Eloise (now 52 years old) was aware that menopause was on the horizon. Although it’s not a subject women hear much about, she knew that this stage of life typically becomes noticeable around the age of 45. However, she hadn’t given much thought to how it might affect her personally. While many women experience changes in their menstrual cycle, she hadn’t anticipated how significantly it would impact her.
I thought: I’ll just notice the changes as they come, but I didn’t expect the bleeding to be this heavy.
At 46, Eloise first noticed changes in her cycle. “Initially, my cycle became shorter. I started getting my period every three weeks, and that phase lasted for about four years. I didn’t mind because it wasn’t much of a bother. After four years, it began to fluctuate, and my cycle became irregular: sometimes I wouldn’t get my period for two months, and then it would come every two weeks. That was more difficult because it became so unpredictable,” Eloise explains.
Although every woman knows how inconvenient it can be to unexpectedly get your period, Eloise says that wasn’t the most challenging part. “Around the age of 50, my bleeding also began to change. If I hadn’t had my period for a while, it would suddenly be very heavy when it arrived. There were days when I had to change my tampon every hour,” she shares candidly.
“Especially at work, this was a real challenge. I work at the town hall and spend the entire day speaking with people. I constantly had to adjust my work schedule to fit in bathroom breaks. Even doing the weekly shop became a major ordeal. It might sound odd, but I also started putting a towel on the sofa just in case.”
After a year, Eloise decided to see her doctor. “Of course, menopause was a factor, but I was also worried that something else might be going on. The doctor referred me to a gynaecologist.”
At the hospital, various tests were carried out. Blood tests were taken, and an ultrasound was performed. “The ultrasound was to check for fibroids or polyps in my uterus or to see if something malignant was present. I was quite anxious, but thankfully, none of that was the case.”
Doing the weekly shop became a major ordeal.
The gynaecologist confirmed Eloise’s suspicions: “She explained that my symptoms were indeed related to menopause. Hormonal fluctuations can cause your periods to become heavy and irregular. She mentioned that hormone therapy or an IUD could help reduce my symptoms, but since I didn’t have any other hormonal complaints, I decided to wait and see how things would progress. After all, I was already 50.”
After six months, her bleeding became lighter and less frequent. About five months later, her periods stopped entirely. “After my visit to the gynaecologist, I had decided to wait six months to see how things would go. It was as if I sensed that menopause was just around the corner.”
Was it a relief to no longer have periods? “I found it very conflicting,” Eloise admits. “It felt like saying goodbye to an important part of your life, but I quickly realised what a relief it actually was not to have to deal with monthly bleeding anymore. Especially since the last few years had been so intense! I could go out without worry and didn’t have to fear leaving a stain on a friend’s chair.”
Want to learn more about your cycle during menopause? Here’s what happens in your body.
