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??

[paradoxicalInterruption]

apostropheuse Did you get HRT to replace the lost oestrogen? There can be an increased risk of osteoporosis with an early menopause/

[LovelyBath77]

Mine got heavier, late 30s, now taking mini pill which helps with this. Just get spotting now, but a couple of odd longer bleeds. the other one they recommended was mirena, I think. I had the copper could which made it worse, and was told not a great option as get older as periods can get much heavier. I started having low iron stores on it and had to take iron supplements for while..things are better now.

[SirVixofVixHall]

My cycle started getting more erratic in my late 40s. At the end of last year I had a couple of episodes of flooding so ghastly that I was scared. i had a scan but no fibroids, so just hormones. I went on bio-identical progesterone to stop the flooding, but I've come off it now and am back to erratic, two really light periods, and now another heavyish one that has been going on for ten days now and no sign of stopping. I'm 53.

[strumthehairyharp]

I'm almost 44 and they are starting to become a bit irregular but as you can see average out over 28 days. Mine are now short and sharp, very heavy for 3 days, one day of light then it's all over. I'm coping with them well to be honest I'm hoping things don't change

[ihatethecold]

@countingkids.
Sorry it's taken so long for me to find out what magnesium I take.
I've taken a photo.
I take 2 tablets a day but I think you can take up to 4.

[apostropheuse]

Paradox, no it was never offered amd I didn't have troublesome symptoms so didn't ask for it at the time. I'm now 55 so it was a while ago.

[AnathemaPulsifer]

In early 40s I started having 2-3 periods a month. NHS were brilliant, checked everything and said it was my age - I had the Mirena back in and periods thankfully stopped.

[WatchingFromTheWings]

I'm 41. Mine are slightly heavier for the first day but seem to be shorter than what they were. Don't generally get as much period pain as I used to.

[73kittycat73]

I was having incredibly heavy periods that lasted for weeks. I don't know if it was coincidence or not but my anti-Depressants were changed and since then I've hardly had anything. Sorry TMI but I seem to get a lot of mid-cycle discharge, it goes on for days.
The periods however have all but stopped. Except for this last week when I had to wear protection again and had proper fresh blood.
Hope that wasn't tmi! I do get hot flushes though so perhaps it is early menopause for me? I hope so, I got used to not having periods!

[Choccywoccyhooha]

I'm 39 and my cycle has become so erratic that I got caught out for the first time in 25 years last week. In the middle of Aldi! Awful. My mother went through the menopause at 42, so I guess things are changing for me.

[K1092902]

For those of you with heavy peruods- have you considered using Tena lady?

My periods are very heavy anyway and the first 2 3 days I use Tena lady knickers which are better then tampons or normal pads imo.

Can't tell I have them on. Still get away with wearing skinny jeans and leggings with them on no problem.

[TorchesTorches]

I had my kids at 39 and 40, so not sure if changes are too do with age or post pregnancy. I am 45 and since early 40s my cycle has gone from 30 days long to 28. The length of period has gone from 5 fairly medium/heavy flow days to 2 days flooding and 2 days very light. At the start of my last period i was invited to a party where the days code was white! I had to manage that situation quite closely, but fortunately no embarrassment!