To wonder if this is normal for menopause?

[VeryGoodVeryNice]

My periods have been a bit irregular for about 2 years (I’m 42), but loosely following a pattern where I’d have one long cycle (28-35 days ish) and then one short one (17-24 days ish). My last period was a long cycle so I was expecting my next one about 3 weeks later, as seems to be the way.

However, almost 7 weeks on from my last one and no sign of it. Around 3 weeks ago I had PMT, and really felt like it was about that time, got a few zits, felt a bit crampy…but then nothing. No spotting, no bleeding, nothing at all. The PMT symptoms lasted about a week, then no period, then felt back to normal hormonally, and still do now.

Is this usual or something to be worried about? I’m not on HRT but I do take a natural supplement (menopause complex by Hey Nutrition). I feel a bit discombobulated not knowing where I am in my cycle!

Yes that pattern sounds very like mine when I went into perimenopause, although I was older. Had the cramps but then nothing materialised and it just followed quite a regular-irregular pattern (if that makes sense?) for a few years before becoming erratic more than anything. It doesn't sound like anything to worry about.

Unless you're pregnant, then yes this can be normal for menopause, though possibly a little early.
I'd see your GP as you can have blood tests. Not just hormones, but some deficiencies can mess up your periods.

Yeah sounds about normal I'm afraid.

Yeah, normal

Yep this sounds like the pre menopause. My periods were all over the place.... nothing for five or six months then every couple of weeks then back to 3 or six months in-between. I had the coil fitted eventually as they were horrendously heavy.

Phew, glad it sounds normal! Forgot to mention, definitely not pregnant.

Ovaries normally take it in turns to release an egg. If your 'fast' ovary's starting to give up, it will keep trying but the other one will eventually take on both shifts. I'm afraid I don't know whether this means all your periods will be 'slow' or not. Somebody clever probably knows how this works!

That’s pretty much what happened to me, although I was older than you are. I had some long periods, some normal periods, and then some very long periods (22 days) but with months in between. Then back to normal 5 day periods every month for a while, which was unexpected. The last couple of years I had very few periods with up to six months in between. And then, once 12 months had passed, I was ‘officially’ in menopause.

So yeah, it’s really unpredictable. Oh, and I still feel premenstrual about once a month (carb cravings and zits), even though there’s no bleeding. Not sure how long that’s likely to last. It’s probably just my imagination though.

That’s interesting about the ovaries taking it turns and hence the long and short cycles, I didn’t put two and two together there (no pun intended)

I have had similar experience.

Sorry to jump but how do you actually get diagnosed with peri menopause? To see about HRT etc? Coz this sounds very similar to me and I've called doctors a couple of times. Had blood taken and been told results are fine. No details. No chat. They had no idea what point in my cycle the blood was taken or nothing.

I was wondering the same thing to be honest
Mine disappeared about 3 months ago and I'm 45.

Most people don’t get “diagnosed” with perimenopause by doctors, it’s usually self-diagnosed based on symptoms like irregular unpredictable periods. There are blood tests that look at hormone levels, but unless you want HRT there’s little point seeing a GP…

…although my female doctor colleagues when I was nursing advised me to ask my GP for a bone density scan, but I didn’t, partly because I didn’t want to know if they were weak and crumbly!

Hmm I would like to talk to a doctor about HRT or if there is anything else similar as I'm a bit young and worried about bones in the future.

If you're 45 or over blood tests unnecessary, diagnosis is by symptoms only.

Under 40 though...

Holy fuckballs…well my period finally came…4 months late. I am on day 2 and honestly this is a bit of a shock to the system after a lifetime of light periods. It looked like there’d been a shark attack in the bath and I have burnt through my entire supply of period pants in 2 days, having to change them every couple of hours and that’s with using pads too. I really hope I don’t have to go through this again for at least another 4 months. Menopause is a bit shite isn’t it.

I wish the menopause would come and knock on my door.
61 years old and still have my period every month as regular as clockwork 😭

@VeryGoodVeryNice - My last period, after 10 months without, was like a miscarriage, the heaviest and longest-lasting of my life. Luckily I never had another, it was my uterus’s swan song.

@WhoBrokeIt yikes! That’s just not fair, I bet you’re more than ready.

@MavisMcMinty having experienced 2 (early) MCs I can confirm that I am bleeding an awful lot more now than I did with either of them. Fingers crossed this is also my reproductive organs’ last hurrah, that would be lovely.

The doctor did refer me for a scan just to check there was nothing untoward going on as I am still pretty young for periods to have completely stopped, but guess I won’t need to go for that now.

My periods became irregular a few years ago, my doctor sent me for various blood tests and an ultra sound, but they said everything was ok. At the time the doctor thought it could have been stress related as my nan had just passed following a short battle with cancer.

Fast forward to January of this year and my periods just stopped. Again doctor ran various tests with everything looking to being ok. Though not sure if they did hormone check.

I've been having some other health concerns and I brought up about my periods and doctor agreed with my self diagnosis of being perimenopausal. Though he said I'm quite young, but my nan and mum were both in their early 40s (am 45 now) when they started menopause.

So far loss of period is my only major symptom, I occasionally get brain fog and the odd hot flush but am considering myself very lucky when I hear other people's nightmarish issues.

@VeryGoodVeryNice I am. Fifty long flaming years I've had this crap.
Nearly ruined my holiday a couple of months ago when I started the day before I flew. Grrrr.

I had this. I remember it well because it was during lockdown when all we were allowed to do was go for a walk and queue at the supermarket.

I'd not had a period for about 6 months and I was starting to suspect I was perimenopausal or even had gone through menopause as I had other symptoms like hot flushes and insomnia and I was 47/48 at the time. I was 10 minutes across the field on my daily walk when it happened and as well as the flooding (I think that's what it's called) I had horrendous cramps and felt like I was going to collapse.

I staggered home and cleaned myself up, dosed up on painkillers and went to bed for the rest of the day. I had to send DP to the supermarket for more supplies when he came home from work because I wasn't up for queuing outside for however long it would take.

I had a couple like that over the next few months, then something more or less normal for another few months, then a couple of light periods in a year and my last one was August 2022 (I downloaded a period tracker app because I wanted to log the symptoms/frequency) and it's likely that I'm now 'officially' post menopause as I'm 50 and haven't had a period for over a year.

So while it could be your 'last hurrah' it might not quite be the end for you just yet, especially as you're young for meno. But I'd definitely talk to your GP as the scan might still be a good idea just in case.