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[Shaon1978]

Hi everyone

Sorry for to much info at this time on a morning but I have woken up this morning and am bleeding a bit I haven't had a period for 8 months the gp said I could possibly have the odd show, am so confused is this normal 

Sharon x

[Taz2]

Hi Shaon - yes it can be perfectly normal. If you go longer than a year without a period then you do have to have it investigated but lots of us have gone almost to the year before beginning periods again. It can be a very confusing time. Of course if you are on HRT this too can cause breakthrough bleeding. The only other time it does need to be checked is if you have bleeding after sex - important point.

Taz x

[Shaon1978]

Hi taz

So if u have been told your in post menopause state your still able to bleed?

Sharon

[Taz2]

You are not post menopause until you have had a year without a period Shaon.

Taz x

[Shaon1978]

I am so confused don't think they have explained things properly to me x

[Hurdity]

Hi Shaon

What are you confused about?

The thing about post-menopause is that you are post-menopausal once you've had your last period, and as Taz says you don't know that it is your last until 12 months have passed. Therefore you may well be post-menopausal now, but you can't say that you are.

Taz explained why the 12 month cut off - because most women will be post-menopausal after stopping for 1 year. Even so, a substantial minority of women actually have a proper period more than 12 months since their last one - in fact one or two have reported this on here.

Therefore if you have been told you are in a post-menopausal state from blood tests - you still don't need to investigate any bleeding ( apart from after sex as Taz says) because you are within the 12 months and your hormones could still be fluctuating now and again - unless you have other symptoms that worry you as well as the bleeding, such as unexplained or unaccustomed pain etc

If you have been given this status of post-menopause from one blood test eg FSH - this is not sufficient to say that you are post-menopausal. FSH values can go into the post-menopausal range even while women are still peri-menopausal.

Hope this hasn't confused you further!!!

Hurdity x

[BrightLight]

Hi Shaon1978

I am really sorry you are feeling so confused, I hope I can help a bit.  I think you said you were told you have POF Premature Ovarian Failure.  My understanding is that this is slightly different from a 'natural' menopause - the result for both is the same, end of ovulating and periods, but the pattern of how and why it happens can be a little different.  Your fertility is not consistent but not on a natural decline as per 'normal' menopause.

I don't think you need to be concerned about the bleeding. Hormone levels can and do fluctuate in both Premature Ovarian Failure and 'natural' menopause.

The Dr presumably tested your FSH and they were at post menopausal levels. In a regular menopause these very high levels are only reached consistently towards the end of menstruation, they rise in an attempt to get the ovaries to release eggs.  In POF FSH levels can rise to these really high levels for quite some time and you still get periods.

"Keep in mind that you may end up with FSH levels that are well in the post-menopausal range, but still be getting a period.  This is one of the things that differentiates premature menopause or premature ovarian failure from "regular" menopause" from earlymenopause.com

Even though the technical definition of menopause is not having your period for at least 6 months to a year, it's not uncommon for young women going premature ovarian failure to begin ovulating again and get a period.

This must be really confusing for you, hopefully others who have had POF will come and chat, I am in early menopause and have been a bit confused too, that's why I have been reading a lot. When is your appointment with the consultant?  Hopefully that will give you some reassurance and understanding x

[BrightLight]

A lot of information for you, but there is a section on this website about POF and I have copied the following, try not to worry.

"Following a diagnosis of POF, especially when no specific reason has been identified, the ovaries can suddenly start working again, an egg can be released and pregnancy is possible. Therefore women who do not desire pregnancy should be advised that contraception should be used. "

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-fertility.php

[Shaon1978]

Thank you all for your help

Bright light I have an appointment at the hospital gynae dept 2nd April.

How old are you?

X

[BrightLight]

Hi - I am 44 and not really a POF situation, not being investigated and not clear cut, however, I was led to believe I have been in menopause for a long while due to high FSH but I had my periods still, with no changes and Ovarian Failure was mentioned (?)  That is why I was reading a lot about it.  I am now not sure if this IS my situation and will need a second blood test.

I just wanted to say something because I really do get the impression that POF and early menopause for women in their 20's and 30's is not supported enough -there are potentially more complex reasons for it happening and fertility issues, as well as the emotional ones.  It needs a different kind of support, although ultimately it is the same as 'normal' menopause, I think it is experienced differently by younger women.

From reading your posts it sounds like you are being looked after with all these aspects but it might take some time to get a clear picture so that you feel you can come to terms with it all.  Take care x