I am 38 and my periods have become irregular - would you go to see a doctor?

[ceebeegeebies]

My cycle has always varied from 28 days up to 35/36 days but it was generally always a regular 28 days and then every now and again (about every 6 months or so), I would get a 35-day cycle.

However, it is becoming more like 35 days every time but I am now on day 39 and no sign other than a bleed on day 32.

I am unlikely to be pregnant as DH has had a vasectomy. Not sure if it is just me getting older or something that I should be concerned about.

You could go just to get your hormones tested if you are worried. It could be peri menopause.

With the possibility of appearing uneducated , what is the peri-menopause?

I have had a similar thing this year,

I have for years been very regular- 28 days to the day, but last year was 29,28,27,45,59,27,45,23,29,30,28

this year have been, 28, 34, 26,27,28, 22,21,40, 24, and am now on day 32 with no sign of anything. (good old iphone app)

am not happy about the shorter cycles though- though menopause meant fewer periods- I am a bit older than you though at 47.

I haven't spoken to the doctor yet, no other particular symptoms so haven't bothered

It's the time leading up to menopause where the hormones start to change which would cause a change to your periods.

Overactive thyroid can cause periods to get lighter. That was certainly an early sign of my hyperthyroidism but my cycle didn't change, just the bleed changed, got much lighter and shorter.

that's interesting Scott, because mine have become much shorter and lighter- I was celebrating that as part of menopause: off to Dr Google I think

Mmm, what other symptoms would you get if it was thyroid-related?

Not sure about the peri-menopause as I was talking to my sister who has been having a few health issues that she thought were related to an early menopause (she is 40). Her GP said it was highly unlikely to be that as women almost always go through the menopause at the same age as their mother which, in our case, was in her 50's. So if I am going through the peri-menopause, it would last about 15 years