Do all women go through menopause?

[Haole Girl]

I know I could ask my doctor this, but I'm embarrassed to. And I googled it, but couldn't find the answer.

The reason I ask is, I won't know by my menstrual cycle...since I won't have one due to a partial hysterectomy. And, while watching "The New Adventures of Old Christine" tonight I started to get really scared!

I still don't have symptoms...but now I've decided I never want to go through it!

:scared:

[Bullwinkle925]

1. only the unlucky ones . . .

namely - most of us.


aarrghhh

[Haole Girl]

2. So....

there is a chance it might skip me?

(sorry if I'm being stupid)

[Bullwinkle925]

5. you may have an easier time of it . . .

but, no - some form of menopause will definitely be in the cards.

[Haole Girl]

7. Thanks

Something to look forward to.

:sarcasm:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear KC2...

Yes, all women go through menopause, be it surgical or biological...

I'm not sure just what a partial hysterectomy is, though...

You can PM me if you'd like to explain that one privately...

Don't be scared...

We all come out the other side just fine...

I had surgery...instant menopause...

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

6. Still have my ovaries...

http://www.womentowomen.com/hysterectomyandalternatives/vaginalandpartialhysterectomyoptions.aspx

Thanks :hug:

[Lil Missy]

23. Partial hysterectomy means they take out your uterus but not your ovaries.

Essentially, it means you can still ovulate and don't get thrown into traumatic or immediate menopause.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. What CalPeggy said and

Not all women experience the same menopause symptoms. For some it's very mild, for other it's terrible but for many it's just an annoyance for a few years.

[Haole Girl]

8. Thank you

I'll try to prepare myself then, I guess. Or die before then! (j/k)

[Lil Missy]

9. I had a partial hysterectomy in my 30's too/

I had LOTS of hormonal difficulties for several months after that, but I have never noticed any true menopause symptoms since then. And I am in my 50's.

I did have hot flashes for a while in my 40's, but that was diagnosed as HPB and subsequent HBP medication, and I have not had them since.

[Haole Girl]

13. So.... and please forgive me if this is too personal....

Hey, I'm going to send you a PM, if that is ok. Ok?

[Lil Missy]

55. I don't consider it too personal at all. Nor am I at all sensitive about it.

But no, I have not noticed any menopausal symptoms at all since my partial hyster in my 30's. I did have some "power surges" in my 40's, but once I got on BP meds they went away.

I don't know if I have gone through menopause or not for sure. I just assume that I have since I am in my 50's now.

[Road Scholar]

10. My wife did! Jesus Christ, did she ever!!! LOL I wasn't all that bad,

but we liked to kid her. On good days. :hide: :rofl:

[Haole Girl]

14. Thanks

Good to know you survived it! lol :D

[Road Scholar]

35. Most of that stuff is made up BS. She had a few hot flashes,

couple of attitudes, but mostly we laughed about growing old together. Men have their own version too. But ours is mostly just for attention. Don't worry, you ain't blazing any new trails.:pals:

[Haole Girl]

36. Thank you

Sometimes I think I just like to worry.

[Road Scholar]

39. I used to belong to a worry club. Tuesdays @ 4pm

Worry, worry, worry, 1 solid hour of worrying. Then go about your business.
:rofl: :rofl: :hide:

Don't worry SweetPea, you'll be fine.:pals:

[LeftyMom]

11. If you run into trouble, you'll know it.

:shrug:

Yeah, you won't know by your cycles, but if your temperature's all over the place, or you're suddenly queen bitch one minute and weepy the next, or you start throwing furniture around like my high school drama teacher (she was temperamental to start with, so hopefully you won't do that,) that would certainly be a hint.

My Mom has a total hysterectomy and is on hormones, but when some idjit nurse at Kaiser was giving her half her dose and she was essentially menopausal, we all knew something was up. Of course, since she was already on hormones, we just figured she'd lost her mind. ;)

[Haole Girl]

15. What if a person was always like that?

Oh, I'm not talking about myself of course!

:hide:

[KitchenWitch]

12. Peri-menopause is kicking my ass

Although since I had the Novasure done, it is almost tolerable.

[Haole Girl]

16. I'm sorry.... it sounds rough

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

18. Well now that my hemoglobin is back to normal it is not as bad.

I was very close to needing transfusions because of anemia.

[Haole Girl]

21. My older sis had anemia

I know how tired it makes a person. Glad you're doing better. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

25. tired was the least of it.

I was so anemic that I was passing out after walking up half a flight of stairs.

[Breeze54]

17. I can't WAIT to go through it and get it over with!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :D

Besides, it happens over a period of time, it isn't over night.

Power Surge

Celebrating Our 15th Year Online

http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php

An informative and supportive menopause community for women going through the transition
of perimenopause to postmenopause. Not only the physical symptoms, but the psychological
and spiritual changes as well Go here to learn more!

;)

[Haole Girl]

19. I go back and forth about it....

...seems to be something a lot of women do NOT admit to or talk about much. At least, not where I work. I'll check out the website. Thank you! :hi:

[Breeze54]

26. I know what you mean, KC2..

:hug:

[Connonym]

37. I think it's great that we have somewhere like here to come to talk about it

it seems silly to me that it has to be some great big secret, you know? I'm 42 and I've been having symptoms of perimenopause for a couple years, mild hot flashes, heavier periods, more problematic PMS type issues and horrible break outs during that time of the month (ugh). Also recently found out I have large fibroids on my uterus which may have accounted for some of the symptoms of heavy bleeding and cramping. I just started birth control pills that will only give me 4 periods a year -- too soon to know how that's going to work out. But I do know that many women experience very mild almost not noticeable symptoms. My mom never had a hot flash for example. Symptoms vary widely and I think there's a very huge range of what's considered normal. If you're having no symptoms I don't think that's anything to worry about but if you have symptoms that affect your quality of life to a great degree I'd certainly suggest mentioning that to your doctor.

:toast: to sisterhood

[Haole Girl]

38. To sisterhood!

:toast:

[quip]

20. Only the lucky ones

who live long enough to reach it. Something to think about, and for which to be grateful. :hi:

[Haole Girl]

22. Yes

I guess. :hi:

[quip]

24. My wife is having hot flashes these days. One night we BOTH woke up completely drenched!

:D

[Haole Girl]

27. How old is she?

If you don't mind me asking?

[quip]

28. Not at all: 46.

[Haole Girl]

29. I'm 46... hmm...

Guess it will hit me when it's my time. Thanks! :hi:

[Breeze54]

30. It can start when women are in their thirties or not

until later on in life. I still am not sure if I'm going through it and I'm 53. ;)

[seabeyond]

69. 46 here and i swear i have just started having hot flashes last two weeks

and comin on strong. has been the weirdest. first couple days told a friend, ... i think... feels so odd. having one now. four/five a day. but i have been waking every night the last week and i have never done that. before i have a tough time going to bed, but once asleep, that is it. been waking middle of night. restless

saw the 46 and had to share

[Missy Vixen]

76. I have the waking up in the middle of the night thing, too

I've discovered that if I wear socks to bed, I sleep more soundly.

I also have had a couple of hot flashes. I'd like to think of them as a "power surge", too.

Cranky? Irritable? Craving chocolate? Ohhh. Yeahhh. I should also explain that I have discovered women in their forties have a lot in common with eighteen-year-old guys.

On the flip side, though, I saw Aretha Franklin in Chicago about fifteen years ago. She said that she was gaining weight because she quit smoking. She said she'd be taking the weight off with "Slim-Fast and young men." I can now COMPLETELY appreciate what she was talking about. :woohoo:

Julie

[seabeyond]

78. lol lol julie

i think you are right. on all above.

[shanti]

65. exactly!

good way to put a positive spin on it :hi: i'm SOOOOOO glad that i'm done with the pause:)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. The only way to avoid menopause is to die young

It's part of the life cycle.

[Haole Girl]

33. Thank you

It wasn't very clear when I read about it. :hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. Most animals do NOT have menopause

My mom kept an unspayed female dog for years, and she asked the vet if the dog would ever go through menopause, and the vet said that there was no such thing for dogs. So this dog, who was noticeable old, was still going into heat.

I'd say we're lucky that it happens. Who wants to risk pregnancy in old age?

[undeterred]

32. I'm thinking of going around it instead of through it.

:shrug: Join me?

[Haole Girl]

34. Ok...

Tell me how! lol

[undeterred]

43. Keep too busy to focus on it I guess.

I really haven't thought about it. Its something we have absolutely no control over so I just figure don't worry unless there's a problem.

[Haole Girl]

45. That is a very healthy strategy

And after I felt like crap today, from my lazy weekend, I know you have the very best advice there! Thank you.

:pals:

[HeresyLives]

41. Menopause is wonderful.

Something to be looked forward to and enjoyed.

From 13 to 56, and suddenly FREEDOM. I love it!

[Haole Girl]

42. So you've been through it?

Welcome to DU, btw! :hi:

[HeresyLives]

44. Yes, I've been through it

and it's wonderful. Finally an end to years of periods and the inconvenience thereof.

And thank you for the welcome. It's the first one I've gotten. :D

[undeterred]

46. My neurologist promised me no more migraines

and that was 20 years ago. Well recently I asked him- no more migraines after menopause, right?

And he said, well, about that... some of my post-menopausal patients are still having them. And I said I am going to throw something at you if I do!

He raised my chances of continuing migraines from 0 to 50%!

[Haole Girl]

48. Have you ever tried bio feedback while in a completely dark room?

I had pretty good success getting rid of extremely bad headaches, that way, a couple of times.

:hug:

[kimmerspixelated]

79. I've heard some women's migraines stop, but

I'm 52 in peri I guess, and I can stand the night sweats and mood swings- but the migraines!!!-now occur during the first coupla days, and they are wicked with vomiting. If I didn't religiously take my magnesium, they would probably be much worse.Also Ginger Tea is my friend! I will also start with folic acid after what I've read. Calcium and D also help. What scares me is one woman said that they were worse after menopause, so I hope that I will be one of the lucky ones to completely say goodbye to headaches after it ends!

[Breeze54]

50. Welcome to DU, HeresyLives !

:hi:

[HeresyLives]

51. Thank you Muchly!

:rofl:

I appreciated that. I'm still laughing in fact.

[Breeze54]

52. I'm laughing too and

I have my period... from hell!! :evilfrown: :rofl:

:P See? And I'm in a good mood!

Maybe I'm preggers? :P :sarcasm:

:rofl:

[HeresyLives]

53. I always figured

ALL periods were from hell, although I never had a bad mood because of it, in particular. Only from the mess and the problem.

There has GOT to be an easier way to be reproductive!

:-)

[Skittles]

88. ARGH, HERESY

DOES ANY WOMAN NEED 528 CHANCES TO BECOME PREGNANT? :o

[China_cat]

47. You'll go through it but every woman is different

when it comes to symptoms. I never had a hot flash. Not one. Yes, I had mood swings but they were no worse than pms, just a few days longer each month. You may never experience any perimenopause problems.

My biggest problem was that I'd have a period every 15 days for 3 or 4 months and then go almost 6 months without one. Then one day I realized that I hadn't had one in 18 months and it was all over.

[Haole Girl]

49. Thank you

Glad to hear it was not bad for you.

[FloridaJudy]

54. Well yes.

If women live long enough, eventually their ovaries will stop making cyclic hormones, and their periods will stop (if they still have a functioning uterus).

But other symptoms may be variable. I somehow managed a complete surgical menopause at 41 without a single hot flash. But the weight gain and insomnia were bothersome. Some women breeze though it without the least discomfort, and some are miserable for years.

Medical studies have shown that Asian women seem to have an easier time, but nobody's sure if that's genetic or due to lifestyle.

[drmeow]

56. They think it is the soy

Soy has been shown to help and Asian women eat more soy.

[FloridaJudy]

58. Soy does have some estrogenic properties

But Asian women also tend to be slimmer and more fit than their European/American counterparts. And in certain parts of Asia old people are still treated as wise and experienced - rather than as nuisances who have outlived their usefulness - which could contribute to better psychological adjustment to the process.

[drmeow]

85. Excellent points. n/t

[drmeow]

57. I am currently going through menopause

I had some hot flashes (which I actually found terribly amusing since I'm always cold - my husband and I had a good laugh about it) which have completely gone away with Estroven, an over the counter treatment.

I've always been a moody bitch so can't tell if that's changed :rofl: Seriously, I think I'm more irritable but I'm not sure if that is the menopause, the job I hate, the current US government, or the lack of clubbing/dancing (probably all of them).

[Breeze54]

60. I'm cold, I'm hot, I'm bitchy, I'm horney... what else is new?

:P

But I'm not risking my health and breast cancer by taking any drugs to "fix" something

that is a natural process. No way in hell! Not me.

[seabeyond]

70. hey... i am with you

after listening too many years to older women experience, and now hearing controversial info.... natural, we all will just endure.

[NMDemDist2]

59. at some point menses will stop

symptoms and their severity will vary

some women breeze right though, I still have night sweats after 7 years

:shrug:

[Lady Freedom]

61. Kick!

[RebelOne]

62. I went through menopause without any problems.

No hot flashes, nothing. Menstrual cycle slowly went away over a period of two years.

[Lil Missy]

63. I am in my 50's, and didn't even notice menopause. n/t

[spinbaby]

64. Menopause was nothing

It was the years just BEFORE menopause that were a killer. Once your cycle stops, all evens out and is good.

[shanti]

66. mine's been over for 2 years now

WOO HOO! :woohoo: the peri-menopause is the worst part, and mine was relatively mild. hotflashes, yes, but mild. mood swings, yes - mild. the only part i don't like about menopause is that i seem to have gained weight in my stomach that simply will NOT go away no matter what!

[pitohui]

67. as far as we know but my nurse told me something scary on my last office visit

she informed me that there were women in my ob/gyn's practice who have still not gone thru menopause and they are approaching age 60

in theory, and for all of time and human history, if a woman lived long enough, then eventually she would go thru the change and no longer have periods or any risk (however tiny, and it must be tiny, at 58) of pregnancy

however, if something has changed, that would cause some women to never undergo menopause in a normal lifespan ... it's too soon for us to be sure of it yet

the assumption as of now is that these women will go thru menopause sooner or later

if i hear of any cases where a woman is still having menses at age 60, i'll get back to you

right now i feel as if i'm living in enough of a spooky science fiction story as it is!

anyone else heard anything like this? i was kind of hoping to be done with this by now, i had hot flashes for approx. one year and then no more hot flashes, but my periods are more frequent and more bloody than ever

[Lil Missy]

68. Maybe you should see a Dr about that.

:shrug:

[pitohui]

73. i did see the doctor

however the doctor is not going to share gossip about his other patients with me, it's probably not really professional

[spinbaby]

72. Thre was a story in the news a couple of years ago...

..about some poor woman who had had her tubes tied decades before and unexpectedly found herself pregnant with twins in her late 50s.

[pitohui]

74. that's horrible

can you imagine?

actually my conversation came up in context of a certain low dose pill that is supposed to be safe for older women all the way thru menopause

both the doctor and the nurse assure me it's safe but still...the thought that i even have to be worried about pregnancy at my age is extremely depressing

[FloridaJudy]

87. There've always been wide variations

In the age at which women normally went through menopause. The oldest "natural" pregnancy (i.e. achieved with recourse to reproductive technology) that led to the birth of a healthy infant occurred in a 57 year old woman, so it's not been unknown in the past. Normal menopause can start as early as the late thirties, and some women go on having regular periods until their late fifties.

That said, it is somewhat worrisome to me that the average age of puberty has been dropping dramatically in the US. It used to be, when I first went in to women's health, that a nine year old who started having periods was a rarity that demanded a close endocrinology investigation. These days such early puberty is not at all uncommon. Something in our environment is making girls start menstruating earlier and earlier, and on average, the earlier a woman goes through puberty, the more likely she is to have a delayed menopause.

Is it hormones in our meat? Estrogen-like substances in the water and food supply? Or a life-style that encourages weight gain in children and adolescents (usually heavy girls get their periods earlier)? This could be scary: the longer a woman menstruates regularly, the greater the risk of certain health problems (and the less risk of others, so it's not uniformly grim).

I just fear that something in our environment is performing an out-of-control experiment on our endocrine systems.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

71. I'm suffering from mentalpause...

I think it happens right before menopause. :evilgrin:

[Ramsey]

75. Yes

All women go through menopause, at an average age of about 50. What do you mean by "partial hysterectomy"? Did they leave the ovaries only? Leave the cervix? Leave part of the uterus?.

If you did not have your ovaries removed, then you will go through menopause at the age you would have regardless of whether you have a uterus or not. Menopause is basically ovarian failure, due to depletion of all of your eggs, which triggers the hormone centers in the brain to stop producing your cyclical hormones. You will typically still have the same type of menopausal symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, dry skin, etc. These will signal that you are going through menopause since you cannot tell about your cycles.

[Haole Girl]

81. By partial or also called LASH...

the only thing removed was the uterus.

Thank you for your info. :hi:

[Genevieve]

82. What Ramsey said ---

You have ovaries. Your ovaries will stop producing eggs. That is what menopause is. You can't escape it.

[Contrary1]

77. Mine was chemo and medication induced...

Went through about four years of off and on (mostly off) hot flashes. Weirdest thing, though; my worst flashes were in the winter! Just stepped outside for a few and melted all the snow in the neighborhood.
The upside to it is that you can use the mentalpause excuse for just about anything and get away with it. :evilgrin:

[Taverner]

80. Not women who previously had a hysterectomy

Did I spell that correctly?

[pitohui]

84. yes, they do, they have a surgical menopause

it's still menopause

for me, as i have risk factors for osteoporosis, then natural menopause is considered to give me a better chance aga. future osteoporosis than surgical menopause -- but damn it sure takes a long time sometimes! i guess that's the point, the body has more time to acclimate

[Tuesday Afternoon]

83. Do you know of a way to go around it?

Over it? Under it? :D

:shrug:

[Skittles]

86. I will just KICK ITS ASS, Tuesday

yes INDEED