AIBU to ask how your periods changed in your 40s?

@RandomMess I used to have this and it is truly awful. Reducing my dairy intake improved things, as did the doctor prescribing pyridoxine.

I think mine are starting to become more erratic now mid-40s, but not sure yet as I've always had the odd shorter or longer cycle. They seem to be lighter but vary in pain so one month I could have pain for 3 days and other no pains whereas I usually got pain on first day only - popped a couple of paracetamol and off I went.

I'm 47, mine are much shorter (3 days) with a much heavier and painful first day. Still regular as clockwork every 26 days. I have a great period op on my phone so I can track them and see when I am due. Always seems to coincide with weekends away, festivals, nights out.....

I'm having regular blood tests and doc visits at the moment, for various things. My periods are all over the shop. I asked if it was connected to the other stuff and GP said it's 'your age'. So I'm not perimenopausal, I'm approaching perimenopause. It's ridiculous. I'm approaching the beginning of the beginning of the menopause.

I'm 49. Mine are regular but not as they were - could be 80+ days or 23 but average 35 or so. Sometimes heavy at first, then five days of nothingness that still needs a pad.

I have PCOS and in my 40's my periods decided to become regular without any medications. They're really inconvenient when they show up every month, aren't they?! 10 years on they're becoming further apart again but the first day or two are a nightmare, don't leave the house they're so heavy, much like they started.

Gone from very heavy to only heavy on the first day and they usually only last 3-4 days now
Cycle is variable - 26-32 days

I am 45 and my last period began on May 5th...Changes have been happening (sore boobs, more painful PMT, heavier bleeding, spotting) over time but this is the first time a period's just...vanished!

However, I am going on holiday soon so I expect it reliably to turn up as I get on the plane

Periods got steadily heavier. Eventually blood tests showed I was severely anaemic. I had an endometrial ablation and havent had a period since.

I thought I was having menopause at nearly 40. All the symptoms periods getting a lot lighter etc.... Now I have a 5 month old since having her my periods have gone back to being a lot lighter. But it's obviously not menopause. I used to have v v heavy periods.

Started getting menstrual migraines - day 3 of every period. Grim

No change

It's really good to hear other people's experiences, sort of comforting. Thanks Hollipopsmum for starting this thread

I had the Mirena coil and went from regular periods to non-stop heavy bleeding and huge clots. I eventually had a hysterectomy last year and it's bliss not having to deal with periods any more.

I'm just 40 and mine have been odd for the last 18 months or so, but that was round the time I ended up in a&e twice with what was probably an ovarian torsion that fortunately resolved itself both times, then eventually had the ovary removed.

I've had flooding, more variation generally in amount, cycle length and pain. I sometimes get mid cycle breast pain which I never had previously and sometimes it's bad enough I need to take painkillers. My anxiety has gone through the roof as well.

Two out of the three GPs I've mentioned this to have been pretty dismissive as my hormone levels are within the normal range. The third GP said what I was thinking - the normal range is quite wide and they don't know what was normal for me before.

My cycles started to get shorter around 26 days, when I was 40. When I was about 43 I began to get a mixture of 21 day and 6 week cycles with occasionally missing 1 or 2 cycles. With the missed cycles I usually had all the pmt symptoms but my period didn't arrive.
I'm 48 now and have had 2 periods in the last 12 months. I have mild hot flushes but otherwise no difficulties. My periods have remained the same length and heaviness throughout. I did have issues with breast cysts for a while but that seems to have gone. My mum followed the same pattern and finished at 51.

40 and they're worse than ever.

Cycle of 29 rather than 32.

Pain pain pain. Nausea. Exhaustion. So heavy. I'm in bed for the 2nd day now feeling like I have the fucking flu and dh thinks I'm putting it all on.

In my 20's my periods were very erratic with long gaps. By 40 they were exactly 28 days apart. Then they got closer together, 23-24 days. The actual periods haven't changed much, just the timing. (now 48 and waiting to see what happens next....)

I hit 40 and my periods were dreadful, very painful and flooding which caused amnemia and extreme tiredness. In the end I had a hysterectomy which was the best thing. I got my life back.

At around 47 mine got much heavier. So much so that my life had to be changed to accommodate them! I couldn't possibly go to a social event whilst bleeding, for almost 3 years. No pain though, that got less and then disappeared. PMT thankfully disappeared mysteriously from around age 46. I had my last period just after my 49th birthday and the last of the hideous menstrual migraines I'd suffered with for 15 years. I love not having periods! !!

Until last December my periods were every 26 days now they go between 20-30 days, the length of my period plus heaviness changes monthly as well. I am 45 and realise this could go for years😭

Have always had awful heavy periods with flooding and pain. Always bled on ovulation. Last couple of months have bled from ovulation to the end of my period so pretty much bleeding for 3 weeks out if 4 now. Great

I used to get a "feeling" I knew I would come on within the next day or two, now it just starts with no warning, they're all mixed up too, don't know where I am with them, used to be as regular as clockwork.

Cycles have shortened but still vary from month to month.
Have returned to the heaviness of my youth, with the added joy of big clots

Cycle has stopped pretty much. Last period was "normal bleed" but previous one was three months before and very light. No flooding.

Have fibroids and medium-sized cyst on one remaining ovary. Also have endometriosis so pleased they are slowing down.