Shorter periods.. can i still get pregnant?

[marshyrun]

Hi all..

Just looking for some advice really and to see if others have experienced the same.

I'm 34, have 2 children with exH and have been with current parent 1.5 years. We've spoke about having a child together in the next couple of years, but what is worrying me is that in the last 4 months my periods have gotten a lot shorter than normal. I've been tracking it the last month and it seems I'm ovulating (pos ov test), but at the start of the year my period was 4-5 days long (full flow 3-4 days) and now they're only 2 days. I had cramps last Saturday, slight tinge when I wiped but didn't come on fully until Sunday, full flow all day Sunday, full flow Monday and come Tuesday it was just brown spotting. Today nothing.

Is this the start of perimenopause for me? Will I still be able to get pregnant a) having periods this short? B) during perimenopause (if that is what this is). I don't seem to have any other symptoms of perimenopause, but can't say I've been consciously looking out for them!

Thank you🙂xx

Hi @marshyrun
I started to have shorter periods too but i wouldn't worry hun, you can still concieve. I had a baby at 41 yrs old and due to have my second, i'll be nearly 43 yrs old xx

Get your AMH tested and follicles counted. This will give you an indication of ovarian reserve and how far away menopause is likely to be for you. FSH is another indicator too.

There are clinics that offer this testing as a package - a "Fertility MOT", which include sperm testing too.

As long as your periods are regular, the length of the entire cycle isn't a concern. It's more to do with how long your luteal phase is. You need your luteal phase to be at least 10 days, ideally longer than that so it allows time for the egg to implant before the uterus starts shedding.

So short periods are fine if you are simply ovulating early.

I would start tracking your ovulation using ovulation sticks and potentially temping. Lots of women have babies at 34.

I'm 28 and mine suddenly got shorter. I used to have 5 day periods, this went down to 3 days (2 days full, 1 day spotting) now they are practically 2 days, 1 day spotting and 1 day barely a full flow.

However I haven't had a period since July now, randomly. 🤷‍♀️ I tested to see if I was pregnant and negative. Tried contacting the doctors cos they told me to wait until I had missed 3 periods before they would do anything, spoke to a doctor today and he said they won't do anything until its been 6 months and it will sort itself out in time 🙄

The only issue could be if your periods are really light then you dont have enough of a womb lining for implantation to happen. That having been said 2 days proper flow is probably still ok - you don't need to be at super max tampon level to conceive!