Heavy periods /peri-menopause affecting running?

[Whereisthehugeteddybear]

I've run regularly for around 20 years. During the last year or 2 I've really lost my mojo but that has also coincided with my periods becoming really heavy and more frequent. (I'm nearly 45)

Periods now are every 2-3 weeks. I did a race on 2nd weekend of October. It was day 2 of my period. I wore period pants (and a menstrual cup) and it went OK. The rest of the day required 2 changes of clothes from leaking.
Next period started on 23rd and has just finished today. Even on day 4 or 5 when it wasn't so heavy I had sort of dragging period pain in the pelvic area and tops of my thighs/quads.

I've been really despondent about getting slower and my times not being as good (DH just puts it down to age) but WIBU to think that my running might improve if I could sort out my period issues...? Has anyone else had similar?

Have you been tested for anaemia?

I started running in my early fifties, with heavy periods. Found it very hard and slow but kept going. I had my over-50 MOT later that year and discovered I was really quite anaemic. Iron tablets and a fairly strict schedule with juice (helps absorption) and tea/coffee (tannins inhibit) sorted it - and my running got loads easier! I was also strength training and doing bootcamp style classes - but it was the steady-state cardio involved in running that seemed to be hit the hardest.

My GP also prescribed both norethisterone (to delay periods if needed for eg hols) and tranexamic acid (to reduce the flow in normal months), and said my periods should absolutely not be affecting my life like this.

Speed does decline with age but this sounds like your periods to me. You can compare yourself using an age/sex grading calculator runbundle.com/tools/age-grading-calculator.

Thank you for your reply @MsMartini .I had blood tests about a year and a half ago and recently and all came back normal. Its good to know there are solutions to feel that running well might be possible again!

I had a Dr apt and she said I had a cervical ectropian which might explain it, although when I have googled it said it caused light bleeding. My periods aren't light though - I estimate (from the frequency of emptying the menstrual cup) on days 1 and 2 I probably lose 50ml/day. She referred me for an ultrasound and gynae. I've got an apt for ultrasound but still waiting for gynae apt.

Periods can for some women get mega heavy towards menopause. Mine did - I used a mooncup and pads and once measured what I could - half a pint not counting any fallout.

Once the ultrasound has been done maybe consider a Mirena coil. I had one fitted and it stopped my periods dead in their tracks. I also used it a couple of years later as part of HRT.