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What Do Heavy Spotting And Hot Flashes During Menopause Suggest?
Question: I am 46 and my last 4 periods have been a day long. Mostly heavy spotting. Hot flashes are getting worse also. Does it sound like I am close to menopause? Another factor is my mother was 48 when she had her last period and so was her mother 48.
Brief Answer:
perimenopausal state
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query to hcm,
The fact that your mother was close to 48 when she neared her menopause and that your menses have started getting irregular with shorter period of flow for just a day which is different from your otherwise usual pattern earlier, and of course with hot flashes setting in and getting worser, it indicates your advent towards a perimenopausal stage.
Hot flashes and irregularity in menses are often the first of few symptoms which appear during the perimenopausal stage which can start about 2 years before the actual onset of menopause stage.
the best way to confirm would be to get serum estradiol levels along with FSH &LH hormone levels in the blood on day 2 of your next cycle. A higher than normal levels of FSH & LH with low oestrogen levels shall confirm the diagnosis.
Regards
perimenopausal state
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query to hcm,
The fact that your mother was close to 48 when she neared her menopause and that your menses have started getting irregular with shorter period of flow for just a day which is different from your otherwise usual pattern earlier, and of course with hot flashes setting in and getting worser, it indicates your advent towards a perimenopausal stage.
Hot flashes and irregularity in menses are often the first of few symptoms which appear during the perimenopausal stage which can start about 2 years before the actual onset of menopause stage.
the best way to confirm would be to get serum estradiol levels along with FSH &LH hormone levels in the blood on day 2 of your next cycle. A higher than normal levels of FSH & LH with low oestrogen levels shall confirm the diagnosis.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What are my actual chances of getting pregnant at 46 with the onset of hot flashes and period irregularities now and my husband is 60.
Brief Answer:
answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the chances completely depends on your hormonal levels especially FSH and LH. if they are high , that shall indicate that you are nearing menopause and hence oestrogen levels are decreasing which would not be able to support pregnancy naturally.
Secondly AMH levels should ascertain your ovarian reserve i.e, the number of follicles left in the ovary. If its less than 1ng/dl, there is poor ovarian reserve and again chances of natural conception are feeble.
You may of course consider IVF techniques in that case under controlled ovarian stimulation and hormonal support and constant medical supervision.
Regards
answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the chances completely depends on your hormonal levels especially FSH and LH. if they are high , that shall indicate that you are nearing menopause and hence oestrogen levels are decreasing which would not be able to support pregnancy naturally.
Secondly AMH levels should ascertain your ovarian reserve i.e, the number of follicles left in the ovary. If its less than 1ng/dl, there is poor ovarian reserve and again chances of natural conception are feeble.
You may of course consider IVF techniques in that case under controlled ovarian stimulation and hormonal support and constant medical supervision.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I haven't skipped any periods yet. Somebody said I could still be 15 years away from menopause because I haven't skipped any yet. I find that difficult to believe since my mother was 48 and I'm 46. Any truth to that?
Brief Answer:
Answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
perimenopausal stage is generally considered when the periods tend to get irregular or delayed or missed by few months, but this is a slow process and often starts with decreased in flow and then changes into delayed menses and then amenorrhoea thereafter. So you may be in a very early stage if at all you are, but the confirmation cannot be made on clinical symptoms as they can be a guide to diagnosis here but confirmation is only with hormone levels at present.
Also , yes there is a genetic predisposition among daughters with respect to mothers regarding their ages of menopause but again its around 45-50 % and also not every woman is same, so this statement cannot be generalised for all women. Most of women tend to continue menstruating even till 55 years normally, so it really can't be definitely established if menses have been normal and regular unless hormone levels say or indicate otherwise.
Regards
Answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
perimenopausal stage is generally considered when the periods tend to get irregular or delayed or missed by few months, but this is a slow process and often starts with decreased in flow and then changes into delayed menses and then amenorrhoea thereafter. So you may be in a very early stage if at all you are, but the confirmation cannot be made on clinical symptoms as they can be a guide to diagnosis here but confirmation is only with hormone levels at present.
Also , yes there is a genetic predisposition among daughters with respect to mothers regarding their ages of menopause but again its around 45-50 % and also not every woman is same, so this statement cannot be generalised for all women. Most of women tend to continue menstruating even till 55 years normally, so it really can't be definitely established if menses have been normal and regular unless hormone levels say or indicate otherwise.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So hot flashes usually get worse closer to menopause. I get a least 3 an hour. I get big red blotches all over my face, chest and neck and generally feel warm at all times.
Brief Answer:
answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes it is true that hot flashes tend to increase towards menopause but that alone cannot be taken a s the only criteria. Menstrual pattern and fish , lh and amh values are equally important here.
If you are getting 3 hot flashes in a hour, it kinda indicates that yes you may have entered into perimenopausal stage but confirmation is always after a hormonal profile. You my use cold liquids to keep the equilibrium most of the times.
Regards
answered
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes it is true that hot flashes tend to increase towards menopause but that alone cannot be taken a s the only criteria. Menstrual pattern and fish , lh and amh values are equally important here.
If you are getting 3 hot flashes in a hour, it kinda indicates that yes you may have entered into perimenopausal stage but confirmation is always after a hormonal profile. You my use cold liquids to keep the equilibrium most of the times.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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