Am I having a period? Really worried

[Falsenegative]

I’m getting stressed as to whether I’ve got something seriously wrong with me.

I normally have a period every 28-30 days or so. Last month, my cycle was 42 days which was very unusual. Then, on Friday, 16 days after my last period began, there was very light pink when I wiped. This then turned into brown spotting, became red blood yesterday almost heavy enough to need a tampon, and now back to spotting. Has anyone else had this? It’s really stressing me out. I’m 36 if relevant.

How old are you? My periods went wacky when I was in perimenopause

just seen you’ve put your age. 36 seems young for perimenopause. Any possibility that you’re pregnant?

How old are you? Any chance you could be pregnant? Are you very stressed? Have you been dieting?

Lots of things can fuck about with periods

I’m 36. I don’t think so - I have sex but always use a condom.

I hope not. I don’t think so. I had sex the day before I noticed any pink but using a condom. I had sex the week before too, again using a condom, and they would’ve been really close to my last period.

@Falsenegative I've had this two or three times in the past ten years (I'm now late thirties). Got checked out the first time as I freaked out because I'm usually very regular, but absolutely fine. Sometimes a cycle is just out of whack for no reason 🙂 Are you under stress?

Thank you, that’s reassuring.

Not particularly. The normal stresses of life but nothing exceptional (except convincing myself I must be dying because of this).

Could be ectropian blood if after sex. I get that sometimes too.

But perhaps see a GP so they can have a look.

I'd book a GP appointment, they will probably do a blood test and send you for a scan, and anything serious will be picked up there. You almost certainly won't be dying (!) but it should set your mind at rest.

Have you been travelling a lot? Travel can disrupt your cycle.

The first thing a GP will do is ask you to do a pregnancy test. Condoms aren't 100% effective so I'd get one and rule that out before you go otherwise it could be a frustrating appointment

I've had this a few times - always sorts itself out, I've always attributed it to outside influences whatever those might be. Now I'm 42, I either have really really light periods that last a day or so, or really heavy ones which are painful and last for days.

Oh, and ovulation pain. Let's not forget that!

I'm in my mid 40's now and this pattern is totally normal for me now!

Gone from being 25 days each and every month to now going 36, 33, 30, 18, 38, 20, 26, 45, 17, 33, 26 and 41 over the last year. Add those all up and I've had 12 periods in 363 days, which puts it into perspective for me.

That certainly is my age though!

At mid 30's I'd put this one down to being a blip. When I got married I was 25 days regular, which would have put my wedding smack bang between the two. Then on the day before the wedding, surprise!

Our bodies just love to confuse us don't they?!

Firstly do a pregnancy test, just in case, but assuming it's negative, keep a track of your cycles and if they start regularly going off track, I'd speak to someone at your GP surgery.

Mid 30's isn't unheard of with early menopause but most likely it's just a blip in your cycle.

Thanks everyone. Still bleeding today but still not enough to use anything, only there when I wipe. It’s so strange.

I had this recently but sort of the other way round. I had a normal period, then I had the exact pattern of spotting/bleeding you describe about two weeks later. I was confused, assumed it mustn't be my period but random mid-cycle spotting. Then, 28 days exactly after that bleeding episode, I had a normal period. So I assume it was a random little period. My doctor suggested maybe I hadn't ovulated in the cycle before, which can cause the period to be light and to happen much earlier than it should. Also 36.

Thank you for this!

Hi, so sorry to revive your old thread but am also 36 and stressing over a similar issue! I've just got my period 19 days after the last one after being largely regular for the last 6 years (as long as I've been tracking). Did your cycle manage to regulate itself again?