Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Lyonesse on October 15, 2024, 08:14:03 PM
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I have searched unsuccessfully all over the internet for information on my issue, so I am hoping someone may be able to help me in here.
I had my last period in December 2022, but since then my body has continued to try to ovulate many times. I can only seem to go a few months before I get another surge of estrogen which can last for a few weeks before eventually dropping off again. I can get very tender nipples and varying amounts of fertile EW cervical mucus. My hot flushes disappear during these episodes. I don't take HRT or herbal supplements. I get the symptoms of ovulation without actually ovulating.
When I look at graphs online they never show fluctuating hormone levels in postmenopause. I have no idea if this is normal and happens to others or if it's abnormal. I find it very frustrating as my body starts to adapt to the lower estrogen levels but is then thrown off by being fed higher estrogen again. Once it drops off I get strong menopause symptoms for weeks and I'm pretty fed up of having to keep going through this. I'm also starting to feel concerned about what this might be doing to my womb lining. I don't have any strange symptoms but I'm wondering if this will be causing thickening and possible issues for the future.
I would be grateful for any ideas or advice. Thank you.
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Yes , you still continue to have cycles in menopause. Your body still fluctuates with hormones, but not enough to give you a period.
I still get the mucus discharge sometimes.
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I'm 61 and still get surges, I always know as my mood diminishes and anxiety kicks in but it is less now but in my mid to late 50s I'd get extremely sore breasts,so like violet says it CAN continue and for quite some time
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Thank you, Violet and jaypo for letting me know. I'm kind of surprised that it's normal, but relieved. Postmenopause isn't quite what I thought it would be! I guess I will just have to be patient with the continuing process.
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I'm afraid so,it can continue for many years,there are women on here well into their 70s still having symptoms :(
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Hormones can wax and wane ......... ovaries may continue to seep out enough oestrogen for us to become aware of different feelings.
How R U otherwise?
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CLKD, I've been in an estrogen phase for 3 weeks now so I have no hot flushes and I'm sleeping well. I know what is waiting for me when the estrogen drops again though: migraine, the return of the flushes and insomnia. I don't have any womb issues to my knowledge, but I still wonder what is happening to the lining when I have these long phases of estrogen.
Jaypo, the thought of symptoms going on into the seventies is daunting, but it's helpful to be a bit more realistic about things. To now know that the ovaries can still keep going. I honestly thought that they just stopped postmenopause, end of story.
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Lyonesse, I don't think the womb lining alters postmenopause (unless on a type of hrt), as before, the womb lining thickens each month and if no pregnancy it comes out as a period, but as you're not having periods there's not this blood to shed.
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I still have a cycle of 25 or 26 days where I bleed for the first five or six days then have three weeks with no bleeding.
I was confirmed by uterine scan as post menopausal last year because my not-periods were concerning my GP, I had to come off tibolone (alternative type of hrt) during the waiting time and it was awful, yes I stopped having fake periods, but every menopausal symptom came hit me at once, there was no taper off.
After I was confirmed as definitely post menopausal I was allowed to return to tibolone, thankfully, I've been great ever since, but started bleeding every month again despite the fact tibolone has no cycle or breaks, so it is definitely my own body doing it
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Peri-menopause: those 10-ish years where we begin to notice our bodies changing. Periods come and go; anxiety levels may become problematic. Once we have been without a bleed for 2 years we can consider us into menopause proper.
Menopause = last period. If 1 is on HRT then 1 cannot be certain if menopause has been reached, without stopping all treatments. Ovulation may well continue as the ovaries, even when removed if the attaching 'stump' is left, may well continue to pump out hormone. I was never aware of when my body ovulated ::)
If after reading menopause any bleeding should be investigated on an 'in case' basis.
Let us know how you get on.