Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Mum of Three on March 21, 2025, 05:08:05 PM
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During my forties, my husband had the snip, I came off the pill, my periods became heavy and I had the first of 3 Mirena coils fitted. My periods did not stop but they became lighter and more manageable.
I started a low dose HRT aged 48 due to menopause symptoms; I was becoming snappy and suffered from anxiety. It worked and I returned to my normal calm self.
I had my last Mirena coil removed about 5 years ago (age 58). I was still having periods but they were fairly light.
I tried to come off the HRT but when I stopped I had bladder problems. I was getting up 5-6 times to pee. It was investigated with a cystoscopy and an MRI scan. Everything was normal so we decided I would stay on HRT indefinitely, on the lowest dose possible. This allows me to get a decent nights sleep.
Meanwhile, my periods continued normally until about 3 years ago when I had 3 heavy periods within 6 weeks. This was investigated promptly with an ultrasound and biopsy. It concluded there was no cancer but I was put on a waiting list for a hysteroscopy. I had this about 18 months ago, it revealed a polyp at the neck of the womb and a very healthy womb. The lining was the thickness they would expect in a 35 year-old. At this stage my periods varied between every 1 - 3 months. 4 months ago the very heavy periods returned. I've now had 2 in the last 3 weeks. I have to change a super absorbency tampon every 3 hours. At night I have to use a tampon and night sanitary towel AND change everything about 4:00am. If I go back to the doctors I'm expecting him to say, it's been investigated and there is nothing wrong. But my view is a 63 year old still having periods is not normal!! Has anyone experienced something similar? What should I do because I'm fed up with this.
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I too would be fed up, having suffered with extremly heavy periods as well as excruciating pains. :welcomemm:
Have U been treated for vaginal atrophy ? Do read the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads on the Forum. Make notes ;-).
Hopefully some1 will be along with proper advice ::) but didn't want to read and run.
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Hi which hrt are you using at the moment ?
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Hi Mum of Three. Are you still on HRT and what type? If so then I would think that the periods are actually 'bleeds' due to being on oestrogen which stimulates the womb lining.
Taz x :welcomemm:
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Femoston 0.5/2.5. Because it is continuous and low dose I’ve been told it is not the cause of periods at 63.
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This does sound strange. I take it the polyp was removed and sent for histology?
Taz x
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Some women aren't menopausal til their early 60s, if that's you there's nothing you can do but wait. I've had one aged 64.
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I’ve been thinking the same as sheila99, that you may not be post menopause.
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When taking any form of replacement 1 cannot know if 1 is 'through' peri and into menopause = last bleed. Ever.
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Haven't we got a thread on here somewhere about late menopause? :-\
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Thanks for all replies so far. The biopsies and the polyp were tested and everything was OK so the doctor told me not to worry. The late menopausal thread seems to only go up to aged 56. In-between periods I feel fine, no brain fog, night sweats etc for which I feel very grateful. I’m thinking of looking into changing my HRT to a vaginal gel and see if that helps.
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Haven't we got a thread on here somewhere about late menopause? :-\
Yes, well remembered, Taz!:)
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,36765.msg588828.html#msg588828
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I don't think this is nearly as uncommon as the gynaecology textbooks (written by men) would have us believe.
If the average age of menopause is 51, and there are women experiencing it much younger than this, then some have to be significantly later in order for the average to be 51.
I also believe that when people talk about women living into old age without hormone therapy in previous centuries, who were outliers but definitely existed, the majority were likely to be individuals with a naturally later age of menopause.
Now, people with far less genetic and resource advantage are able to survive, who would always have had a lower quantity of eggs, hence the average age of menopause has decreased, but there are still those like you with a longer reproductive span.
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Also it was not talked about when I was growing up in the 50s, 60,s 70s. As well as women having lots of children as the body is designed to do, some may have gone straight into menopause?
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Hello, I'm new here, have to say really relieved to see many women still having periods and not through the menopause in their 60s...I am 61 have experienced heavy clots moreso now then proper periods. I feel fine, no emotional problems or depression. I have never taken birth control, no children, no partners...single and living with my dog....so I haven't had much contact with worldly ways...I have under active thyroid, kidney failure and had polycystic ovaries from my teens. I seem to be going along nicely it was just this period thing I wasn't too sure about... thankfully here there are other women too experiencing similar. Many thanks.
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Hi DippyHippy
Welcome to the forum.
Yes, it seems more common than people think that periods are still happening beyond the age of 60. There is a thread on here about late menopause.
Have a read and ask any questions .
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Thank you. Bit new to technology too... interesting to find my way round.