Menopause - What Age?

I am 45 and have been in menopause since I was about 38. It sucks...I tried the Estroven, it was ok. I also tried something called iCool. that worked a little better. Mostly I try to sip water, use a hand fan, or eat a popscicle when I have a really bad hot flash! lol
I am not one for hormone replacement...the health food stores always have great suggestions.
Here is a pretty good article about managing and or reducing symptoms through diet..

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey...

Good luck!

I'm 47 and have never given birth. My daughter is adopted but not due to infertility. I had NovaSure seven years ago due to some nasty fibroids. I saw the list and the only symptoms that apply are the sleeping issues (I haven't slept in forever) and function really well with four hours of sleep per night...type A for sure. I have also had migraines since I was a teen. I don't see this as peri menopause and neither does my doc.

Still need to be on BC because I can't rely on NovaSure and have an "unconventionally" younger, long term, hot boyfriend and would never take chances.

39 was when I started having an occasional hot flash.
The lead up to full menopause (peri-menopause) can take a long time.
You can have symptoms for 10 or 15 years.
My periods have gotten so spaced out for the last few years I have little or no warning before one will start up (maybe I'll get a zit or 2 the day before but it's not a reliable indicator) and it's just a bother at this point.
I'm 51 now (will be 52 in Dec) and if I make it all the way to Apr 23 2014 without having a period I will finally officially be in menopause.
I think I'll want to celebrate!
Estroven helped me through the worst of the hot flashes and night sweats.
I've been losing weight this last year under Dr supervision (I've really needed to - so far I've lost 65 lbs over 10 months) and my hot flashes are back (I didn't have any for almost a year and had stopped taking anything to help with it).
It seems your body fat stores estrogen and releases it as it breaks down.
So the flashes I'm getting now are not helped by taking Estroven at all.
Once I'm down to where I want to maintain a healthy weight the flashes should be gone again.
For now I sleep with a large heating pad sized cooling gel pack that I keep in the fridge during the day.

Great question! I'd love to hear everyone's responses. Around 38, my periods got very heavy. Like stay home one day a month heavy. I ended up having Novasure. So now, I don't get Aunt Flow. Around the same time, I sprouted my first chin hair.
I'm almost 42 and I suspect that I am menopausal, but have not taken the blood tests.

I had my last child at 34. By 36 I had peri menopausal symptoms. Forgetfulness, irritability.

By 10 yrs later I had it full on. Estroven is over the counter. It helps some. A cold glass of ice water by the bed helps with night time hot flashes. Take a sip when it starts.

My oldest and I got chin hairs at the same time :( lol!

Your Gyn is your best friend at this time. The sleeplessness and hot flashes and irritability finally got the best of me and I did a Hormone replacement therapy. The first night I took it, my symptoms were 50 percent better! It takes a while for it to be 100 percent but it was a life saver. I took it for 3 yrs and was really afraid to stop but it's not good to take it any longer so I weaned off it. After that I was basically fine.

I've heard that the earlier you started your period, the earlier you can hit menopause. I think typically your 40's is normal but I started very early so wouldn't be surprised if I started soon (at 39). Being on the pill though masks a lot of the effects so I could be going through it and not know! Planned on discussing with doc on next visit...

I have learned that applying Yam based creams, as directed, is a fabulous way to help most menopausal symptoms. Natural yam creams can be purchased at health food stores.

Eating more yams / sweet potatoes helps as well.

Basically, yams assist the woman's body to naturally produce more estrogen, which naturally wains during menopause, therefore reducing the symptoms.

It seems the average of menopausal onset is declining. I am 52, will be 53 in December, and have not started menopause. I used to have hot flashes, but that was medication induced. I still have regular periods, every 3 weeks to the day :( Allllllllll my girlfriends have gone through menopause, but me. Life is just not fair.

I did speak with my OB about my ever painful ovulation problem, and she basically told me that she doesn't have any 52 year old women complaining of this. She offered to medically induce menopause for me, with a new drug called Lupron. But I opted not to, as a monthly shot of that was about $700, and of course I thought that is a lot of nice shoes I could buy if I just wait it out.

My older sister started at 36. I'm 45 and my hormone levels are dropping a little bit. It's a pretty wide range. Your doc can check your levels and let you know.

41. Just rode things out. No supplements.

I'm 54, and still get a period now and then, but it finally is stopping....we go late in my family. I have other friends that went through menopause in their late 30's. I do get hot every now and then but I don't know if I'd call it a hot flash...otherwise, pretty uneventful

I am 42 and I'm pretty sure it is starting. Ugh. I need to go talk to my doctor.

you're young, but it's not impossible. i first comprehended that i was in the throes of it when i was about 43. but looking back, i realized it had started when i was 41. it never occurred to me that it could be the big M cuz i was too young!
i just got annoyed at my husband for constantly turning up the heat. what was WRONG with that man? couldn't he tell i was roasting at night?
stupid husband.
i didn't want estrogen replacement (and am glad, since i've got friends who did and now have breast cancer!) or anything to do with premarin (unethical) so just made do with black cohosh, soy, yams, and so forth. none of them did much, but any relief was better than nothing. still get an occasional hot flash, but it's mostly over with. sure seems like a long hard row to hoe, though.
:) khairete
S.

I'm 51 and not there yet. My Dr said it's not menopause till your periods are irregular, just perimenopause. Maybe some people are talking about perimenopause ?