No Symptoms

I was 56/57 (am 60 now) when my periods stopped but both my mum & maternal grandmother were about same age. Had a few hot flushes at night.
Only thing is they both developed breast cancer after so I make sure I have my mammograms

I had a hysterectomy at 38. Just a few hot flushes but the worst thing was feeling murderous towards my husband a few days each month ?. Divorced now so maybe nothing to do with the menopause.

Me too, and it always puzzled me that I didn't get any hot flushes, night sweats or anything at all, like most of my friends did.
But my last period was exceptionally heavy (I didn't know at the time it would be my last one), and very difficult as I was on a bus touring eastern Europe with limited facilities so it caused me both embarrassment and discomfort.

I actually had two separate periods after menopause. One was a few weeks after the London terrorist attack on the transport system and one was about the same time after my mother died. Since I had all the ovulation twinge and premenstrual symptoms before the period, and a completely normal bleed during, I didn't go to the doctor and assumed it was an actual ovulatory period brought on by primitive human instinct "there is a threat, better get breeding to replace lost life"

Hi espee.
I agree it was a couple of years after my periods stopped the trouble started.
Atrophy, prolapse, hit flushes and brain fog.
Luckily I had a good GP and HRT patches saved me.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hear hear!

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!

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.

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?

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

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. ?

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.

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.

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.