To think this is the start of meno at 33

[earlymeno2]

I'm 33. And currently really worried I could be heading into Peri-menopause. Its making me really depressed as I'm not able to TTC currently as I'm single. I don't want to go it alone, nor would I be happy with egg donation later on.

This year, my hormones have felt a bit 'off'. Sickness and bloating at different times of my cycle, cramps, headaches. The headaches I have had with periods since my teens but cramps were never a thing for me until my 30s. I did have a smear test which showed abnormal cells which were removed and I did bleed for weeks afterwards but that was a few months ago now.

Biggest worry is my cycles at the moment, and my FSH readings. My cycles have always been 'irregular' but monthly. So period would come any time between CD24 and CD31.

In 2021, my cycles were all between CD26-CD30 (average 28) and in 2022, CD23-CD30 (average 27) and currently CD23-CD31 this year but more than half being before CD26 which is my average for this year.

I today (CD21) have light brown discharge. I have this year sometimes had light discharge before a period, a new symptom for me, but its usually pink. I also had Pink, then brown discharge for a day on CD10 this month which is new for me as I have NEVER ever spotted between periods before. This was a day before I felt quite sick for a few days with my lower abdomen.

When my periods first went haywire, I did have a blood test on CD7 where my FSH was 12.6. A year before that, I had a blood test CD15 with FSH also 12.

I have spoken to my Gp about my worries, and she just asked 'do you have hot flushes?' I said 'no' so she said I probably am not in the menopause, but i'm worried and its all i'm thinking about.

Not sure what i'm hoping for in terms of responses but maybe some reassurance? Or should I just accept that i'm running out of time and yes, it may never happen for me (having a baby) thanks

I'm 38 and the my cycle length has been all over the place since I had the first Covid vaccine. Could be a coincidence but I was always exactly the same before, I can see it all on the app I use to track them and that's when they went haywire. Still not settled back down.

My period has now started, my first ever 21 day cycle. I feel pathetic but am in tears thinking i've run out of time :(

Have you had your AMH levels checked? Do you know what age your mother was when she went through the menopause?

Mum was late 40's. Grandmother was 50.

Periods and cycles change as you get older, without being perimenopause. I think you're right to keep your eye on it but fluctuations are normal and can be affected by any number of things, such as stress, diet etc. I've had a couple of 21 day periods in the last 3 years (I'm 36) and they're just anomalies. Your body isn't an exact science that knows about calendars

So I've looked at my periods going back to 2012. I counted the cycles which were 26 days and under for each year. The most 26 and under day cycles I had were when a couple of years there were 4. This year so far, we have 8 cycles at 26 days and under.

So its clear that this year, something has changed.

Any thyroid history, have you had this checked out? If you’ve been treated for abnormal cellls are you still under a gynaecologist consultant?

Another suggestion of getting your thyroid levels checked if you have not already. Thyroid hormones (either too little or not enough) can cause irregular periods and weird flow too, along with loads of other symptoms similar to menopause.

You can get your fertility assessed, AMH etc

Hi OP, my cycles have been getter shorter with age.

At 19 there were 34/5 days. By 29 they were 30/31 and by 33 they were 25 days.

I got pregnant at 29 and 33 first try! I'm 43 now and cycles still around 24/5 days, no signs of menopause or peri.

Hopefully this reassures you, it's just natural fluctuations

Oh also my pattern of bleeding changed ALOT between 19 and mid thirties. But clearly did not affect my fertility

I agree with @HouseChainDrama my cycle has got shorter the older I have become. Used to be over 35 days and I’m now at 25 days.

please don’t panic!

Sounds like pcos or endometriosis. Get tested at the doctors or privately. Get a nutritionalist and learn the right exercise. I had your symptoms at 35. I radically altered the diet I thought was healthy. At 38 I felt better - went from feeling 3/10 to 8/10, got pregnant.

Have you had any tests? You need to get bloods done- thyroid, iron levels etc. Vitamin deficiency, hypothyroidism and many conditions could be causing this.

If not that, endo or PCOS?

Any other symptoms-weight troubles, nausea etc?

Yes I have had lots of vitamins etc checked, last time, I did have low folate and so prescribed folate tablets.

FSH tested on Day 7 and Day 15 which was 12. This is what frightens me most and I'm frightened to have AMH tested since I'm single and not in a position to try for a baby right now, I think the stress will be too much.

But the spotting I'm having a few days before period is NOT normal for me. And my cycles getting shorter.

Endo or PCOS i'm not sure about, as wouldn't endo cause bad pain? I only get massively uncomfortable, but i'm not in pain as such.

PCOS, I have no symptoms of, but I have felt inflammation around one ovary at times this year which I didn't have previously.

i'm sure you are aware that if you are having unusual bleeding/spotting you need to see your GP in the first instance xx

You have irregular cycles, tiredness and bloating. These are symptoms of pcos. Not everyone gets facial hair etc... it's very common. I'd ask the gp.

I had a spell of 21 day cycles before I had 4 dC (without assistance).

I took vit B6 for unrelated reason, and then my cycles went back to being more like 29 days... I have read B6 can make cycles elongate again.

OP: have you TTC before? You know way more than I do/did before reading threads online.

Your cycle has changed slightly, but it hasn’t gone haywire. My perimenopausal cycle varied between 3 and 16 weeks. Yours has approximately a week’s variation, which is very normal, even if they are getting slightly closer. It’s also normal for there to be changes in discharge. I really think you are worrying about nothing.

Thanks for everyones responses. I think my worry is due to my Day 7 FSH test being 12.6 when it needed to be under 8 in the follicular phase according to ranges. I wasn't asked by the GP what Cycle day I was on when the blood test was taken, and so the test was marked as 'normal'.

My worry is the bleeding I had mid cycle, never happened before. And the Day 20/21 cycle, again never happened before.

Not on any contraception so its my natural bodies way.

I want to try to conceive asap but unfortunately i'm single so its a very pressured situation to be in.

I'd go back to your GP, there are loads of things that could be causing this that are not menopause. I'm currently being investigated for the same thing and a 21 day cycle was the last straw for me. I'm also 33 and while not impossible it's unlikely to be early menopause.

OP@earlymeno2 you are worrying me now, if you’ve had new mid cycle bleeding and have a history of abnormal cells, why aren’t you going to see your gp?

Hi there, Me again.

Still really worried. So on CD 27 following my last posts, my period got heavier. So I don't know whether that was my actual period, and from CD 21 was spotting?

Anyway, since then, on CD 9 I had spotting for a day (like last month)
Then had cramps for a week afterwards.
Have come on my period today on CD 19.

I've been referred now for investigation, but i'm terrified the cause of all this is something really awful.

I'm glad you've been referred. If they can work out what it is you can get advice and help. I advise you also get private fertility tests and see a fertility nutritionalist if you can afford it. I saw one for £500 for 5 appointments and it changed my life.

Doctors don't always do everything they should to support women's health and the NHS is overburdened but still it's good you're taking action.