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

[Hollipopsmum]

Just that really. I've noticed mine are becoming a bit erratic, heavy one month, lighter the next, some months longer than others and not coming every 28 days as they used to. Do you have similar experiences & is this the beginning of the end??

Yes. Mine started to become very erratic and sometimes very painful and heavy at about 40.

Then I got pg. I stopped noticing them after that, so they must have regulated a bit.

They tailed off by about 50.

I've heard awful stories about flooding etc but I've never experienced that.

Since I was about 36, my cycles have just got shorter. Used to be 29 days, now 26 days and periods last 4 days consistently. I've been using the Kindara app to chart them and monitor what's going on, and I still ovulate but it's the pre-ovulatory phase that's got shorter. Luteal phase is consistently 14 days.

I'm 40 and my periods are still regular and the same length, but definitely heavier and with 'flooding' for the first couple of days. I'm SO over periods!

Mine had become more frequent to a 26 day cycle, with a very heavy flow on the first two days ... and then this month I'm late. I think I've just come on (a slight smear) but it's been 33 days.

Yes mine are different each time and now at 25-26 days. First two days heavy, then 2 days of not much. Last time i spotted for 2 days previous.

I'm 45 and bored with it all now.

Mine also got very heavy. Especially the first 3 days. Until last week. It was really light. Let's hope this continues!!!

Mine became a lot heavier.
I had fibroids though (found out after I had to have a hysterectomy in my mid forties).

Mine started to change at age 31 and have been continuing to do so (almost 34 now). I've got a family history of early menopause so I think this is the beginning of the end.

I vary between very heavy and very frequent periods (12 day cycles) to very light and infrequent periods (2 month cycles). I get mid cycle period pain. I have been put on iron tablets by the dr as the frequent bouts of heavy periods have caused me to become anaemic. I have also recently been prescribed mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid. I did have my thyroid tested but that came back fine so it's looking more like menopause but Dr still thinks I'm too young so won't get me tested for that yet.

I suspect at the rate I'm going I will be at menopause by the age of 40 if not sooner.

I'm 42 and they're much heavier with flooding the first couple of days, not as regular or predictable in length, and I get awful sore breasts in the week before which I've never had before. Can't wait til they stop, really hoping I have an early menopause, can't handle this for years!

Thanks sounds pretty similar to my experience- mine started to be really heavy first couple of days after I had DD2 at 39 so am guessing that was age rather than baby related. I'm 43 now and would quite happily give them up!

More frequent and near persistent mastalgia that varies from painful to utterly agonising this has been going on since late 30s and now mid 40s. Pre-children my cycle was 6 weeks, no it's 3 weeks at best.

I'm 46 and I've noticed that my periods have become irregular and much heavier than ever before. They only last 2 or 3 days but I have awful 'flooding' sensations. PMT is awful, I can hear myself shout/cry/whine but I can't seem to stop myself. I also have the urge to be by myself and not do much, I work full time so by the time I get home I'm desperate to go to bed.

I think they started not happening at around 40. I still have one about once a year (usually at the most inconvenient times, especially as I have no idea when the thing might happen). I am 49.

I'm 49 and over the past few months my periods have been anywhere between 25 and 29 days, with 2 heavy days and then pretty much nothing. My last one was just a smudge, like how it is on the last day (dregs I call it). I'm expecting a period any day now as today is day 27 but, like last month, I haven't got my usual tender boobs or PMT. Things are changing, and I know it's natural but I'm finding it slightly scary for some reason.

I'm 50 and since early 40s they have been irregular (varying from 3-8 weeks apart, but generally around 4-6 weeks), sometimes very heavy but sometimes normal.

I had a spell a few years ago where I had 2 weeks every month where my boobs were so tender and I could just feel that inner PMT rage bubbling away. That was a bad phase.

My cycle went down to 21 - 23 days about 18 months ago when i was 40.

I'm 47, mine are much shorter (3 days) with a much heavier and painful first day and much more notable PMT.

Yes definitely. I had always had a 31- 32 day cycle, and they changed to 28 days, and then 26 in my late forties. They became very heavy for the first 2 days and then immediately very light. I was extremely glad I had a mooncup throughout my forties - seriously saved my bacon!

Eventually they became further and further apart and then stopped altogether. I also never had any flooding or 2 week long periods or anything like that.

Re perimenopause in general, it was my mid to late forties when I realised that my 'internal' cycle was changing. Apart from periods themselves, throughout my life I was always aware of my slightly different states cycling as well - after ovulating, before a period, immediately after a period etc etc. So I would feel a bit fragile after a period, had my best mental clarity after ovulating, that sort of thing. It was completely reliable. So all that also changed during my forties - I still had the states but they were no longer regular. I carried on getting those sorts of internal states for the first 2 years after my periods stopped as well. I never suffered from PMS, but I know some women have also said that they carried on getting that every month for a year or so after their periods stopped. Eventually it all leveled out.

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.

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

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.

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

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😭

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! !!

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.