# Hormones, Tears and Cramps at age 53? WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829 "2012-11-12T21:16:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/21 "2012-11-15T23:13:38Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > I am 53 years old. I still have periods every damn month. Here lately though, I have become so sensitive. I cry at the drop of a hat. I have cramps that last 3 days and are unbearable without painkillers. When will this stop? Make it stop. > > Anyone have any advice? Y ask Y Isn’t all of that normal womanly behavior? 😃 I’m a guy and I’m sorry ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/22 "2012-11-15T23:34:36Z")
IANAD, but still going through perimenopause at the age 53 seems a little late to me. Most women start it in their late 30s, and it peaks in their 40s before beginning the long slow decline to actual menopause. In other words, as others have already said, I’d get a second opinion. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/23 "2012-11-16T06:02:56Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > IANAD, but still going through perimenopause at the age 53 seems a little late to me. Most women start it in their late 30s, and it peaks in their 40s before beginning the long slow decline to actual menopause. Huh? Do you by any chance have an actual _cite_ for this obvious bulltish?? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/24 "2012-11-16T20:44:41Z")
kambuckta, perimenopause is not menopause itself, it is the time period leading up to actual menopause and can begin quite early for some people and can last for many, many years. Some lucky women, however, don’t have this issue at all. My perimenopause began at age 41 and was abruptly stopped by surgical menopause at age 45 due to a couple of painful ovarian cysts. My friend Cindy, never suffered it but just stopped having her period when she reached 50, the lucky dog. Another friend, Lisa (a nurse btw), began perimenopause at age 30 and stopped having periods at age 38. It is different with each woman. My aunt, didn’t start perimenopause until age 52 and finally stopped having menses at age 63. But even her ob/gyn thought she was an unusual case. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/25 "2012-11-16T21:13:55Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Huh? Do you by any chance have an actual _cite_ for this obvious bulltish?? > > :dubious: [Here’s a generalized overview of menopause which mentions periomenopause](http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/menopause/menopause-overview) It’s different for every woman. The _average_ age range is early 50s, but, as others have said, it can range anywhere from the 40s to the mid-late 50s. My periomenopause roughly started when I was in my late 30s. I officially had my menopause (defined as 12 months without a menses) at the age of 49. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/26 "2012-11-16T22:01:59Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > [Here’s a generalized overview of menopause which mentions periomenopause](http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/menopause/menopause-overview) > > It’s different for every woman. The _average_ age range is early 50s, but, as others have said, it can range anywhere from the 40s to the mid-late 50s. My periomenopause roughly started when I was in my late 30s. I officially had my menopause (defined as 12 months without a menses) at the age of 49. But I wouldn’t say “most women” start in their late 30s. Most women get their first perimenopause symptoms - if they have them at all - sometime in their 40s and menopause itself happens four to five years later according to your site - average age of 51. There is obviously a large bell curve and other factors (my sister got to go through it in her 30s due to chemotherapy - nice side effect) But Buttercup - its probably perimenopause - and hopefully it will not last long or be too rough - I got my first hot flash a few months ago at 46, can’t sleep through the night, and am cranky as hell. I feel for you, and am a little envious you put it off this long. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/27 "2012-11-17T00:27:47Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > But I wouldn’t say “most women” start in their late 30s. Most women get their first perimenopause symptoms - if they have them at all - sometime in their 40s and menopause itself happens four to five years later according to your site - average age of 51. There is obviously a large bell curve and other factors (my sister got to go through it in her 30s due to chemotherapy - nice side effect) :nodding re the large bell curve and other factors: Many of my RL girlfriends didn’t experience perimenopause until their early-mid 40s. OTOH I had a couple of friends like myself who started in their late 30s. I don’t know anyone IRL who is still menstruating in their 50s, but who knows? > [@](#): > > I got my first hot flash a few months ago at 46, can’t sleep through the night, and am cranky as hell. I feel for you, and am a little envious you put it off this long. I was very lucky – no hot flashes, no extreme mood swings, nothing like that. My period gradually became scant. I’d skip a couple of months, then would have one that would last a couple of days, skip another couple of months, and then, nothing. My primary doc says I’m on the younger end, but she believes my thyroidectomy a couple of years ago had a lot to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829/28 "2012-11-17T01:11:57Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > :nodding re the large bell curve and other factors: Many of my RL girlfriends didn’t experience perimenopause until their early-mid 40s. OTOH I had a couple of friends like myself who started in their late 30s. I don’t know anyone IRL who is still menstruating in their 50s, but who knows? I’m pretty sure I will be- I’m 49 and haven’t skipped a period yet. Hot flashes, night sweats,crankiness- been having those for at least five years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormones-tears-and-cramps-at-age-53-wtf/640829.md?page=1)