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 Has anyone reached menopause before the average age of 51?
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WallSal55 Senior Member  Posts: 161 |
posted 09-18-2002 03:45 PM
  
I have had irregular periods since I was 32. I cannot wait for this circus to be over. I am now 46 and feel it has been long enough for irregular periods, hot flashes, you name it. Christine Northrup says the process takes 6 to 13 years. I am way past that! Any input, thanks. IP: Logged |
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mlgable Senior Veteran  Posts: 5318 |
posted 09-19-2002 09:29 AM
Are you symptoms caused by menopause or could their possibly be something else causing some of your symptoms? I am getting to the point at 47 that I think my periods will totally be ending in the next year or so but then I was tested and found to for sure be in Menopause. If you haven't talked to your doctor about treatment options if this is for sure menopause then that would be your first step. Good luck. IP: Logged |
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PinkBlazerNY Member Posts: 26 |
posted 09-19-2002 10:45 AM
I am 48 and haven't had a period since I was 46. I suffered the hot flashes,mood swings,irregular periods 2 years before my last period. However....I am post menopause and still have the terrible hot flashes. That is the worst thing for me. I heard they can last up to 20 years! UGH!!! Hope this helps.  IP: Logged |
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Dianek Veteran Posts: 345 |
posted 09-20-2002 05:03 PM
I am 47 and am as regular as clockwork, although I do experience some mid-month bleeding which has been going on and off for several years. Occasional sweats at night, but it's usually because my room is too warm due to the hot summer nights. Doc tested my hormone levels...says I'm nowhere near menopause yet. Thing is, my periods have been heavier than ever the past 5-6 years. That's a whole 'nother post about that which I won't get into here. I'm fine, needless to say. A very good friend of mine hasn't had a period since she was 46 and is now almost 49. Says she's never had a hot flash; is more emotional and has a bit of a dryness situation; but other than that, she sailed through it just fine. Like you, I can't wait for it to be overwith. IP: Logged |
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Zimm Member Posts: 49 |
posted 10-05-2002 06:39 PM
I began menopause about 38 years old. My eldest daughter began at 39. My youngest daughter is just starting at 40. Age is no factor, but the hot flashes (unless you are on HRT) continue. Heredity has a lot to do with the age, though. Check with other female members of your family. Your mom, her mom, etc. That would give you a pretty good idea. IP: Logged |
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action Senior Member Posts: 113 |
posted 10-06-2002 12:30 AM
At the rate I am going I think I will be 162 before I finally get through menopause. Now 53 and still going strong  My mum had a hysterectomy at 41 and still had the hot flush thing going for a while there. Angela IP: Logged |
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rae78 Junior Member Posts: 11 |
posted 10-23-2002 12:03 PM
I started perimenopause at age 40 with irregular periods, sometimes closer together, sometimes heavy bleeding. At age 46 really heavy bleeding for two years. Then when almost 47 stopped periods. Got hot flashes and weight gain. Have not had period for 3 years now, am age 50. I have gained 20 pounds since menopause and used to be skinny. Even if I exercise and cut down calories/carbs, etc, still cannot shed the weight. I guess it is just here to stay, mostly around my middle. I miss the skinny days. I was on progesterone cream for a while which helped with hot flashes but got really depressed and tired. The cream can build up in your system. They are starting to discover this now. There is a natural progesterone that is oral that is supposed to be better, not sure where to get it. Maybe on Dr. Mercola's web site, not sure. Anyway that is my story. Oh also have vaginal dryness, sometimes painful intercouse and drier skin now and the wrinkles are starting to come. Ugh!!! Lorhen IP: Logged |
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WallSal55 Senior Member Posts: 161 |
posted 10-23-2002 01:02 PM
So glad to hear from you and that your journery through menopause was a short one (as if it ever is for us women). Anyway, I have taken natural progesterone since 1995 or before. It is available from Women's International Pharmacy from Madison, WI. I have taken it for severe PMS (PMDD). It helps with hot flashes and severe mood swings. They tell me I may continue it after menopause if symptoms still persist--it's a wait and see situation. (Nothing like putting your life on hold, kinda depressing, but after all the darn ovaries are in charge here.) [This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 11-18-2002).] IP: Logged |
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karenortwein Senior Member Posts: 169 |
posted 10-27-2002 04:06 PM
Perimenopausal since age 38 with all the hot flashes you can schedule in one day. Now I am 46 and have been on HRT since then. (no flashing) Have these once or twice a year flooding episodes for the last 3 years. Doctor just gave me the good news that I am OFFICIALLY a post menopausal women! Oh happy day--wait--I just had the terrible flooding for 6 weeks--oh, I am SO confused....... Well, actually it was a complication of something else and I had to have an endometrial biopsy. Whoa, I am just blabbing here aren't I????? IP: Logged |
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Connor5 Senior Member Posts: 127 |
posted 10-28-2002 04:17 PM
Karenortwein..you sound like what I am going through. I am 46, no periods for about a year, been on HRT for 18 months, now I am bleeding 10 days, stopped bleeding for 3 weeks, now bleeding again. I just made an appointment with my obgyn for Thrs. Did they find out what was causing your bleeding? Nan IP: Logged |
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sunshine123 Veteran Posts: 425 |
posted 10-28-2002 04:28 PM
Hi everyone: I had a hysterectomy when I was 40, but kept my ovaries. I started having hot flashes and night sweats when I was 48 or so. I'm now 52. The nightsweats got really bad, so I started having Acup. treatments 2X a week. I'm happy to say that my symptoms are now under control. I also take black cohosh. IP: Logged |
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momcat1 Member Posts: 24 |
posted 10-31-2002 04:01 PM
Sure! At 39 I had a heart attack with no warning, and no reasonable explanation, actually for no explanation whatsoever. That's also when my periods stopped - just like THAT! I am now 48, and the periods never returned. The worst hot flashes and asociated side effects of the menopausal symptoms were when my GYN put me on Prempro, AFTER the symptoms had already cooled down (no pun intended). For 3 years it was like starting all over again, until the migraines (which were obviously caused by the Prempro) got to the unbearable and unsafe level, at which point my general MD said, STOP! 2 years after coming off the Prempro, there are still hot flashes, but they are infrequent. I have researched and begged for explaantions as to what ahppened to me, since early menopause does not run in my family, but have never received any explanation at all. My mom went through the change at 58. The only possbile explanation I could come up with on my own is that for some reason I was going through an early menopause, and the heart attack was triggered by an exceptionally low estrogen at that time. In the years since then, I have had no heart problems, and no recurrence of periods, not even slight ones. My general MD says maybe I never went through the change, but the GYN has done so many tests, and could not find anything wrong with me, except that my FSH shows menopause. GO FIGURE! IP: Logged |
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Freeat41 Junior Member Posts: 17 |
posted 11-01-2002 01:15 AM
I just turned 41 in August 2002 and it looks like I've gone through early menopause. Over the past 5-6 years I've been feeling progressively lousy and didn't know why. I always had good health (the last 3-4 I've been quite emotional, and had physical symptoms that included sleep disturbance, hot flashes, headaches, nausea, joint pain, chest pain, high cholesterol, numbness). I made the rounds to doctors for these complaints; they ruled out major illnesses and in most cases they felt my problems were stress related, and the latest diagnosis is repetitive strain, possibly fibromyalgia. Meanwhile I'd been seeing a ob/gyn fertility specialist for about 3 years who told me in April that I might want to consider egg donation (because it looks like I'm in perimenopause). I decided I'd look into that if I wasn't pregnant by my birthday. I had my last period on August 2nd. In early October after several blood and urine tests, I confirmed I am not pregnant. In mid-October I asked my mother when and how early she had gone through it, knowing that she had stopped by her mid 40's. She surprised me by saying she was around 39 or 40, her periods just stopped, she'd had arthritic symptoms for several years before that. So I'm seeing my ob/gyn next week, my GP and Rheumatologist the week after that, but it looks like much of what I've been going through has been menopause. I feel a lot better since my periods have stopped, less hormonal, but I'm in shock, sad, and yet relieved that I can explain my symptoms. IP: Logged |
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harleycat Junior Member Posts: 15 |
posted 11-04-2002 04:24 PM
I started peri-menopause at age 40 and now at 44 I have not had a period for over a year. Had awful hot flashes and was not a candidate for HRT due to other health problems. Started taking Black Cohosh and Soy 2 months ago and symptoms have almost disappeared. Early menopause runs in my family. My two sisters were 45 when they started. I'm the earliest at 43. IP: Logged |
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i need a name Member Posts: 58 |
posted 11-14-2002 10:46 PM
quote: what ship was she on? i wanna book passage... lol IP: Logged |
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NancyH Senior Veteran Posts: 608 |
posted 11-18-2002 12:33 AM
I started at age 38 and had my final period at 49, I sailed through pretty easy, some hot flash, lots of emotional ups and downs and irritability. So here I am age 54 and suddenly after no hot flashes for 4 yrs they are starting again with a vengence. Is it possible to get hot flashes after all this time? I am confused, I can't take HRT due to a couple medical conditions, been taking soy supplements and drink soy milks, what more can I do til I see my obgyn in Jan? IP: Logged |
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sunshine123 Veteran Posts: 425 |
posted 11-27-2002 09:47 PM
The only thing that has alleviated my hot flashes is Acupuncture. Black cohosh hasn't helped and I'm not supposed to take soy. The Acupuncturist also gave me some herbal capsules to try. I usually open the capsule and make a tea out of it. I'm not sure if the herbs help since I haven't taken them for very long. Hope you find some relief too. IP: Logged |
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ironlady Member Posts: 42 |
posted 11-28-2002 02:55 PM
I'm 36 and just starting for the last few months now. Hot flashes, irregular periods etc. My sister and mom were early too. IP: Logged |
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