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I have been feeling very peculiar for most of this year - I have been experiencing bouts of anxiety, sleeplessness, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, slight ringing in the ears, terrible tiredness. More recently I have been having phases of feeling completely overwhelmed and have uncontrollable crying fits where I have produced more tears than I ever thought possible! I have rages too, but keep hoping these are PMT which I have tended to suffer from in my 40s. My periods have been a little closer together over the past couple of years but still very regular however I have not had a period for over 10 weeks now. I am by nature a little emotional and highly strung and inclined to worry but feel that I am more emotional than ever. I consulted my doctor and asked for blood tests to check hormone levels - results came back normal and inconclusive although I gather it is quite a difficult thing to test for. I feel inclined towards being in denial because my mother experienced the menopause at 56, so I have convinced myself that menopause is a long way off but I am beginning to think not! I would find it so very reassuring to KNOW what it going on, that I am not going mad - Is there another test I can have, for example in Germany you can have a simple ultrasound on your ovaries. I would like to know what I am dealing with before exploring ways to help deal with symptoms.

Do you have questions? Please feel free to ask.

Ask Eileen

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You won’t get the menopause the minute you turn 50! The average starting age is actually between 45 and 55 and it can often depend on a number of factors including hereditary, weight and health, however every single woman will have an individual menopause.

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