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Original poster

3 periods in 7 weeks is this normal?!

30 replies

Eulalia · 20/11/2007 14:26

Period 1 - started 1st Oct, next one 25 days later on 26th Oct and now this one started today again 25 days later. Is this normal? I feel completely drained as each period I have aching hips and legs and tired obviously and periods are quite heavy. Not taking any contraception at all so I assume this is just my natural body cycle. Prior to this my periods were 30-32 days and prior to that I had no periods at all, in fact hardly had any in the past 8 years due to long term breastfeeding. Prior to babies was on pill but prior to that - long time ago they were never this close together. I am 42.

Still feeding ds2 (age 2) hence reason for not wanting to take contraception and using rythmn method - just as well not been caught out!

Can I do a poll and ask MN's how long they have between cycles and has their cycle ever changed?

Thanks.

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 20/11/2007 14:43

sorry, don't have much time on here... you're sure that you couldn't be pregnant? have you done a test? periods behaving oddly aren't always periods, iykwim?

Original poster
Eulalia · 20/11/2007 18:48

I had implantation bleeding with last 2 pregnancies and it was much lighter than this. My last period was v heavy and this one looks like it will be the same.

Anyone else around?

OP posts:
Original poster
Eulalia · 20/11/2007 18:48

Oh and thanks for replying!

OP posts:
TheQueenOfQuotes · 20/11/2007 18:52

I don't know - but I was caught unawares yesterday when AF turned up 25 days after the last one started (and mine tend to last around 7 days - it's hardly been 2 weeks since I was last "on"). The one before that was 27 days, and the one before that 28 days...

Mine have always been pretty irregular really (always more than 30 days apart) , although they settled down a little after I had DS1 (roughtly 30-34 days between) and again after DS2 (about 32-36 days between).

To say that I was suprised when AF turned up yesterday was an understatement......I came storming out of the bath declaring "I Don't Sodding believe it"....much to DH's bemusement.

AitchTwoOh · 20/11/2007 19:02

but it might not be implatnation bleeding, though. lots of things can cause wonky periods but the smart thing to do is always rule stuff out with a pg test. for example, i've seen people report that they had periods with ectopic pregnancies so they were rather taken by surprise. not that i'm saying it's anything at all like that but i always think a pg test is a good idea in any case...

TheQueenOfQuotes · 20/11/2007 19:06

Aitch - I am NOT pg if that's what your thinking.....I can't be - we've been extra careful with contraception since DS3 was born

moopymoo · 20/11/2007 19:10

my periods got much much heavier after ds2 could be that. plus breast feeding can mess periods around. i now have coil - bf friendly copper is fab periods much better but not for everyone. see gp i say and take multivit with iron. might be 'normal' for you but still worht checking.

AitchTwoOh · 20/11/2007 19:49

lol, not you QoQ, i remember when you got pg with ds3...

Fennel · 20/11/2007 19:53

My periods have always been irregular and short cycles, except when on the pill, so for me 25 days between cycles would be normal. And feeling drained and tired would be normal too. But I was like this pre-children as well as now.

Whatever you do don't rely on the rhythm method if you are at all irregular. It won't work.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 20/11/2007 19:56

fennel - just out of interest - how long do your periods generally last?

Fennel · 20/11/2007 20:10

They vary. maybe 5 days.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 20/11/2007 20:12

ahh you see 5 days is a short one for me..usually 7/8 days (that's the only thing that's been regular about my periods since I started having them LOL). So I'm really hoping that 25 days isn't going to be "regular" - as it' means I'll be constantly "on" (or it'll feel like it with barely 2 weeks between the finish of one and the start of the next!)>

Original poster
Eulalia · 20/11/2007 20:15

Hmmm, it seems lighter now, crikey I bloody hope I am not pg! No, no, I have had all that dragging feeling. Need to get something sorted out though. Maybe no sex, god hardly seems worth all this hassle!

Mine seem to drag on about a week.

thanks for the replies, surely this would be far to early to test anyway?

OP posts:
Fennel · 20/11/2007 20:16

They are such a pain aren't they? Actually I think mine are a bit closer together post-children, I've been keeping a strict record (not wanting to end up with an accidental dd4) and I'd say before children the average was 27-28 days and now about 25 days. Though it's hard to tell as I've never been particularly regular.

Is it common to get periods closer together post-children then?

Original poster
Eulalia · 21/11/2007 10:03

Well I practically flooded the bed last night so def not pg.

Been doing a bit of research and found that 25 is classed as 'normal' in fact one web site said 21 days was normal what I found confusing was when do you actually ovulate? Is it always 14ish days into your cycle and its the 2nd part of the cycle that is shorter or longer or is it the ovulation day that is earlier when your cycle is shorter. Or can it be both? Does this make sense?!

OP posts:
horsesforcourses · 21/11/2007 10:19

Think my all time 'best' was 10 days between last period and next - and both were full proper jobs! (Seems some people just have very short cycles and bodies love welcoming af to stay!). Can promise dh that every holiday xmas, birthday, trip away etc - will be on (regardless of dates!) Its become a running joke!

Fennel · 21/11/2007 13:24

IIRC from ttc with irrregular periods, you ovulate 14 days before your period starts. So with irregular periods you won't know by timing it when you have ovulated, until too late. You can tell by other means, mucus consistency etc.

AitchTwoOh · 21/11/2007 13:44

the 14 day thing isn't right, i'm pretty sure. isn't it that you are likely to have a constant gap between ov and period, but it doesn't have to be fourteen days, could be ten or whatever.

Mercy · 21/11/2007 13:48

Eulalia, I hate to say it but it's most likely due to your age.

My periods started to go weird when I was 42 as well - anything from 20, 25 or 28 days.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/11/2007 14:14

"you ovulate 14 days before your period starts"

This assumption is incorrect. Ovulation is not an exact science and can occur earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. It is not always the 14th day!. With irregular periods ovulation is less likely to be happening regularly if at all.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/11/2007 14:15

Eulalia

I would see your GP with a view to getting a a gynae referral. It could be that you have fibroids (as these can cause heavy bleeding).

Fennel · 21/11/2007 14:40

Oh well, lucky I was never relying on ovulation charts or rhythm methods isn't it?

skibump · 21/11/2007 14:47

Eulalia,I've been wondering exactly this, pre-ds I had really light af and c 30 days between, now heavier and about every 22/23 days.I'd have thought they would get lighter and further between as you got older (I'm 39)

Now feel like I'm spending nearly half my life 'on' - it's a pain isn't it

Mercy · 21/11/2007 14:51

Not necessarily, skibump. My periods have been heavier and closer together for the last 2 years.

Anna8888 · 21/11/2007 15:02

I've always had a 21 day cycle when not under contraception. It's a real bore and the only "cure" is contraception.

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