At what point do you go to the gp with period problems?

[FoxFoxSierra]

I would be very grateful for any advice here because I don't know if my issue is so minor I will make myself look like a hypochondriac or if it does actually warrant investigation. I am the biggest doctor avoider and I don't actually have a gp at the moment which will be easy enough to resolve but I don't want to go and have them send me away with a patronising comment!

So basically I am 35, not on any hormonal contraception - no coil either and definitely not pregnant and haven't been for several years. Up until recently very regular non problematic periods. A few times over the last year or so I have had a few days of light spotting in the week before my period which I was never really concerned about but over the last 2 months this has happened a lot and my periods have gone a bit crazy. Last month my period came a week early and then this month I had spotting that started a week after my previous period finished lasting for 2 weeks, 1 day of actual bleeding (again 1 week before it was due) nothing for 2 days and since then (10 days now) light spotting which is just there when I wipe. I am under a fair amount of stress at the moment which I am thinking is the most likely culprit but I'm also a bit concerned that something else might be up. Dr Google tells me it is way too early to be getting menopause symptoms!

Any ideas anyone? If I was to see a doctor what things would they be likely to do? Tia

With problems such as yours I think. You need to get it checked out OP.

Make a diary of some kind, see your doctor. I'd say you are too young for menopause. Your doctor may suggest some tests. Perhaps thyroid?

Thank you, I was afraid you would say that! Ok big girl pants on and off to the docs I go!

Yes you should go and get checked out. Anything out of the ordinary is worth getting looked at and no way are you wasting anyone's time.

Start keeping a diary which will no only help you but also your gp when you go to see them. I started getting erratic spotting and periods, but really really heavy, so slightly different issue to you. Mine turned out to be a huge polyp which I had removed and touch wood no issues since.

Thanks Olives, I will. Such a shame some bad experiences with hcps can make us feel so guilty about seeking help.

X post longtom, thank you! I have been marking the dates on my calendar for a few years now to avoid the caught out in white trousers scenario so I'm all good to go once I psych myself up.

Women get the menopause in their 20s, there’s no such thing as “too young” for most things, but you don’t seem to have the symptoms of that :)

Definitely get it checked but hormone imbalance, follicular cyst (benign, really common, usually go on their own), stress, polyps, are quite common causes for what you describe. Also have a think of you are getting any other symptoms in conjunction, even if they seem unrelated: stuff like spots, extra hair, headaches, worse PMT etc. Anything really that’s different to what you normally have.

Oh and cervical erosion is really really common: benign bleeding from the cervix, doesn’t cause or mean anything other than being annoying :)