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[Echinacea]

Hi ladies
For the last three years, my periods have stopped in November, and re-started in March/April.
Am 54 now, so when they started again this April, was really surprised.  They then come every 4 weeks, lighter than they used to be, but still very annoying.
I also have hot flushes from December to February, then they go away.
Have been reading this forum for quite a while and no-one else has mentioned this happening to them.
Just got to wondering if I am over sensitive to daylight hours (like animals hibernating!).
It does not matter much, just will be wondering next March/April if it will all start again......
Anyone else had this?
Echinacea

[English Rose]

YES - this happened to me for two or three years before I started HRT.  I wonder if it's the body's way of conserving eggs/ fertility? I'm always a person who likes summer much more than winter (well, normal summers anyway - we don't seem to get them anymore!) and always have a better sense of wellbeing when the longer days come along. However now I'm on HRT I'm as regular as clockwork - it's great being able to predict when my periods will be, as my cycle was always a bit unpredictable even when I was younger; and in the peri-meno phase it was a total pain not knowing where I was and having to take STs everywhere "just in case". All the best x

[Taz2]

That's interesting - never heard of that before! The hot flushes disappear because you are having periods again. Normally they reduce when a period is on its way so at least you can have a few months flush free. A lot of us on here would love to hang on to periods for ever as it is only when they finally stop altogether that the meno symptoms increase. It's not the same for everyone of course.

Taz x

[English Rose]

For me the hot flushes didn't start until last year - had lots of other horrid meno symptoms while my periods were all over the place though......feeling better on HRT, not perfect but a big improvement.

[CLKD]

Does it depend on where on the Planet you live, i.e. more daylight hours?  Or do you alter your diet significantly during the Winter months?  Good question!

[English Rose]

Really don't know CLKD, I guess our country (UK) has more of a dilineation (difference) between winter and summer for daylight hours unlike some countries nearer to the equator. Doubt whether it's anything to do directly with diet -but I'm no expert in these matters; maybe as we get nearer the menopause/older our body uses more vitamins/minerals in winter to maintain normal daily living activities and a healthy immune system, so ovulation is placed on the back burner as our eggs decrease?? I always feel like hibernating in the winter anyway!!

[pixie]

I have had similar, only periods just in the winter!  Must be squirrelling the eggs away whilst hibernating! I was born in the summer if anything to do with it! When I was 47, I first went without a period for 3 months, then about a year later no period for 3 months. The hot flushes started last year, when I was 49, in April. The hot flushes and sleep were bad for the summer but not really noticeable during the autumn winter  No period until October, then every month,  November, December, January, then no periods since January.  Hot flushes now increasing since last month.  Now 51. I am beginning to think this is the end of it.  However my sister had a period every one year for 3 years and stopped at 54.

[Ivy]

Amazing. Maybe early summer periods make sense in that if you got pregnant your baby would be a spring baby like all the other animals!!

[Taz2]

Apart from squirrels 

[English Rose]

There you go then, I'm obviously an old cow and not a squirrel  (I nearly said sheep but then I've never been one to follow the crowd - so must be a cow!)

[CLKD]

It's nice to be anonymous but it would be nice to be able to share more with professionals who deal with our problems!  Should we begin in our GP Surgeries maybe?

[pixie]

As well as seasonal differences with egg release and hormone fluctuations etc, I wonder if a full moon contributes to hormones going more out of synch?!

[Hurdity]

Just came across this article when looking for something else - which I think is relevant to the discussion - seems to be linked to sunlight and Vit D increasing oestrogen levels - so there's your answer!

Seems like this could raise the oestrogen levels in someone peri-menopausal, sufficiently to kick start periods again....

Haven't gone back to the study or looked in detail but interesting....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2093624/Sunny-break-alternative-IVF-How-sunshine-vitamin-help-boost-fertility.html

Hurdity x

[Echinacea]

Thanks for that information, Hurdity!
It seems that in summer we have increased amounts of vitamin D in the body, which in turn, increases oestrogen.  Probably enough then to kick start the periods again!
Perhaps better take a vitamin D supplement during the winter this year, as I always feel better during summer.  Maybe this is the reason!
May also invest in a light box.
Does anyone know the recommended daily dose of vitamin D?
Echinacea

[Babylon Burning]

Oh how spooky, this has just happened to me for the first time.  Periods seemed to stop last November and then came back with a vengance in April and are now bang on my usual cycle.  I never thought to mention it here, I thought it would be just be me.  Interesting to see what happens this year.