periods every three weeks, what's wrong?

[ScarletA]

Can it be the menopause - already!!?? I am only 40...

This has been going on for a few months now and I am wondering whether I should go to my gp and get bleedin HRT (forgive the pun).

Anyone know anything? Seem to be almost always on or premenstrual and it's starting to annoy me.

I have always had a cycle of 22 days but very quick periods of only 4 days and no real PMT. It doesn't seem strange to me.

However, if it is very different for you perhaps you should go and get checked out especially if your periods are a week or more long because that is too much bleeding.

talk to the doc about it - this could be fine or something could be going on - best find out

I'm 43. Mine are/were always very close together. About every 3 weeks.

Then after the dc I was on Depo contraceptive for a while so no periods. When I stopped that they were coming along ever 17-19 days and heavy too. I was getting very tired out with it. Not fibroids though apparantly. It might be worth getting a gynae to check you for fibroids.

Doctors only answer for me seemed to be to control with ongoing hormone medication (ie the pill) which I was trying to get away from.

Then I was offered thermo-ablation last May which has actually been a partial success. Periods are now lighter but erratic. Mind you I'm not sure if this is due to the ablation or my age. My mum had an early-ish menopause (40's) but it can take years to happen totally.

Ablation works for many people and wasn't too awful but only ok if you do not wish to have more babies as it destroys the womb lining.

Can the menapause really start at 40? Have no idea with my mum because she has been on HRT for decades (no joke - she says it keeps her young). Will ask her though.

Periods not very heavy, never have been, and last about 4-5 days. Used to have a 28-32 day cycle before so this is a change. Will make an appointment with GP...

Mine have done exactly the same thing - every three weeks over the lase 3 months, and I'm also 40! I was beginning to worry, but it seems relatively common on here

What is ablation, tsarchasm? What do they do and why? Sounds horrendous.

Don't think I have fibroids - very little in the way of pain or flow, just boringly frequent

Yikes - common? So that's what we have to put up with? Big sigh. Playing havoc with my family life - kids getting shouted at too much and sex life too interrupted...

Could be the peri-menopause. Not quite HRT territory but your reproductive systems are gently winding down.

The only way you will find out though is to have a hormone test.

Oh lord. That's so depressing. Peri menopause. What happens if you get the hormone test and it's positive - do they put you on something? Can't bear it that my body is doing this!!!

Found this link

First one I came to so I can't vouch for the accuracy but it seems going on the pill is an option for some.

I'm depressed now - I am 41 but all possible symptons are hidden by the Mirena coil. Dread to think what would happen without it!

Ablation is where you have a small op and the lining of the womb is destroyed (with heat) so you don't have periods anymore.

Your body still has a cycle of sorts but there is nothing there to build up and shed as in having a period.

Being the biggest coward in the county I do know how awful that sounds. I was pretty nervous about having it done. I'd never even had an op before. Honestly though it was fine. It did not hurt and it was a fairly quick procedure. I was up and about very soon and didn't even stay in hospital overnight.

Different gynae's use different sources of heat. With me they used hot saline/water, but others use a laser sometimes. Have a look
Here for the lowdown.

I promise it's not as awful as it sounds, but you need the doctor to refer you to a gynaecologist to discuss it. It doesn't always work, but it has a high success rate I believe. It didn't stop my periods altogether but things are much improved. There are threads on here discussing it too.

Not ok to have it done though if you are planning more babies as the womb lining isn't up to a pregnancy afterwards.

Thanks for the further bits of knowledge... it is a minefield of awfulness. I certainly seem to have some of the symptoms of perimenopause that your link showed me - though not all, thank gawd. How unutterably depressing it is to realise that this is indeed what is happening to me, bit by slow bit. The prospect of the ablation thing gives me the heebies and going on the pill is out of the question - have only used it twice in my life and gave up each time because of the complete death of my libido (what seemed to be the point in taking a contraceptive if I never fancied sex anymore??).

Big heartfelt sigh.

Hi all,

I'm almost 37 and started having periods every 3 weeks, they last 8 days. Just wondering is this normal as you get older. Thanks.

I’ve had 3 week periods past 18 months and I’m 36! I can’t be peri menopausal can I?

I went on the combined Pill at 16. Stayed on it until I had my DD at 24. After I had my DS at 27, I never went back on it but from then on, had a period every 3 weeks.

Yes, it’s annoying - you could solve it by going on the Pill which will either give you a false period every 4 weeks or you could tricycle the Pill and only ‘bleed’ every 3 months,