later than usual menopause

[davids-mom]

I am a month away from my 56th birthday and still getting my periods - right as rain! My tests indicated no abnormalities and my hormone levels tested as that of a twenty year old!  My doctor is now suggesting novasure surgery.  How will I know when I've gone through menopause if I don't get periods because of the surgery--when the hormones will not be affected?

[AnnieBrooke]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, let it alone and enjoy the youthful appearance and strong bones you have from being so long with your periods.  You're not that far off -- the average age of menopause in this country is now 51 -- and there is so much protective activity with having hormones still that I wouldn't let my doctor mess with anything about it.  I have a friend who had early menopause and it was NOT good for her, she aged fast and her bones got weak.  Also have a friend's mom who wasn't entirely done with her periods until age 67!

[AnnieBrooke]

I read your post to mean that the doc suggested ablation only because you were 56 and still having periods.  If it's for another reason (like, massive pain) then what I said about leaving things alone would obviously not be great advice.  But if everything is really "right as rain," and the only thing you are concerned about is having periods five years longer than the average, then I would indeed suggest leaving well enough alone.  Periods may be inconvenient, but they are nature's way of keeping you healthy.  An ablation doesn't stop you from having hormonal activities, but it is an unnatural act to a uterus, and I would suggest that if you don't need it, don't do it.