Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Clare11]

Hi there, me and the hubby were discussing this forum a d he is very interested in it as he believes it is helping us both. But he did come up with a good question "how long can the menopause last for, how long will you have to go through this for"?
Any ladies out there who can answer this or is it like " how long is that piece if string"
 

[babyjane]

I had my first hot flush in 2010 at the age of 53 and that was the first 'real' meno symptom although I reckon it was coming for several years before but I didn't know as I had a hysterectomy when I was 38 so no bleeding. 

I now have very few flushes and the ones I have are mild so I guess I am 'coming out the other side' albeit with VA for the rest of my life probably.  At a guess I would think, for me, about 10 - 12 years all told for the main part.

On the other hand I know a lady who can remember her last hot flush, she was 71 years old!

So yes, I think it's as long as a piece of string really. Very individual and personal.

[marras]

My sister is 72 and still gets hot flushes. I'm 66 and also still suffer, however, I've just had a full hysterectomy as part of cancer treatment and am just beginning to realise that the hot flushes are diminishing. I do have a low dose HRT patch though. My GP told me that in some women, the flushes continue forever. I had begun to think that I would be the only red faced corpse on the planet! Great, that your hubby is taking such an interest?

[Dancinggirl]

I believe it is estimated that the average menopause is between 5-7 years and this would be from the start of peri to when meno symptoms subside after post meno. Many of us will get flushes etc for 20 years or more.  We are all different but I would definitely say that once your ovaries start to fail you are basically menopausal for the rest of your life.  There will be the lucky few that have few if any flushes and generally have few meno symptoms, however, I don't believe any of us get off 'scot free', as vaginal atrophy, bone loss etc. will probably happen to every women.  I do believe it has a lot to do with genetics although lifestyle will have an impact.

In my early 50s I stopped HRT due to all the scares and after 3 years there was no reduction in meno symptoms - so went back on HRT.  Now 60, I have stopped systemic HRT (I do use local oestrogen for urogential atrophy) and now life is a little less stressful I am coping with meno symptoms better but I am not expecting these symptoms to subside in the near future.

In the ‘good old days' women were lucky to live long enough to experience the menopause, so one could think of it as a modern problem.  In victorian times a menopausal women might end up in a asylum or hooked on laudanum.  GPs are still dishing out the ADs/SRRIs for meno symptoms and this really has to stop unless depression is diagnosed.

DG x

[Hurdity]

Yep - post-menopause is for ever - following your last period ( if you have it) which is the moment of menopause. If you want to read up on the different stages you can read this paper here on the stages of reproductive ageing:

http://www.imsociety.org/downloads/email_downloads/2012_02_16_1773491/straw10.pdf

If you don't want to read it all then there is a table at the top of p5 which summaries the different stages and how long they can last - which is variable.

As the others have said however - how long symptoms last is a different matter. You won't know unless you want to do the experiment on yourself - which could have you waiting until your 70's! No thanks!!!

As Dancinggirl says there is more to menopause also than just the obvious symptoms of flushes and sweats - so even if these do subside, the later consequences of oestrogen deficiency can be bone loss (leading to osteoporosis), vaginal atrophy, bladder problems, cardiovascular problems etc - which may be attributed to general ageing rather than oestrogen deficiency.

From my perspective - I am glad I had symptoms of hot sweats and flushes during late peri-menopause which meant I started HRT ( I was older than the average age of menopause at just under 54) - because it meant that I started HRT and then read a lot about it, so that I m aware that I am giving myself the benefit of this protection into my 60's.

Hurdity x

[Clare11]

Hi Hurdity,
Thanks for the info. I think I am a late starter, I believe all this seemed to start just after I had turned 54. Though been having hot flushes at night for about 6 years. But no hormones seem to have Gin wappy. Or, I have gone very soft in the head.
Shown hubby the replies and your data and he has gone very quiet. I think he may be going to his doctor ' Rum and coke" just for medical reason's. 
I have welcomed him to the forum too.
x

[Tinkerbell]

My mother still has hot flushes at 80 years old and I think she suffers with VA as she often complains about soreness, but won't see the doctor about it   She had her last period at 51 and has never used HRT.

[clare663]

I reckon it is very different from woman to woman. I was peri for at least 8 years and have been post for nearly 6 yrs and still getting the hot flushes and anxiety. Have tried various forms of HRT but none which suit. Im 50 and hope this will all be over soon but I doubt I will be that lucky!!

[Charlotte ...]

Tinkerbell I had no idea that hot flushes lasted that long 

[babyjane]

they don't always, believe me 

[CLKD]

I have been Lucky!  My periods waxed and waned over about 12-18 months.  Then I had a few months of flushing: after my evening bath I would have an all-over glow of a light mist from my neck to my waist.  This lasted about 30-40 mins. each night.  Also the itching started.  That went eventually though the itchy insteps continues intermittently; always as I get into the bath.

As the oestrogen drops off so muscles become lax which can cause aches and pains.  Over-the-counter pain relief can help.  My biggest problem was vaginal atrophy which fortunately my GP recognised from repeated urine infection-type symptoms, treated, job done ! PHEW!

Men shouldn't be here really  …….. there is one 'letter' for men to be printed off and given over …… tell him to duck? ;-)!  That it isn't his fault as such.  Are there chores that you can distribute to him?  To keep him occupied …..

[Clare11]

Hi CLKD,
Luv your reply re job's for the hubby, I have made a list.
I was just happy to show him that I wasn't going wappy, others out there are having the same symptoms as me and it's the menopause.
Sent him to get me a small G&T, purely medicinal
At least there is still one alcoholic drink I still like and partake in
Still having the hot flushes and bad mood swings, along with anxiety.
I do believe a good chat to the Doc is on order and consider HRT.
 

[Dana]

I came across this article by accident a while ago and I think I meant to post it, but not sure if I did. Anyway, it's interesting that at least one study is accepting that the symptoms don't just end after a few years.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/menopause-related-hot-flashes-night-sweats-can-last-years-201502237745

[Dana]

What annoys me about articles like this though is how much emphasis is always put on "hot flushes". This is always the problem when people talk about menopause. I don't know about anyone else, but I thought hot flushes was all you got in menopause. I was not prepared for the chronic and severe insomnia, and the associated anxiety and depression, that I got. Hot flushes are just part of the problem, and for me was just a minor problem that I would happily put up with if I didn't get the severe insomnia.

[Clare11]

Hi Dana,
I so agree all I thought I was going to suffer was hot flushes. And I could never discuss with my mum as when I started this she was not herself, suffering from Dementia and loss of her husband/my Dad. And then she passed away last year and everything really hit me this year.
If only all we had were hot flushes.