
Lower Back Pain, Headaches, Nausea, Hot Flashes, Abdominal Cramps, Spotting. No Periods For A Year. Cause?

Thanks for your query.
You are most probably experiencing the peri menopausal transition.
This indicates the time period that links the reproductive years (regular menstrual cycles, fully functioning ovaries, highest chance for pregnancy) to menopause (no menstrual cycles for 1 year, lower ovarian hormone production, average age approximately 51 years). During the menopause transition, the length of menstrual cycles often changes and women may skip their menstrual periods more often. The duration of the menopausal transition varies from woman to woman but averages about five years.
It is characterized by subtle hormonal changes, with progressively falling levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for the majority of symptoms.
Symptoms vary greatly from person to person. They may occur at different times and with different degrees of severity. Many different types of bleeding patterns can occur. Some women will have irregular periods that are closer together at first and then farther apart. Some will go several months without periods and then have some bleeding on and off. Some women will have heavier, irregular bleeding because of a lack of ovulation. Others may have small amounts of bleeding because of a thinner lining of the uterus. Because the menstrual cycles are sometimes ovulatory (produce an egg), women in the menopausal transition who are sexually active sometimes get pregnant.
Hence, just to confirm the diagnosis, get a blood B HCG level done if you want to be absolutely sure you are not pregnant. A routine gynecological check up with a pelvic ultrasound scan would also ensure that.
Hot flashes and vaginal dryness can occur over time and may be particularly noticeable during sexual intercourse.During the menopause transition, many women will experience depressed mood, decreased sex drive (libido), forgetfulness and difficulty sleeping.
Backache, indigestion, etc are also described.
I would advise you to consult a Gynecologist. Please get a physical exam, blood tests, pelvic ultrasound, or biopsy. These would clinch the diagnosis and rule out any other medical cause for your complaints.
If the symptoms are severe, your doctor can consider starting HRT ( Meanwhile, have a healthy and active lifestyle, exercise regularly, increase your intake of calcium XXXXXXX foods and soyabean, and indulge in yoga for positive thinking.
Take care, and feel free to discuss further


This test is generally positive three weeks after conception.
At your age, and with irregular cycles, you would do better to rely on a blood B HCG pregnancy test or a transvaginal ultrasound scan to rule out a pregnancy.
I would put the chances at next to nil .

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