Ladies of a certain age. Is this the menopause? At what age do periods stop?

Seems like 47 years old. And asking the gynaecologist is completely out of the question.

Author, it varies for everyone. For some, it ends at 38, for others at 55. And menopause is experienced differently by everyone. For some, it happens abruptly and all at once, while for others, cycle irregularities, discomfort, and hot flashes drag on for years. If your mother is alive, ask her how it was for her, or inquire with other older blood relatives. It usually runs in the family.

I've been to the gynaecologist many times. They offer nothing but HRT and also respond that it's uncertain how things will progress. There's no real help from gynaecologists; they're only interested in pregnancy care. And I haven't managed to find a proper gynaecologist-endocrinologist.

My mother had a surgical menopause. It's hard to understand. One of my aunts finished at 39, the other had it until 56—also unclear.
Are such intervals (3–4 months) normal? That's why I'm asking women who are close to my age and might have some insight from experience.

Yes. I had the same. First (42-43) my cycle shortened. Then (45) it became irregular (2-4 months). And at 47.5, it all stopped.

Well, I'm your age. I'm 47.5. Personally, my cycle is like clockwork, even more precise than in my youth. But right at 43, I felt menopause approaching, as desire and libido suddenly disappeared, and along with them, the desire to take care of myself. Complete indifference to my appearance; I have to force myself so my children won't be ashamed. At 46, my husband died, and friends and my mother said that stress would definitely trigger menopause, but no, it's still going. With my friends, it's different for everyone. My closest friend, around 43, her cycle started lengthening, and by 47 it was all over; she suddenly and without reason gained about 15 kg. She, by the way, was seeing a gynaecologist-endocrinologist at the Otto Institute (St. Petersburg). He told her that if there are no heavy bleedings, then everything is normal, just eat right and monitor weight. Another friend, around 40, had several D&Cs because she had heavy bleeding, hot flashes, and hypertension started; this went on for several years. Basically, among my acquaintances our age, most are already in menopause. I'm even embarrassed to bring up these matters in conversations. My mother's stopped abruptly at 45, my older sister's abruptly at 55. I know another woman, a virgin, hers lasted until 55 too; she was already exhausted, saying: "Until 45 you fear menopause, from 45 to 50 you accept its inevitability and prepare, after 50 you crave it." Overall, it's still best to see a good gynaecologist-endocrinologist.

Yes, my weight has also shot up and won't budge. And I've been feeling tired and apathetic. Every time I think—that's it. But after 3 months, or even 5 months last year, my periods come back again. I have a colleague who's 52, and she doesn't even have any irregularities yet. But a former colleague of mine stopped at 46, had one more period a year later, and that was it. I've been going through this rollercoaster for about 5 years now. One minute hot flashes, the next I'm fine.

So, at what age will it end? And will my appearance start aging right away?

My mother is 51 years old and had irregular periods, so she thought it was menopause. The symptoms were similar, after all. She went to see a gynaecologist, had an ultrasound, and it turns out to be a cyst.

I'm 46, and my periods have also started coming with gaps of a month, or even three months.
Before this, for two years, I had a situation where I would get my period twice a month.
I'll need to go see a doctor and get some tests done.

Seems like this is classic. At first they become more frequent, then they become less frequent. But how do you know when they're about to stop? How long will this palaver last?

I am 45. Perimenopause is a condition that gradually begins for everyone after forty. For me, it started at 41 with more frequent periods. Then, my hair started falling out and my libido completely disappeared. At 43.5, perimenopausal neurosis was in full swing. Fortunately, I found the website Menopause Help—there I read about Climafit. Hormone replacement therapy isn't an option for me, but phytoestrogens helped me cope with this nightmare. My periods are irregular but not too much, and I haven't even had significant delays yet, but I do experience hot flashes. An ultrasound showed that one ovary is no longer functioning. But only God knows how long until menopause. It's different for everyone. You have classic perimenopause, and it's not early at all.

Yes, it does seem like the onset of menopause. It can certainly occur at 45 or 55, with 50 being the average age. Why haven't you been able to see a doctor?

Mine stopped all at once when I was fifty and a half. Before that, they were like clockwork every 21 days. Then suddenly, they just didn’t come. I didn’t feel anything unusual, so for two or three months I kept checking with tests to see if I was pregnant, and then I went to the doctor. The doctor said menopause could only be confirmed after a full year without periods. I had one more period about a year later, and then it all stopped completely. I’m 59 now. I never experienced hot flushes, I watch my weight, my blood pressure has started to act up a bit, but otherwise, I didn’t go through any of the fears you read about. And to be honest, I couldn’t really pinpoint when I was in perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause.

It's different for everyone; for some, it all sorts itself out more or less within a year, while for others this palaver can last up to 5 years. I'm in the same boat, confused—definitely need to dash to the doctor.

I've been multiple times, no use. They only suggest hormones. And there's ultrasound monitoring to see if there are any follicles. But ultrasound is such a thing—once they didn't see any, and six months later they say there are still plenty. And after that ultrasound, I didn't have a period for 3 months.
What else is there to ask the doctor? They're only interested in managing pregnancies. They don't know anything about menopause themselves; we have young female doctors.

Are such intervals (3-4 months) normal? I'm asking women who are close to my age and can speak from experience.

Yes, that's normal. You're experiencing a natural menopausal transition. It should all be over in about 3 years or so.

Going to the doctor is pointless. You have classic menopause. Don't waste your time on doctors.
If something really bothers you—for example, very heavy bleeding—then you should see a doctor.

Menopause is the period of declining ovarian function. Have an ovarian ultrasound to determine whether there are follicles present or not, plus a hormone test. Also, the presence of menstrual bleeding after the age of 45 may indicate menopausal bleeding rather than normal periods. In temperate regions, menopause can last from five to ten years, unlike, for example, Italian women, whose menopause lasts only a few years because the climate is more favourable.

Why waste money and have an ultrasound of the ovaries? The author is in the final stage of menopause—it's clear as day. In 2-3 years, it will all be over.

I'm 46, haven't had any symptoms yet, but I'm interested in this topic. I have VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), so I think it'll hit me hard when it does.

I'm 37 years old. I didn't have my period for three months, then it came back, and now it's been three months again without it! I think it's menopause. My sexual desire has disappeared, I hardly get any pleasure... Grey hair at my temples, my face shape has become less defined, and I've gained weight. On top of that, my uterine fibroid has grown and is now 5 cm. I've stopped liking what I see in the mirror. In short, ***** has arrived) And you're talking about 47 years old...

The fibroid should shrink; I have one too. They said it won't grow during menopause, but yes, 37 is early.

Ladies, what symptoms did you have as K approached? Could this be the reason for my vaginal burning and frequent cystitis? I never had such issues before.

Olga, include cranberries in your diet and you'll forget about cystitis.

I completely agree with you about gynaecologists. They don't have a clue about this issue, they prescribe things (like Klaira, for example) without even understanding the problem, not looking at hormone test results.

Exactly, it all ended on one fine day, and there was nothing afterwards.

Are you alright at the moment?

I want the same thing 👍😊

Hooray, mine was almost like that too

That's what forums are for, so others can share personal experiences. Obviously it's all individual.

I am 41 years old, and I haven't had my periods for four months. Every month, there is an imitation: some pain, some pulling sensations, but no menstruation. My ovaries are empty; there were only isolated follicles back when I was 38.

The endometrium is 10mm, and there have been no periods for 4 full months. It seems like menopause has already set in. There are no fibroids or cysts; everything has simply come to a halt. The ovaries are empty, there is no estrogen, everything has stopped.

I am 47 years old. Two years ago, I suddenly gained 8 kg, and my menstrual cycle became irregular—sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. A year ago, a fibroid inside the uterine cavity was discovered, and I started experiencing heavy bleeding twice a month, lasting 10 days each time. My haemoglobin dropped. I suffered like this for six months before undergoing surgery to remove the fibroid (via hysteroscopy). After the removal, my period came only after two months (light, lasting just four days), and the next period again came exactly two months later. My libido, on the other hand, increased, even though I have issues with vaginal dryness (but lubricants help with that). I also returned to my previous weight (thanks to intermittent fasting and exercise). Overall, it’s important to take care of yourself and believe in yourself ))))

I'm 44, no periods for 3 months, now they've started and it's been spotting for 3 weeks, also my face has become inflamed, a fine rash, I don't know if this is normal?

I'm 57.5, still having them

I didn't have anything either, and suddenly out of nowhere my breasts hurt and two days later my periods were a nightmare, I'm 51, and I asked my mum but she doesn't remember anything. I didn't feel any hot flushes at all. I get tests done every year, everything's normal. That's how it is.

I've got something similar - a fine rash on my face and a delayed period. Yesterday I listened to doctors - they say histamine is elevated during perimenopause, hence the rash :(

How are you doing, have the long periods ended?

Girls, I'm so exhausted, constantly having pain in my lower abdomen, and now I've been bleeding for a whole month with huge clots. I'm 44.5 years old, and they've suggested a hysterectomy, but even that won't be soon.

I also had periods for three weeks. They did an ultrasound and said there's nothing to clean. I stopped it with Tranexamic acid. There were also many clots. They said it's not scary, it's menopause after all. They'll always be like this now.

Who else has experienced clots and heavy periods after the age of 43? In January, I had a D&C after two weeks of this, and now it's been 8 days again. They say it's pre-menopause and recommend a Mirena coil, but nothing else.

Same story. Since 42

Same situation, and how long did you take Tranexamic acid for? I took it for 5 days - absolutely no effect at all...

5 days at 1000 three times a day, Tranexamic was prescribed by my doctor, it all ended

To add to that. I started taking it in the third week after an ultrasound, as my doctor prescribed.

Well, not only are the periods heavy, but there's also pain throughout the entire cycle, and when the period comes, it's just unbearable.

Same bloody thing. And it comes sometimes after a month, sometimes after two weeks.

And it pours for either two weeks or three. They start slowly, go on for ages, and take forever to end.

Tell me how old you are. I'll be 45 soon, and I hope it will all be over quickly, though who knows what's better?

I'm 45. When it'll end, I don't know. But I'm already so fed up with it.

Adding to that. My mum also had heavy bleeding all the time and had 8 D&Cs. Hers started at 40 and ended at 48.