Periods have changed. WARNING: TMI OVERLOAD

[AnuvvaMuvva]

I'm 41.

My periods always used to be those of a faint disposition, look away now 4/5 days long. They'd start with pinky stuff, go red on Day 2, bleed consistently till day 5 and end with browny stuff.

For the past 3 months, they have started with RED blood, often quite a dark, arterial red, last for 2 days then just stop. They also are a bit more dry. There's no kind of (sorry!) pinky discharge with them (look, i did warn you about the TMI), it's just blood.

Am I going to die?

Are you up to date with smears?

I'm late 30's and mine have started changing. I've read up a lot on perimenopause and a lot of it makes sense.

I don't think you are going to die any time soon!

Thanks! I am up to date, but I did have to have a colcoscopy (?) about 4 years ago. Oh God. But the bleeding is only around the time if expect to have a period, it's not mid-month.

((breathes into paper bag, kisses children)) Maybe I'll see the GP.

Around the time I'd* expect to have a period

I really would try not too worry, I've spoken to loads of women in our age range who have the same with periods. GP is a good idea to put your mind at rest, and it's reassuring that you are not bleeding other than when you would expect your period.

My periods became much more bloody in my early forties. I actually became a bit anaemic. I find that taking as much Ibuprofen as I safely can on the first few days helps a bit.