Is this a symptom of perimenopause?

[Tui76]

I am 43 and at my wits end. For at least 3 years now I have been dealing with changes to my monthly cycles that keep getting dismissed as 'one of those things" by doctors and specialists.

Basically the symptoms are:

• ovulation pain and heavy discharge during this time (previously I had no idea when I ovulated);
• shorter cycles - I've always had looong cycles (up to 40 days) but now they range from 21 - 27 days;
• a change in period blood consistency (sorry TMI) - hard to describe this one;
• feeling blah a lot of the month
• and now a new symptom - I had a period last week that lasted for 5 days. It was fairly light. It stopped for a day. And then came back! The bleeding is light but has been here for the past 3 days. This happened once 6 months ago. I took myself to the Gyno who did an ultrasound and apart form a couple of cysts nothing showed up. He refused to do a D&C. I have myself worked up into thinking it's something ominous and the fact that my back has been really sore these past couple of weeks doesn't help!

Has anyone gone through this and it turned out to 'just' be perimenopause?

Yes. All of it can be.

The stop start bleeding- I had that from mid 40s onwards but wasn't menopausal till 53. It's nothing to worry about and you have had a scan which showed all was ok.

D&Cs aren't done much these days.

Are you in the UK? Some things in your posts suggests not.

Thank you for your reply - makes me feel a bit better although can't fathom having to deal with this for another 10 years!

I am seeing my gyno again on Friday just to let him know of this new symptom (still bleeding) and see if he thinks any more tests are warranted. I have also had an increased need to urinate over the last 3 days and want to check that there isn't an infection brewing there.

I'm in New Zealand - what gave it away?