I am 40, could I be pre-menopausal?

[KissingUnderTheMittsletoe]

My periods are all over the place, but I am not going for long times in between More the opposite. I get random 'period' type pains at any time and bleed or spot randomly. I am not due on until about 31st Dec. But have come on again.

Wondering a similar thing - in the last year I've skipped two periods altogether, some come early and now I've been on for a fortnight - I'm 39. Not sure what is going on - guess I should go to the doctors.

I haven't missed one yet...which is more of a sign I guess... but something is definately different..

Early menopause would be fab!

Welcome to the club

Interesting. Am wondering the same cause after 20+ years of a set-your-watch to it 28 day cycle I am now anywhere b/w 21 and 25 days. Also they are just different - some light, some heavy, some w. PMT, some without, or at 'wrong' time. Went to doc who said not (pre-menopausal) but something has changed.

I'm 38 and want another dc so am worried

I am sorry about that wb, although I believe you remain fertile for quite sometime don't you? Because they tell you not to rely on it until you are given the all clear or something.

OK..I have googled so take this with a pinch of salt...pre-menopause can last for up to 6 years and true menopause isn't counted until you have been without a period for a full 12 months, and you can be fertile for all of that. So I don't know what your plans are but that seems to give quite and extended time.

Hope it is all OK for you.

Maybe this is why I have started bursting into tears every time someone is spontaneously nice to me!!

Thanks, KissingUTM, 6 years is quite re-assuring. Tell you what though, every 28 days was bad enough but every 21 really sucks.

(That's not too nice, is it? You won't cry, I hope )

No, no, I'll be OK.....

wb - fingers crossed you'll be fertile for some time to come. But sounds same to me something definately different, I was always 29 days exactly and hadn't skipped a period in 25 years (except when preganant). Now they are very different, just like you say. Did the doctor offer any suggestions or any tests?

''? Unexplained weight gain ? Headaches ? Mood swings ? Lower sex drive ? Depression ? Irritability ? Inability to handle stress ? Fibrocystic breasts ? Uterine fibroids ? Endometriosis ? Low metabolism ? Instable blood sugar ? Water retention ? Hot flashes ? Vaginal dryness ? Irregular periods ? Pain in the joints or stiffness

But what's important is why these premenopause symptoms or premenopause and symptoms begin. Somewhere in the 30's or 40's, women begin to experience a gradual slowdown of their reproductive cycle.

As a consequence, their hormonal balance can begin to change, resulting in having premanapause (premenopause) symptoms, premenopause and symptoms or pre menopause symptoms.

And hormone balance, in turn, is very much related to stress levels, poor nutrition and environmental toxins found in our daily living. And without ovulation, your body does not produce progesterone.

Most women seem unaware of this fact - the LACK OF PROGESTERONE can cause premenopause symptoms or premanapause. Finally, besides the deficit of progesterone in the body, most premenopause women experience higher than normal levels of estrogen.

For more information go to the women's health bookstore to read more about symptoms of premenopause, premenopause symptoms, menopause symptoms, endometriosis, breast cancer, low libido, arthritis, fibroid tumors, progesterone and pregnancy.''

Quote from a website...it makes sense, but will still maybe see a doc.

At KUTM and WB - please try not to worry - I was diagnosed as being menopausal (NOT perimenopausal) at the age of 38 (after two lots of FSH tests) and told it was highly unlikely I would conceive naturally. Six months later I was pregnant with twins - one year after their birth I started on HRT.

herecomesantaclause - no, no tests. Got the impression that because I wasn't missing periods it wasn't an issue.

Had recently had full general bloods work up for something completely unrelated so I guess we knew my blood sugar, thyroid function, cell counts etc were fine.

Go to the Menopause forum here.

Lots more info.

Menopause forum....

It would be nice to have a genuine excuse for some middle aged battyness.

LOL- you can be peri menopausal 10 yrs before periods stop.

If you do have an early meno- periods stop before 45- then you do need HRT to protect your bones, up tot he age of average meno- 50/51.

Cycles do not have to stopto show you are peri-meno. I speak as one who knows- I am now post meno at 54, but did not miss a period at all until just before they stopped at 53, and then it was stop-start for a few months, but no really big gaps.

Cycle went a bit haywire at 51- 17 days in between periods at one point.

Think I'll have to go to doctors I'm wondering if its more physical than hormonal as I don't feel especially hormonal - in fact I feel less hormonal than I normally would during my period.... I'm now on day 16

it's called peri menopausal. i think i might be at the beginning of peri menopause. my periods seem to come every 24 days at the moment, and have done for about 8 monthsnow. v annoying.

i'm 39. i thought cycle would lengthn not shorten.

I'm 45 and get night sweats (especially after drinking red wine!!). Periods are definitely different too. Encouraging in some ways to know that it goes on for years, it makes me feel very old.....

wb, don't worry yet. if your cycle is every 21 days, then you have 17 or 18 chances of getting pregnant next year.

you may not ovulate every single time though. you might miss the odd month at this stage (38). get ovulation sticks and use them ... expensive but cheaper than fertility treatments. so if you look at it that way, 'cheap'.

Menopause forum is v helpful, I visited it a while back (then went on hrt ).

Perimenopause can account for just about every weird variation of periods after 35 or so...even so, I'd definitely see a doctor because spotting and change in periods should be reported/looked into just to be safe.

Doctors will tell you are not premenopausal because you're still getting your period and the test you take will come out normal uless your not getting it. In my opinion doctors suck! I just found out I am going through it because my menstrual started coming 20-24 days rather than 28. I started having symptoms 2 yrs ago, digestive problems, A LOT OF STIFFNESS, depression, arthritis, not being able to sleep, and more. All I can say is take care of yourself and read a lot of premenapause. Go on this website called women to women health and you can even call them for advice!

Good luck for someone who has been through it!