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??

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....)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

No change

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

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'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 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 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.

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

I'm 48 and they have stayed pretty regular, and fairly consistent, maybe a bit heavier at the beginning of each one. Apart from the flood of 2014 which shall remain in office folklore for generations to come

I started getting shorter cycles in my late 30's, from 26/28 days in mid-30's to 23-26 days at 40 - then had DD at 41.

Since then it's been "yuk" - my last 2 cycles were 14 & 18 days, and occasionally I get a long cycle 36-42 days, which is much better.

And yes to bloating, sore boobs, heavy periods - never knowing when it's going to start, wearing maternity pads to deal with heavy flow, vaginal dryness, zits during AF.

My mum was through the menopause by 45/46, with no hot flushes or major symptoms - she said her periods just stopped.

I suffered from a varying cycle, it was sometimes 2 weeks, sometimes 4. A lot of clots, rather than flooding, hot flushes etc, but it wasn't too bad. I had a very emotionally painful adolescence and I was worried the change would be similar, but I felt okay in myself. The biggest shock was having a final period six months after the previous one! I thought I had finished, and had to root around to find some tampax as I'd chucked most of the stuff away. I was 47 when I finished and I noticed the changes (and the flushes) starting at 42.

I'm 43 and mine went erratic about 2 years ago and stopped completely at the start of this year. Over the bloody moon at the thought that it might be over and done with! Although I've just started hrt as I'm quite young and that can start bleeds off again.

Bit heavier, still regular. Kick my arse a bit more these days, though.

Thirty fucking years of this is enough, tbh.

Mine are exactly like this. After a lifetime of regularity they're less predictable, sometimes heavy and sometimes light. PMT is noticeably worse. I've just turned 40.

I'm 43 and mine have become less painful but I now have a really short cycle of about 20 days.
Pmt was so bad last month that I put myself back on the mini pill so I won't hate my DH when we go on holiday in August.