Changes in cycle and other bits

[MissStrawberry]

I am 41 and my last few periods have been different from usual, mostly lasting longer with ovulation signs being incredibly obvious. Pre having my children I doubt I was ever aware of any physical signs of ovulation. I have suffered from PMT but manage it as well as you can but now I am feeling a hormone dip right after ovulation which is just like PMT. It is freaking me out, I don't like it and I don't understand it. I am also finding that I am very sensitive down below and easily become aware of it (not in an aroused sense). I know this sounds stupid (and TBH I am feeling really bad at the moment so may be worrying over nothing) but I am genuinely looking for advice as I never had a clue things would change in my 40's.

Hi there. Things certainly do change and sometimes before you hit your 40s! I'm 38 and have been in perimenopause for a while now. I began getting symptoms a couple of years ago. Irregular periods and periods that are lighter and shorter than before. I suffer from PMT like symptoms 2 weeks before a period now, i'm really moody and irritable and can get quite depressed. Are you certain that you are ovulating ? You could be having anovulatory cycles, which means you have a bleed like a period but it's actually not atrue period as you are not ovulating. You need to make a n appointment with your doctor and ask for a Day 3 FSH blood test which measures your hormone levels. The higher the FSH level on day 3 of your period usually indicates ovarian decline which is usually the start of menopause.

Yes me too. I'm also 41. Missed a couple of periods, then ok again, then shorter and lighter, now further apart and heavier. I'm a moody cow as well. Hot at night, flashes sometimes. If I'm having regular periods I don't have hot flashes, it's when I'm on a longer cycle that I do. I had a blood test a few years ago and the results said 'fsh levels consistent with menopause'. Charming. Want to go on hrt ASAP really, there is NO WAY I'm accepting another symptom, which apparantly is vaginal atrophy

I assume I am ovulating. It fits in with 14 day after my period started. I definitely have a bleed and this is lasting a bit longer than the usual 5 days. I don't think I have had any hot flushes and I think I would know as I am often cold so would appreciate the heat! I don't feel bothered enough to go to the GP more just wanted to see it was normal before I panicked something was wrong.

I would say you are most likely in the very early stages of perimenopause when you first begin to notice slight changes to your cycles. You are probably years away from actual menopause as yet.