About the hell that is periods getting closer together

[Tigofigo]

Periods always been regularish, used to be every 31 days or so, more recently been more like 28/29... Until the last two which were 21 days and 19 days apart respectively. Feels like I barely got a week off between them!

Is this some kind of perimenopausal thing? I'm early 40s. Do I need to get checked out?

I would see the G.P if I were you. Keep an accurate diary too. Good luck 🤞

That's how I became aware I was in perimenopause. They may get further apart some months too, so you might have a gap of three weeks followed by a gap of six weeks, or miss one altogether. And the longer the gap between periods, the heavier it'd be. After about 18 months of that nonsense I saw my GP, got a Mirena coil fitted, and never had another period.

I am exactly the same. Still very regular cycle, but over the past 2/3 yrs gone from 31/32 day cycle to 27 days now. I read its an early sign of peri menopause. I was only having IVF a year ago, and when I mentioned the shorted cycles to the gynae, am actually really annoyed that peri menopause was never mentioned.

I’m 41 and mine have been like this for the last 3 years or so. Apparently as you near menopause your ovaries bosh out the eggs as quick as they can, more cycles = more chances of getting pregnant.

Doubly shite when you have a copper coil like I do, and periods are heavy and last 8/9 days 😫

Yes typical for peri menopause. They get closer together then further apart.

Welcome to peri-menopause. I had exactly this and then had a period that lasted for over two months. HRT is a lifesaver.

That was me in my 40s: once I had a two-week gap between periods and it started unexpectedly at a festival. Horrid. And they were getting heavier too. But then I got a mirena coil and haven't had a period since. Definitely talk to your GP.

Yep, closer together, and heavier, and longer :(
worth getting checked to rule out anything else of course. Consider an iron supplement, it’s really helped my energy levels!

Yes, ask and insist. My GP seemed to assume I'd know all about it

Can I ask if anyone else having shortened periods, also started seeing mid cycle spotting during ovulation?

Joins the hell club

Defo peri
im 46 and last year I had two in one month ffs. Total surprise was on HOLIDAY and it turned up.

I've just had 7 days - 7 fecking days - inbetween periods! WTAF! 😭I'm 48. It sucks!

Same here. I’m 45 and my periods were so bad last year that I was bleeding through my clothes. Two bleeds a month for 5 months and then I saw the Dr in desperation and she put me on the mini pill, which just lessened the heaviness, but not the constant bleeding. Had too many side effects though so have come off it and so far hardly anything. Hoping it continues like this! If it comes back as bad then I’ll have to go back and see then Dr about HRT.

I'm 45, mine are getting closer together and a lot heavier!! What I can't work out is whether taking HRT has any impact on periods - either frequency or heaviness? That is my main symptom but not sure whether HRT is the answer?

Same here. Cycles now around 21-25 (if I’m lucky) days. I have a Mirena and weirdly always still had bleeding, just v v light and only a few days, so for now that symptom is manageable.

The RAGE however….

don’t load the dishwasher incorrectly again as I will end you.

I was having two a month so I was either bleeding or pre menstrual and feeling quite “stabby” (that’s actually a very light hearted way of describing my mental state!). Went to the gp who suggested either the coil or hrt, I went with hrt and now they will prize that prescription out of my cold dead hand ……

Yes! Was a religious 29-day cycle now I’m 25 days and I bled for six days. I spot a little before it’s arrival too so it feels like there’s only two clear weeks of no period! HELL!

… started at 45…. 47 now and I’m definitely peri

Mine are less than three weeks apart. Have been like that for about a year now. It’s exhausting. Nurse mentioned a coil… seeing gynaecologist next week and will ask!

Yep, peri menopause. I ended up anaemic because they came frequently and I had a heavy 24 hours.

Lots of people don’t have periods with a Mirena coil. I have one but do get the occasional light period.

I was having erratic periods (although mine were going in the other direction - months between proper periods with just some light bleeding when I would have previously have had a period). But oh my god the rage. I’ve just started on HRT which for me is a Mirena coil to replace my copper one, and patches. I’m waiting to see what happens but the GP was lovely and very happy to prescribe. I’m 45.

The app Moody is good to record your periods

yes it’s a sign of peri menopause (but not for everyone mine still as regular as clockwork I still ovulate but periods are much heavier)

Oooh, you’ve just described my situation. I’m 44 and always had a very regular cycle. Now it’s all over the shop: 25 days, 35 days, 18 days… and sometimes miss one altogether. I also get the rage, a fair bit of anxiety and sometimes just abject misery. My hands get stiff too which is really frustrating.

I had assumed I should just wait it out and the GP wouldn’t be interested at this stage but good to see others are saying it might be possible to get started on the HRT. I’m going to get an appointment. Hope you get on ok too OP.