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I
am 47 and started my period when I was 11 years old. They have always been
like clockwork, 28 - 30 days. For the last several years, they've
been regular at 21 days. Now, the past year or so, they've been 18 days,
21 days, and now this one is after two weeks. I had a tubal ligation almost
21 years ago. I spoke to my doctor and he said that three weeks is ok (that's
easy for *him* to say), but if it started at two weeks he may have to do
blood work, or possibly a D&C if it is necessary. I have so many questions
and am concerned about a lot of things. I really experience no other symptoms
of menopause with the exception of slight vaginal dryness and the
irregular
periods. Prior to my period, my skin breaks out in the worst way. I
have always had the mood swings prior to menstruation anyway. What
is peri-menopause? If I am going through menopause now, what can I expect
over the next year? (I'm planning to call my Doctor tomorrow). I was divorced
seven years ago and have been celibate all of that time. I've met someone
and we've been together for a year now and our sex life is very good. He
is 40. Is the dryness a permanent, worsening condition? It hasn't been
a problem, yet. I'm almost considering ending this relationship rather
than go through all of the stuff that I may be going through and having
to explain everything to him. I feel like I'm too young to go through
this, yet I know it's inevitable. I suppose I'll know more when I talk
to my doctor, but sometimes, you just know your own body. My mother and
older sister both had hysterectomies so they wouldn't be helpful as to
what age they would have experienced this.
I am 47 and started my period when I was 11 years old.Hi S and welcome to asm. You are in the correct age range for being perimenopausal. That's the term for those years 'around' menopause which is generally considered to be one year without a period. Perimenopause can take anything from 3-10 years and many women don't even notice it. They have always been like clockwork, 28 - 30 days. For the last several years, they've been regular at 21 days. Now, the past year or so, they've been 18 days, 21 days, and now this one is after two weeks.It doesn't seem fair, does it? We're expecting fewer periods, and we get more.. I had a tubal ligation almost 21 years ago. I spoke to my doctor and he said that three weeks is ok (that's easy for *him* to say), but if it started at two weeks he may have to do blood work, or possibly a D&C if it is necessary.Unless your periods are very heavy as well as frequent, then you probably have little to worry about. 'Irregular' periods can mean anything from more frequent to less often with many variations as to quantity, consistency and so on. Try to ensure you eat lots of iron rich foods and drink LOTS of water as these will help to ensure you don't become anaemic or dehydrated. Three weeks, and sometimes even two weeks, is okay (medically speaking) but seriously not okay for the woman who's "enjoying" it. But you may be able to duck the D&C and a lot of other things. If you can tough it out it sometimes goes away on its own; other times it goes away with the help of some hormones. While a good physical is never a bad idea, blood tests don't really reveal much about one's menopausal state, although they might tell you if something else -- ie., thyroid problems -- is at work. As for the D&C, I'd take a pass on it unless I was having unusually severe symptoms, such as a lot of pain. My main problem in perimenopause has been heavy-frequent-and-prolonged bleeding. I did have a D&C at one point, and I then had "normal" type periods for several months. But it didn't last. The heavy-frequent-and-prolonged periods returned. So, was it worth it to go through the discomfort and risk (anesthesia) of the D&C? I'm not sure. I definitely did get relief, but I was very disappointed that it was only temporary. I'm 51. My bleeding is not as heavy as it used to be (knock wood), but it's still frequent and can continue for 3 weeks at a time. But I know it will not go on forever, and it's not life-threatening. Others have outlasted it, and I will too....and so will you! Eva I have so many questions and am concerned about a lot of things.First off -- relax. The months and years ahead are likely to be ... interesting ... but need not be miserable. The more you know, the easier things are likely to be for you. For many of us, fear (of some dread disease, usually) is the worst part; once we understand that what we're gong through is quite normal, if sometimes annoying, the fear tends to dissipate and we get on with our lives. I really experience no other symptoms of menopause with the exception of slight vaginal dryness and the irregular periods.Increasing your water intake to 8 large glasses a day may help with the dryness. Bleeding is a major damper on many folks' sex lives. I know I felt about as sexy as a [pick a term] when I was bleeding a lot. But dryness often is transitory, so you don't necessarily have to feel like the Sahara for the rest of your life (dryness hasn't been a problem for me, at least not yet). Your young man may be perfectly happy to weather the hormonal ups and downs with you as long as he knows that none of this is his fault. My husband knows that some days are "yes, Laura" days because any other response is likely to land him in a world of trouble. Several of us here have been there, done that with the business of bleeding early and often. You'll find some info on both of the "cormorant" sites including my own saga of heavy bleeding woes. Three years ago I was sure my insides were falling out and now I've gone six months since my last period. Prior to my period, my skin breaks out in the worst way.See above. A lot of women experience skin problems. If you compare perimeno to puberty this may help to explain why. I have always had the mood swings prior to menstruation anyway. What is peri-menopause?Perimenopause, by the way, means "around the menopause." Menopause is the cessation of menses, something we recognize only after the fact. Every woman's journey through perimenopause is a little different, both in duration and in what adventures her body/mind cook up for her.Regards, Laura Blanchard Peri is the stage of physical and hormonal changes leading up to menopause, which is usually defined in retrospect, as occurring one year after your last period. Perimenopause can last a long time -- years. It's a time of adjustment, and part of that adjustment can be preparing yourself for an active, productive, happy old age. If I am going through menopause now, what can I expect over the next year?If any of us could tell you that, we'd be in line for a Nobel Prize for something or other. All we can say is that you can expect anything but nothing is permanent. Sorry this isn't very helpful. OTOH, you may experience no more than a few more irregular cycles and then, zilch- the end. No one can tell you this; our bodies have minds of their own. In any case, perimenopause often lasts for longer than a year: I'm in year ten of my own journey. Expect the unexpected. No one can really predict what will happen for you -- you might breeze through it with few problems; some of the things that bother you now (the mood swings, for instance) may even vanish. In my own case, the miserable cramps that heralded every period since I was a teenager have disappeared completely, which I consider to be Major Good News. But each woman experiences this change differently; while certain signs are common (hot flashes, insomnia, etc.) they are far from universal. (I'm planning to call my Doctor tomorrow).He may or may not be helpful. What you're describing sounds pretty mild. Before you see him/her you may like to do some reading on your own. We recommend Dr Susan Love's 'The Hormone Book' [Hormone Dilemma -UK] published by Random Press, pb. It'll give you a very good, objective introduction to the subject and discusses the various ways of dealing with menopause with or without recourse to hormone drugs. There are also two web-sites put together by regulars in this newsgroup. The first is a list of useful URLs. The latter is a contents site. I do recommend you read the 'good features of Perimenopause' as well as the 'problems'. http://members.tripod.com/menopause/http://www.oxford.net/~tishy/beyond.html I was divorced seven years ago and have been celibate all of that time. I've met someone and we've been together for a year now and our sex life is very good. He is 40. Is the dryness a permanent, worsening condition?Not all women suffer from it at all. It could well be that you are simply dehydrated because of having more frequent periods. In any case, if it's a minor problem the use of lubricant or Aloe Vera gel may be all that is required. Not necessarily. There are several things you can do - invest in a good lubricant, for instance - to relieve this problem in the short run. Most of the physical signs that occur during peri tend to be transient, though, and may resolve themselves on their own over time. This varies. For some people, yes. I do think that you can count on it getting worse over time. But there are things you can do, like use lubricants. It hasn't been a problem, yet. I'm almost considering ending this relationship rather than go through all of the stuff that I may be going through and having to explain everything to him.Because it would be so much more fun to go through this alone and unsupported? If you always do this with relationships, then I think you are due for some serious self-examination, at the least. If you value the relationship, it may be worth the risk to let him know what's happening. The onset of peri, in my case, came around the time I was launching a relationship with a man 18 years younger than myself. He was not only understanding, but sometimes fascinated to be let in on what he perceived as a 'women's secret." We're no longer together, but the relationship ran its own course, and we're still best friends, so I have no regrets. I feel like I'm too young to go through this, yet I know it's inevitable.No you're not too young. It 'hit' me when I was just 48 and started the 'irregular' periods saga but looking back I did have some earlier signs which I simply hadn't associated with perimeno. Some women start this passage as early as 35 so you shouldn't feel bad about telling your partner about it. Younger men [IME] are better educated about female anatomy and problems and often more supportive and sympathetic than those who were protected from 'this stuff'. All
you need to tell him so far is that you're periods are more frequent because
you think you're entering perimenopause and that this is probably causing
the alterations in your skin too. Unless he wants to have children with
you, this shouldn't be alarming. Emphasize that it's a phase just like
puberty NOT a disease.
Everyone goes through menopause, just like everyone goes through puberty. You're in the right age group. It doesn't happen over night anon I think we all feel this way at first. At 47, you're right in the most usual age zone for the first signs of peri to begin making themselves known -- and we hear from *much* younger women who are going through the same thing. As I said, relax. You're not going to turn "old" overnight. If you can think of this as a time of change, you may find it an opportunity for great personal growth. You're
right, it's inevitable -- we're built to do this. Reading, learning and
taking advantage of the support you can find in forums like this one will
all help you move through the change with grace and good humor.
I suppose I'll know more when I talk to my doctor, but sometimes, you just know your own body.Absolutely! You may also find that some reading will mean that you know more than your doctor especially when it comes to making decisions about how to manage this natural change. My mother and older sister both had hysterectomies so they wouldn't be helpful as to what age they would have experienced this.There doesn't seem to be a strong link anyway. 51 is given as the average age [in the west] for full, natural, menopause but there are many here who have experienced it sooner or later than that. HTH [hope this helps] Joanna |