Menopause, irregular periods and what you can do.
Probably the first sign of menopause is changes in your period as it comes and goes when it wants. If you had a hysterectomy, your signs might be different. I had a total hysterectomy. My cervix and uterus were removed. The ovaries stayed.
Skipping periods during perimenopause is typical and expected. Often, menstrual periods will skip a month and return, or skip several months and then start monthly cycles again for a few months. Periods also tend to happen on shorter cycles, so they are closer together. Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible. Take a pregnancy test if you have skipped a period but aren't sure you've started the menopausal transition.
A missing or absent period is the simplest sign of menopause. The significant complication is that you have no idea when or where your period may start again. Sadly, this is a cause of embarrassment for women. To deal with this, some women have had an Endometrial ablation, a procedure to remove a thin layer of tissue (endometrium) that lines the uterus, which has been performed to stop or reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. But it is only done on women who do not plan to have any children in the future.
The goal of endometrial ablation is to reduce menstrual flow. In some women, menstrual flow may stop altogether.
The procedure is not surgery, so there will not have any incision. Instead, your doctor puts small tools through your vagina to reach your uterus.
There are a few things wrong with this procedure. First, ONLY about 3 in 10 women will see a significant reduction in their menstrual bleeding. From what women have told me, the ablation is a nasty procedure, and it barely works? Why torture yourself?
Quoted from the National Library of Medicine:
"At first, total endometrial ablation seemed extremely safe in the short term. However, as time passed, certain unique long-term complications became evident. The problem is that after this procedure, intrauterine scarring and contracture can occur. Any bleeding from persistent or regenerating endometrium behind the scar may be obstructed and cause problems such as central hematometra, cornual hematometra, post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome, retrograde menstruation, and potential delay in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. The incidence of these complications is probably understated because most radiologists and pathologists have not been educated about the findings to make the appropriate diagnosis of cornual hematometra and post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome."
They come up with this after using us as guinea pigs for how many decades.
And then there is "they weren't educated enough to read the films"?
Here is part of an article from the OBG Project
The full article is here. https://www.obgproject.com/2019/12/12/what-are-the-risk-factors-for-endometrial-ablation-failure/
The following complications are associated with endometrial ablation failure
· Younger age
· Prior tubal ligation
· Preexisting dysmenorrhea (pronounced dis-mehn-er·ee·uh) (painful menstruation, typically involving abdominal cramps.)
· The strongest predictor of the 3 was preexisting dysmenorrhea
· Authors suggest that endometriosis or adenomyosis may be the underly mechanism resulting in heavy menses
· Ablation may relieve a symptom and not the cause
· Obesity and the presence of large submucous myomas may also be associated with failure
The authors suggest more research is required to understand the role of these factors in ablation failure.
That sounds very complicated simply to get rid of your period, and it may not even work!
Another choice is the hysterectomy. The following is from the University of Colorado, which appears better informed about the subject than the Mayo Clinic based on my reading.
The full article is here: https://obgyn.coloradowomenshealth.com/services/surgeries/hysterectomy/partial-hysterectomy
"The three types of hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of a woman's uterus, are supracervical hysterectomy, total hysterectomy, and radical hysterectomy.
Supracervical hysterectomy, also known as subtotal or partial hysterectomy, removes the upper portion of the uterus and leaves the cervix in place. This procedure can be used to treat conditions such as endometriosis or for specific urogynecologic procedures.
A total hysterectomy removes all of the uterus, including the cervix. This procedure can be used to treat many conditions, such as heavy menstrual bleeding or uterine fibroids. Depending on the circumstances, the surgeon may also remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) and the fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) during all types of hysterectomy.
Radical hysterectomy, often used to treat certain cancers of the reproductive system, removes all of the uterus, cervix and surrounding tissues, including the upper part of the vagina."
I had a total hysterectomy, but my ovaries were left. As I got older, my periods took up 13 days a month. I missed work, couldn't drive 10 minutes to the store, and every fricking time I got on a plane for a vacation, my period started. Don't even start me on the sheets and mattresses I went through.
I suffered for years with a super heavy period. I was happily married and already had one kid. The then-husband and I agreed to no kids, so I went for a hysterectomy at about 34 or 36. The lousy doctors said no. Just a flat-out no because "You are too young and may want more kids" I flat out knew I never wanted more kids. Hubby flat out did not want any kids. Still, the Doctors, all men, refused me, and I suffered for eight more years until I was "of age" and had it done during the first few years of my new marriage.
I want you to hear this now because if you do not stand up for yourself to your doctor and get a second and third opinion, you could end up as miserable as I was.
So, you have options with your first sign of menopause. You can do nothing or have one of 2 procedures, an ablation or hysterectomy.
No matter what anyone "tells" you, stand up for yourself. Doctors are not bloody Gods and nothing about menopause, including women doctors as much as male doctors.