Can cycle get shorter as you get older?

[lissyloddiswell]

I am nearly 42 and the past few months I have ovulated around day 14 but then started period on day 26 or 27. I have always had a cycle between 30 - 38 days. Is this usual?

Not sure but think I have read that the cycle shortens after 40. Mine was never as long as yours but has shortened a little to around 27 days. Will be interested to hear what others say.

age 40, that is...

I'm 37 and my cycles are regularly 24 - 26 days - they were 23 at one point but seem to have settled on about 24 days.

Thanks for your messages. My ovulation day has also got earlier. It used to be anything between day 15-20 but now it seems to be 14 or 15 every month. Saves me a fortune on ovulation sticks!!

Mine have definitely shortened. As a teenager and in my early twenties they were around 31-34 days, by my late twenties they were down to about 29-32 days, now in my early thirties they are more like 27-29 days plus in the last year I have started spotting for up to 5 days before af arrives. I haven't really kept track of when I ovulate so I don't know if that has changed. It doesn't seem to have made a difference to my fertility though. I already have two dc and got another BFP last week after only a few months of ttc.

I'm 40 now eeeek! My cycles used to vary between 26 and 31 days, over the last year they've been mainly 27 days, but that's still normal! Anything between 23 and 35 days is in the normal window apparently. I choose to look on the bright side, a regular 27 day cycle means I squeeze in an extra cycle or two each year :)

My dr said yes - down to 21 days. Apparently a phase before the lengthening out in proper peri menopause

Mine have. Really random in my mid-20s including a year of about 60 days aged 24. Then settled in late 20s to a regular 29-30 days through to when pg with DC1 at 31. They had dropped slightly to a regular 27-28 days at 33 when I became pregnant with DC2. At 37 they had been at 25 days without fail for a whole year. I still fell pregnant easily with DC3 the first month we tried so it hasn't seemingly affected fertility. Always clear signs of ovulation 14 days prior to period even though overall cycle has changed. Periods have also got heavier and more symptomatic over time too but thankfully tend to be over in 2 days, 3 max.