<p>bookreader, not what you asked, but I did get pregnant at 48, delivered a full-term healthy baby at almost 49. Uneventful pregnancy, no high blood pressure, no diabetes. Most people don’t have the opportunity to know this, but pregnancy is the fountain of youth. Everyone commented on how great my skin and hair looked. I felt 20 years younger. I guess it was the progesterone?</p>
<p>That surprise pregnancy is now a 15-yo. He is an absolute delight.</p>
<p>As far as menopause goes, I had periods until about 54, when they just stopped. Never had a hot flash and no other symptoms. It is wonderful not to have to worry about periods! Mine were very painful (until after I had my first baby at 42, after that I never had a cramp again). And it’s great not to have the mess.</p>
<p>Mine got closer together and way heavier. Finally I had an endometrial ablation last year which was a wonderful! Now I get a very short very light period that hardly even counts every 3 months or so. I had a tubal ligation at 32 so no pregnancy fears.</p>
<p>I had a very easy time with the actual menopause…regular periods right up until my last one at age 55. Nothing since (I’m 60). No hot flashes,although I’ve had insomnia for years. One good thing is that if you don’t experience hot flashes with menopause, you’re less likely to experience hot flashes if you are on a hormone inhibitor for breast cancer like Arimidex or Exemestane. So says my oncologist. Yay, one less problem to worry about!</p>
<p>NYMomof2 - pregnancy isn’t all that bad, but it’s the raising them that’s really exhausting! My ‘baby’ is 17 now, so a pregnancy at this stage would really, really be setting back the clock on child rearing. </p>
<p>H’s best friend from childhood remarried almost five years ago (he’s 53 now). His first wife died over ten years ago, and he retired soon after to raise his two children from that marriage. His second wife is ten+ years younger than him, and never married, so she had no children. Darned if they haven’t had two kids in the last three+ years. Whenever we see them, I just cannot imagine having young children in my early fifties; it wears me out thinking about it. But if it works for them, who am I to judge? I just don’t think I could do it (and I doubt my H would be up for it, either). </p>
<p>My H and I got married when he was in his 40s, so he was an older dad. The idea of raising young kids now, with two recently done with college isn’t nearly as appealing to us as helping from time to time with grandkids, which is what we hope to do one day.</p>
<p>One of by buddies got married and had her baby (with some fertility help) at about 50 years of age. She and her H were in 7th heaven. Her much younger H just died, so she is now a single mom with a 14 year old S.</p>
<p>Like the camping trip or travel-induced periods, another trigger for me was having my college-age daughter home. She would be gone for several months and I thought I was done, then she’d come home, and surprise!</p>
<p>My ob/gyn was quite concerned when I had a period 15 months after what I though was my last. Insisted on an endometrial biopsy. An acquaintance had cancer found in this way. So a reminder that bleeding more than a year after menopause is reason to visit the doctor.</p>
<p>Have you tried gym classes or running, biking, etc.? I can’t tell you how much these activities have helped me. And I’m telling you, I am probably one of THE most unathletic people in the world. I really think that exercise/losing weight is the key to feeling young. I just turned 52 and feel awesome. I am in a Cross Fit class and I’m probably the oldest person by 20 or 25 years! But the trainer scales workouts down for me, and everybody cheers me on. No, I will not be doing handstands like the rest of the class, but there’s no reason I can’t do squats, bench pressing, etc. :)</p>
<p>mamabear - interesting to hear somebody else went 15 months only to not be done. My doctor was not concerned (went for a regular check up recently and everything was OK). I do have a history of endometriosis, fibroids, and cysts (which probably contributed to the heavy periods).</p>
<p>I was on again, off again for several years when I was starting menopause. Flights and D being home were triggers for periods, even tho my internist did a hormone level check and said I was definitely in peri menopause or menopause. </p>
<p>It could be nearly a year or longer since the prior period and then a very heavy period. I figured it was just my body trying to sort itself out. </p>
<p>Had a few endometrial ultrasounds to rule out cancer and just when the GYN was thinking of scheduling an ablation, my body decided to stop periods for good. </p>
<p>I simply stopped having periods at 47-1/2. No issues. However, I have friends who had periods that got all out of whack around the time they were going through menopause. I know someone who did get pregnant when she thought she was in menopause. We are all different! </p>
<p>Like you I had slighter periods closer together for a while. Then more spaced apart. And then one day I realized it had been a long time since my last period. I had some warmish flashes, but really it’s all been very easy. Love not having to worry about birth control.</p>
<p>I loved being pregnant, but not enough to try again in my 40s! I also found that after the first pregnancy cramps were never again a problem.</p>
<p>Oh Mathmom - I hope that I’m like you! I’d really like an easy time going through menopause. I know, who wouldn’t?! Medically speaking, my life so far has been blissfully uncomplicated and I’d like for things to continue along this way. </p>
<p>Pregnancy is fine but at this point in time, I’d much prefer chasing after grandkids than my own kids. My two oldest are married so I am hopeful that we’ll get some ‘news’ one of these days. And they live near enough that we’d actually be able to watch them grow up and be part of their lives. Now that will be exciting. Pregnancy in my 50s would certainly be a whole 'nother kind of exciting. lol</p>
<p>What I appreciate about reading all of your stories is how very individual this process is. There is certainly no ‘one way’ that it happens as the range is quite wide and varied. So many details to be aware of and to consider. Thanks so much for being willing to share. It’s not something that I’ve had the opportuntiy to discuss with my ‘in real life’ friends. </p>
<p>MaineLonghorn - I really do need to find an exercise program that will work for me. I’ve been trying so hard to find a walking partner, but haven’t found anyone who can commit to a regular schedule. I was in a zumba class for a while but then the location moved too far for me. </p>
<p>I’m within a few pounds of my ideal body weight, but I do lack strength and stamina. My life is way too sedentary. It’s something I’d like to change, but have not done that yet. </p>
<p>I also had a period after not having it for 18 months. My doctor made me have a biopsy. It was painless and turned out to be fine. I started having my menopause when I was just over 50. I continued to have my period, but would sweat at night and have hot flashes during the day, but it was never unbearable. I am always high strung, so no one ever noticed my mood swing. Sometimes I just feel like getting hold of someone’s neck and wring it, but not too bad.</p>
there are four girls in our family. We went through menopause at ages 50, 48, 40 and 56. Some of us with very bad symptoms while some had almost no symptoms. I have two sisters a year apart. One went through menopause two years before the other one had a baby. Nothing genetic about it in our family. </p>
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