GP or just the menopause?

[JayGatsby]

My period started yesterday, just two weeks after the last one. It's bloody painful too. And not entirely normal (more like lochia, if my memory serves me correctly).

Is this odd enough to bother a GP with, or is it Just One of Those Things? My imagination is making me worry about various cancers, but I realise it could be (gulp) the menopause.

I'm 39 and had the last of my 3 children 3 years ago. Periods have been at 3-4 week intervals in the last year.

Am going to down some paracetamol now.

Oh yes, and it was unexpected because there was none of the usual PMT. And the pain is unusual.

It can't be a miscarriage btw, because DH has had the snip and we don't get around to DTD very often any more!

Thanks, katiegg.

Go and see your Gp.

I think I would go to the GP about this. Although your body can throw a lot of Weird Stuff at you during the menopause, a change in menstruation should not be ignored just because of your age. But there's no need to worry; one condition that becomes much commoner as you get older is adenomyosis (characterised by abbatoir periods with clots) which is benign but bloody inconvenient, and is unfortunately one with very few treatment options (though quite a lot can be done to alleviate symptoms).

Getting a gynae once-over should establish what is going on, and therefore what can/should be done about it. If it is early menopause, then you'll need to discuss HRT.

Ring the surgery.

You could ring for advice, but (veteran of quite a bit of gynae stuff) you can go any time for first appointment to discuss symptoms and what to do about them.

Yes, you can expect a (dildocam) scan, but that'll mean a hospital referral. Even if your GP has on site scanning, it'll usually mean a second scan appointment, and you can ask about timing when discussing the referral. If bleeding becomes very irregular it becomes impossible to schedule round it. I'm not sure what they recommend if you're full flood, but bleeding a bit is not IIRC a complete no-no.

Any such changes should be reported to the GP and you need to be seen asap. GP should also now refer you to a gynaecologist rather than just give you pills; the cause of this needs to be determined properly.