Why has this happened?

[snowedin]

I am nearly 43 and have been lucky to have pretty regular periods that have never fluctuated by more than a few days. To my surprise I have just "come on" again only 2 weeks after my last period. Does anyone else have experience of this and what might cause it? Is it worth mentioning to the doc or should I just wait and see if it happens again?

The change?? I would see Doc though, they will do a blood test I expect....

Wait and see if it happens again but I went through a long stage of 2 periods a month last year. Possible causes are:

a) early menopause onset. Yes, some lucky women find their periods speed up before they slow down. Can be determined by hormone tests.
b) fibroids (benign growths in uterus). Internal and external ultrasound scan - uncomfortable because you need the fullest bladder in the world.
c) they'll do a smear test and take swabs to check for infections
d) just a random blip.

Agree it could be a sign of approaching menopause. Your cycle can become much more irregular-more or less frequent, heavier, lighter etc.

Any other symptoms?

Hassled have your periods settled down now and did you find out what caused it?

Tiggi no other real symptoms. Came as a bit of a shock although I had been feeling pre menstral and the kids have been really stressing me out.

Yes, they're more or less back to normal - I put it down to a blip, but never actually sorted the hormone level tests for early menopause (fibroids, smear test all clear).

But recently, i.e. a few months since the double periods stopped, I've had a few unmistakeable hot flushes, so I think it probably was the first sign of the change. Early at 42, but not unheard of.

Gosh, I seem to be posting this every day on MN at the moment I too have had the same problem. I am 44 and have had a cycle as regular as clockwork until a few months ago. I suddenly went from periods every 21 days to having them every 8 days. The GP was sympathetic but couldn't really offer much help apart from to advise me to keep a diary of my cycle.

I started taking Agnus Cactus, a natural hormone regulator, just over 3 months ago and my cycle is not only back to normal but I feel wonderful! The mood swings and sleepless nights I was also experiencing have disappeared too. I feel like a human being again! HTH

PS the GP did say it was a possibility I was experiencing perimenopausal symptoms and the mixed up cyle was due to a progesterone blip. She also said that it would be a waste of time doing the hormone test I asked for as it is hard to distinguish until the actual menopause is reached.

You can have perimenopause symptoms for about 10 years before proper menopause.
I am 46, mine started getting a lot shorter/heavier and very painful about 2/3 yrs ago,I had scans and it showed I had some small endometrial cysts on my ovaries, but my symptoms were put down to perimenopause rather than the cysts. My periods got completely erractic beginning last year but have settled down again.

Thanks for all your replies. xxx

TimeForMe Can anyone use Agnus cactus? I am terrified of taking anything to do with hormones as my Mum died of Oestrogen dominant breast cancer.

Yes, as far as I'm aware they can. It is recommended for women trying to conceive too but they do have to stop taking it when they become pregnant, just as you would have to do with most supplements.

As it is a herb that works on regulating the hormones and not actually a hormone I would think you would be fine taking it

I feel better than I have in a long time,I hadn't realised I was feeling quite so bad until I started to feel better. It does take about 12 weeks to feel the full benefits but I started to feel a difference after 2 weeks, and it just got better and better!

I am recommending it to everyone at the moment. I should be on commission!

PS my grandma dies of breast cancer too and I myself have had a scare but the GP showed no concern when I told her I was taking it, she did say she was going to suggest I take it herself so I'm sure if there was a problem relating to breast cancer she would have told me. HTH

Thanks xx