Menopause and when periods start becoming less frequent - how to not panic every time?

[Happywalnut]

I’m 47 and since coming off the pill about 18 months ago my periods have been just under 4 weeks apart and regular up until now. Today I am two weeks late

I don’t think I’m pregnant as still using other contraception but it is at the back of mind. I know when you start menopause / peri that periods space out and become less and less regular and I’m just wondering, when they do, how do people not panic that they are pregnant all time?

At my age it would be a disaster and this one being randomly late has made me wonder.

Anyone?

Keep some cheap pregnancy tests around maybe?

I have irregular periods now too and I do get what you mean!

DH had the snip so nothing to worry about here 😁

My DP has had the snip but I still worried! Googled pregnancies 25 years after vasectomy 😂 I knew it was really impossible but still the thought would be there. I don't have those thoughts anymore now it's been a few years of erratic and now very very irregular periods. Those first few long cycles made me fearful though!

Thanks all. What age were you all when the long gaps arrived?

I wish mine would space out, they've got closer together!

I missed my first period at the age of 43. I went into a massive panic that I was pregnant (even though I'd been sterilised!) Did 3 home pregnancy tests and had 2 at the doctors as I was convinced all the tests must be wrong!

Of course, I was in complete denial that this could possibly be the start of perimenopause, and tbh it hadn't even crossed my mind, I was so naive.

Then my periods just went back to being regular again. Over the next few years I missed the odd one (didn't freak out the 2nd time it happened) and from about 46(?) I was missing 2 on the trot, then regular, then missing one, no set pattern. They had got lighter & lighter over these years too. I had my last period at aged 50, 14 months ago.

So yes I did have a massive pregnancy panic at the time, I laugh about it now.

It took a while to get my head round the fact that I was perimenopausal. After 40 years of wishing them away, plus cursing the fact I didn't even need them after being sterilised, it still was weird to think they were now in the process of stopping.

Mine also got closer together until this one! I think that’s the start of peri though (when they get closer together)