Age 45, periods now arriving every 20 days instead of 29 days!

[Summergarden]

Ugh, I’d almost been looking forward to the menopause to finally get rid of the monthly curse. But the last few months my periods have been arriving every 20 or 21 days. It wouldn’t be so bad except that since I was sterilised they’ve been very heavy, especially for the first 18 hours so I daren’t venture far from home.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I’m praying this will be a very short lived phase.

I spoke to the doctor about his as I’m sure when I was in my 20s and on the pill dh would now be buried under the patio and I was worried about going back on it due to this, she says as we get older our hormones change and the pill usually doesn’t have the same effect on your hormones as when younger .

but I thought anything was worth a try as my periods were becoming unmanageable due to flooding and length of them. I’ve been on it a month and so far so good but I’m closely monitoring how I feel on it just in case.

Thanks that makes sense!

That makes sense, I was a mess on the pill AND never wanted sex so never went back on after age 20. But I guess at that age we’re adding extra hormones on top of hormones we already have enough of?
Whereas now we’re replacing them? Not sure

I'm the same, 48 and every 18-22 days. Previously used to start every fourth Sunday lunchtime without fail. Now it's like an a 48hr bloodbath which stops just as abruptly as it starts. Can't wait for all this nonsense to be over!

Maybe it's the body's last ditch attempt at pregnancy so it fires off loads of eggs?

I'm in period misery atm also, they're now every 21 or so days, very heavy and I ended up on ferrous fumarate due to anaemia. I have fibroids in my womb but other things going on which makes me suspect peri but GP refuses to entertain it. Was told to get the coil but I'm doubtful it would help the other issues

I'm 48, from 45ish my cycles went from 30, to getting more like 20 days, really heavy with no tailing off. I now haven't had a period at all for nearly 3 months. I know it doesn't mean I'm done yet, but I just feel so much better.

Thanks that makes sense!
If you don’t want children/more children I would request partial hysterectomy in your case, having my womb out was the best thing I did. Freedom! I wish it was offered more as standard

I’m 52, mine used to be pretty regular every 28 or so days apart. For last few months though they could be a thing form 28-50 days apart so much more difficult to plan around. They’re also so much more painful and heavier - like a frickin bloodbath! 😑

There is a herbal remedy called Diosmin which reduces period heaviness. It’s made from the pith of grapefruits and oranges. It’s a polyphenol and often used for varicose veins. One of the things it does is shrink veins somewhat and a lot of women report lighter periods. Could interfere with iron absorption so best to take it at a different time of day. Hope it might help. I’m also anemic and finding Gentle Iron, two tablets with some vitamin C on an empty stomach is helping.

Mine did the same in my mid-late 40s. I went from a 28-day cycle to a 21, 22 or 23-day cycle. There was barely any time when I wasn't either bleeding or had PMS. I had a Mirena coil put in, which made them lighter and got rid of my PMS, so that was better, and then around age 50 my cycle suddenly got much longer - like 50+ days between bleeds. Now, as I'm presumably quite close to menopause, it's completely erratic and I get a lot of odd spotting and days of bleeding, followed by nothing for weeks. I can't wait for it to end!!!!

I'm 49yrs and been on the Combined Pill since l was 14yrs.... except when l had my 2DS. I nievely thought that when l came off the pill to have my boys, my periods would have reduced in severity...... ha ha ha.... no.

I'm absolutely dreading hitting 50yrs and being forced to come off it. I currently (touch wood) have no peri symptoms and no periods as l run my packs together.

I understand that the risks increase but if l go back to periods hell... I'll have to take hrt and the mini-pill...which may not agree with me. Why not just leave me on medication that works - especially as I'm fitter now than when l was in my 30s!!

Mine started to go like that at 43 and were very heavy. I was very anaemic. The last couple of years they spread right out and by 49 it was all over for me

42 here , a few years ago I started being 25 -35 normal ish flow , I had a couple of years of regular 29 day cycles now it's 25 -29 and heavy to the point I feel drained fir the first 3 days , scared to be out and the cramping and flu like symptoms are awful.

Just re hysterectomy - it’s tempting to see that is the answer to the problem and it can be but it should never be your first port of call. Even when knackered your womb is supporting your under carriage so to speak. Taking it out can have unwanted consequences. If it can be persuaded to behave with a coil or even ablation that’s the better option really.

Yes, me too! Over quickly though, only lasting about 3 days.

I’ve had a period while on the pill this first month and wow, what a different, more manageable, not heavy and I feel ok. Long May it continue.

i told dr I would try the pill for 6 months and see how I feel. So far so good.

Same! No fun at all.