The Mock Turtle

My periods have been regular as clockwork, painful and reminscent of the lift in the Overlook Hotel since I came off the pill (about 3 years ago). I had a proper one in June and skipped my July one altogether. I then had a normal period in August. I have had very light periods with no pain in September, October and November.

I was 40 in July so I thought it might be the menopause, admittedly an early one - my mum and aunt both went menopausal when they were 50. I saw a menopause specialist doctor purely by chance in September; she was very kind and suggested I book in for a few months time if I was still having dodgy periods. So I have booked in with her next month.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? I don't seem to have any other menopause symptoms unless you count putting on a bit of weight but my eating has gone up the spout along with most things so I am taking action to sort that.

I've never had period problems before. I am just a bit worried and scared that it might be the menopause.

Thank you.

I'm assuming you've ruled out pregnancy?

If so, then it could be the start of peri menopause. I don't know if there's much they can do other than some hormone tests but I don't know how conclusive such tests are. Sorry, that is probably not very helpful.

Yes, definitely not pregnant! It does sound like it doesn't it. Bugger.

You might find they go bonkers for a bit, then return to normal, then go bonkers again...

IME, as soon as you hit 40, periods be like « let’s get this party started! ». I used to have very sensible, discreet periods, but for the last few years, anything is possible. Everything from very very light and pain-free to Exorcist-level bastards. And the fun of it all is the surprise every month!

My experience is very similar to Zooms’s. I never used to get cramping before and would bleed very heavily but regular as clockwork, now I get bad (well for me) pains and periods that last about 2 days every three weeks or so.

And as if on cue, the ‘period’ that started this afternoon has stopped

I'm 36 and my periods have been weird for the last 2/3 years or so. I've had all sorts of tests/scans to rule out anything untoward (mostly because of my age) and nothing has come up so it has just been assumed that it *might* be peri-menopause.

Just like Sal says, it might be stops and starts for a while. After a couple of weird years, mine have been regular for about 12 months now so I think peri-menopause can a) take years and b) come and go, as it were.

My periods went a bit all over the place now and then, when I reached my 40s.

I’ve come around to the opinion that our periods change over the years, and do get more erratic as we get older (for many women), and that is actually what is normal. (With of course exceptions wherein medical opinions are needed)

I think on the whole we are generally woefully uninformed on the changes in menstruation that happen.

Agreed, Marth, and because “women’s issues” have always been dismissed or ignored.

I really like Hormonal by Eleanor Morgan for this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07M85 ... UTF8&psc=1

Thank you for that link Ella. It’s exactly what I need. My troubles are not with my periods (they’re fine, although my cycle is getting shorter the older I get) but I’m struggling badly with mid cycle doom. It starts immediately after ovulation. It’s so bad this month I’ve actually taken today off as a mental health day as there’s no way I could function professionally.

Mine are all over the place too and I'm 39. My doctor was pretty good and I had blood tests and an internal scan a while ago because the pains were suddenly very bad, but they didn't find anything. Like Zoomer, I never know what is coming each month, or when.

Yes, all bets are off when you hit your 40s. Your periods can do anything. Mine were regular but heavy bastards with extra cramping thrown in. make sure you keep your iron levels up.

I agree too. Mine suddenly appeared after three weeks during a weekend away, with none of my usual PM symptoms just a face full of spots.

I do have some medical history but even so I feel like irregular and somewhat troublesome is well within the normal spectrum.

Chiming in to agree that it sounds peri menopausal and 40 seems to be the age where things can start going odd. My cycles got shorter and shorter around that time.

In the last year or so things have become completely unpredictable with long gaps, then bursts of short cycles, then long gaps again. I'll be 48 in March.

Joining in with the turning 40, periods going loopy consensus. I did see the GP, was referred, had a bunch of tests, now have a mirena and they appear to have totally stopped after about 6-8 weeks of spotting.

Thank you all - I feel a bit better as this seems very odd to me but it seems like it is actually the norm. I am fine-tuned to panic about any changes in my body especially when it has been so regular. I was reading about the pre-perimenopause or something last night which can go on for years as you say!

I can cope with lighter periods, but I am not ready to start battling with my weight again just when I was finally at ease with myself, and I am not ready to surrender my fertility either so I need to come to terms with both these things. It is an emotional thing as much as a physical one.

I will order that book, thank you.

For those who have bad cramps - do ask your doctor for Mefanemic acid (sp?) - I had no idea it existed until 2 years ago, and it is the only thing which has worked for period pain for me!

Estrella wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:53 am Thank you for that link Ella. It’s exactly what I need. My troubles are not with my periods (they’re fine, although my cycle is getting shorter the older I get) but I’m struggling badly with mid cycle doom. It starts immediately after ovulation. It’s so bad this month I’ve actually taken today off as a mental health day as there’s no way I could function professionally.

I had this this month for the first time that I'm aware of and it was ridiculous, like suddenly falling down a well. It was so extreme that it was glaringly obvious it was hormonal, which helped as it couldn't be mistaken for "genuine" emotions, but, bloody hell, the despair (at, for example, my butternut squash puree turning out too loose ). Also with the shortening cycles. I'm 51 though so have been lucky that it's only just started.

That's really interesting, Ella, thank you. i'd always just assumed that any changes were an indicator that there was a problem. Mine changed after childbirth then settled again. It then changed after getting my coil removed and wonder if that just took a few years to settle, too. But again, I was told that neither of these things were likely to produce changes so automatically panicked because I hadn't hit the magic number of 40, yet.

Luce wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:03 am i'd always just assumed that any changes were an indicator that there was a problem.

THIS!!!!

To know that it might be normal and just one of those things is quite mind-blowing and has made me feel a bit teary.

Mine have been crazy since my failed attempt at Mirena almost 2 years ago. I had the Mirena for 3 months and really didn't get on with it. I don't know if it was that or my age or both.