Is this perimenopause or a m/c?

[onesandwichshort]

I've had a very odd time with my usually very regular cycle for the last couple of months. Firstly I skipped a period, which I put down to stress, because I was stressed to the point of panic attacks.

Then this month my period was late, and started with a week of spotting then dark blood + a bit of mucus. Finally it started on Friday, but ever since then it has been mostly blood with very little gunk (apart from one round chunk the size of a 50p that I saw in the toilet). It stops, then starts again with more strong pains. No sign of stopping yet, and it feels a lot like an early miscarriage to me (I've had three before, but much later on)

I did wonder before this whether I might be pregnant (had slight nausea, much fuller boobs, breathlessness) but then google tells me these might be signs of the perimenopause too so I have no idea at all. Oh, and I'm 46.

So should I got and see a doctor, or just sit it out and decide that it's my age?

Have you had unprotected sex? If you have then it could well be a miscarriage.

My sister is also 46 and has started her menopause. She went through stages of feeling sure she was pregnant (full boobs, strange taste in mouth etc) to the point of getting hysterical because she didn't want any more kids.

I've also had very heavy, clotty bleeds which are a pita.

I would advise a trip to the GP just to check anyway as it could be a number of things.

Thank you - I've got a drs appointment coming up so will mention it then.

Definitely worth mentioning as a heavy clotty bleed could also be sympomatic of other things. However you are at the age of a peri-menopause too. My sister went on the pill eventually after her third pregnancy scare and that's calmed down her periods as well as provide that extra reassurance, but the pill's not for everyone. Hopefully your GP will be more helpful

well were you doing anything that was likely to cause pregnancy?

That will be a yes - four years of failed TTC seemed to suggest that contraception wasn't really much point