs ago).
My mother used to say she didnt know what all the fuss was about so maybe it runs in the family, hope so for my Daughters sake.

Mine stopped mid fifties and I had psychologically told myself I wasn't going to have a menopause and apart from a few hot sweats no problems at all.

God!!!! Im approaching 62 been having sweats and i mean soaking sweats for 10 years. Fan on 24/7. Tried various things no joy. Horrendous time, dont know what a "hot flush" is. Cant sit on bare sofa have to have it covered. ?

I had no real problems. Last period at 51 few months before my husband died 4 years ago. No hot flushes. Thought might have had symptoms with being on letrozole (hormone blocker) after cancer diagnosis fir last couple of years. Apart from thinning hair and increased joint pain all ok

So trying to sum things up then.

If you sail through with no particular Menopausal problems you aren’t offered HRT, because you don’t ‘need ‘ it but then you go on to get Osteoporosis and all the other age related problems, which in my opinion is worse and potentially has a huge impact on my old age.

If you suffer badly , you are offered HRT and don’t get age the related problems.

Does this seem be a correct view? Or are you still at risk from Osteoporosis etc if you have taken HRT?

My periods petered out and stopped at 52, that's 14 years ago. Had a few very mild hot flushes which lasted for a few seconds each. No other symptoms for a few years, then suffered with vaginal dryness for which I now use Estriol hormonal cream. Maybe my anxiety has bothered me more than it did pre menopause, but I find that hypnotherapy helps. I have often been told that I don't look my age, even though my hair is silver grey. So far none of the other problems that Espee mentioned. Fingers firmly crossed.

I'm interested to hear other folks' experience of "the change" which is still whispered (Les Dawson fashion!) in lots of settings. I had really heavy periods in my early fifties, my Doc suggested the Mirena coil. I went for it, fitting it was a bit uncomfortable, but it was like a miracle! Periods reduced and soon stopped completely and I was able to carry on with my very busy job which had been getting me down due to tiredness. At 56 my new lady dr said I would be over all that and coil (which needed replacing) was just removed. Bleeding occurred and I was sent to see specialist after tests who looked me with a glint in her eye and I said "I'm still ovulating aren't I?!" She said yes, you are, go get a coil re-fitted!! Luckily I had not fallen pregnant and the new coil was fitted (quite painful this time). It's still in situ and I'm almost 65! I believe it helped me get through the menopause with very few symptoms. A few "hotties" at night, never during the day and that's about it. Please pass this info about the Mirena to other women. I have and some it has helped, but some don't get on with it at all. But it's worth trying. Good luck!

Hear hear!

I didn’t have any symptoms at all and never had period pains either. My doctor said that it’s because I’m a vegetarian.

Same here. I was lucky. Periods stopped mid 50s. Have had quite a few hot flushes but they have been manageable. Few mood swings but again not too bad considering what my friends have been through.

Actually Espee I think you have a point and wish I'd known this 14 years ago.

I 'sailed' through the menopaouse without any the the usual problems like hot flushes. I've played a lot of sport since childhood so my bones and muscles are good and I've always done my pelvic floor exercises so I thought 'job done'. Now, I don't sleep well, have dry skin and vaginal atrophy with the resulting low libido, which isn't great. I have a vaginal ring but that doen't help with the other issues. I wish I'd taken HRT but it's too late to start.
This is something that needs to be known so women can make informed choices at the start of menopause. I definitely would have chosen that route.

Menopause in 50s. Did have the sweating, hot flushes and irregular periods for about 5 years. Did try several HRTs but just didn't have any effect other than making me live at full steam ahead feeling I was going faster than my body.Sorry to disappoint but none of the afflictions mentioned in some posts have beset me. Was at locum GP recently about an allergic rash on face and neck. He checked my name and asked how old I was, gave me a look then asked my date of birth. Said he thought I had said I was 10 years older as I didn't look my age hence the D.O.B. check. The menopause is natural, as is ageing. Menopause symptoms are not the same for all just as we all develop different diseases, and age differently.

I think I’ve been very fortunate as I never had to cope with any monthly pains or heavy periods.

No menopausal symptoms but the final period, 14 years ago, was heavy and accompanied by agonising cramps for an hour or so (which gave me some small insight into what some women have to cope with every month). No other symptoms before or since, I’m grateful to say.

Myself and my daughter look to have been on the naughty list as I have been and still go through virtually all those symptoms mentioned and my daughter at 44 has been suffering for about two yes. I also started menopause at 45 with my periods getting heavier and more erratic finishing with an almighty outflow one day whilst on holiday at age 54. All the other symptoms have gradually kept increasing and I do worry for my daughter.

I remember I asked my mum, she couldn’t remember any problems except some heavy irregular periods before hand. It was same with me. great. Although I mourned the weird cycle which is so part of you. You feel connected to a greater force the moon the tides a great reminder of ones animal -self.
I enjoyed oestrogen replacement therapy it made me feel happy ( like when you’re pregnant) and I wanted to stay as beautiful as I could.. basically for skin and hair. but then I got oestrogen-dependent breast cancer so that had to stop.
I think a lot of HRT is placebo and it is risky.

If anything it was the hormonal swings of 4–5 years before last period that caused more problems, I ran off to Berlin. It was like adolescence on acid.
I can see my daughter going through tortuous examination of her life now in her late forties (I menopaused are 50) now. And hope she hangs in there. I lost a lot....But it was really thrilling. Be warned.

Periods swindled at 47. That was it. Now 58. My mum started hers at 46 but had awful sweats. I can remember being out with her and having to wait till the flush passed. I thought I'd be the same. Grateful I wasn't.

Please read Esspees posts. Please do not be glib, widows humps, broken bones, vaginal atrophy, discuss with an expert.

To those who had no symptoms I am glad for you. I had a total hysterectomy when I was 38 . Went on HRT for 16 years. And then they stopped it. I am now 62. Get hot flushes and night and day sweats. The sweats are the worse. Feel like my face is melting. My mom missed a period in her 50's that was it . Menopause done. No flushes etc. My poor nan suffered from hot flushes and sweats up until she died aged 89.
My sister in law is suffering flushes and sweats worse than me.

One of my friends period stopped that was it. Another has been suffering since her early 50's few heavy periods then they stopped. But has flushes and sweats.

I'm afraid it's the luck of the draw. Some suffer some don't. It's just like life.

I had an early menopause aged 43 - Mum was the same. Neither of us had any symptoms, just stopped one month and that was it. I know we were incredibly lucky judging by friends' experiences. My daughter is now 44 so appears not to be following the family trend!