Perimenopause or time for a pregnancy test?

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

I’m nearly 40 and a year ago my periods started being a lot closer together (24-26 day cycles instead of 30ish day cycles). I consulted Doctor Google and found out that it could be a sign of the very early stages of menopause. I’m currently day 30 of my cycle. Yesterday, I had some brown spotting and thought it would just turn into a proper period but today it has stopped. Is this a perimenopause thing? DH had the snip a year ago so I don’t think that it’s a pregnancy thing. But… I don’t know. It’s just a bit weird.

You’re a bit young for it? Any other pregnancy symptoms?

Hi OP

I'm the same age as you and going through similar issues for a few months now.

Cycles are shorter with the odd longer one and a bit of spotting prior to periods most months.
Yes, we are too young for peri but there is a stage from 35 where progesterone plummets In relation to oestrogen which galvanises the pituitary gland in to ramping up the ovulatory hormones as a response to lower egg reserves.
This causes the shorter cycles and the drop in progesterone causes the uterine lining to shed unevenly in the second half of our cycles.

You could be a decade or more prior to menopause and still have these cycle changes.
I have no other peri symptoms but have spoken to my GP and gynae about this.
There should be much more focus on cycle changes prior even to peri so that we know what to expect next, but of course there never is.

Having said that, do a test as stranger things have happened but obviously less likely if partner is effectively sterile.
Far more likely the post 35 hormonal drop.

Sorry forgot to add that longer cycles are probably caused by an anovulatory cycle. Which also fits in with the spotting.
This is again, increasingly common post mid thirties.

Did a pregnancy test and it was negative. Interesting what @Leemoe says about post 35 hormones and cycle changes - why isn’t that spoken about more?! I saw menopause peesticks next to the pregnancy ones. No idea if they are accurate or even worth trying at this stage. Did consider a game of peestick doing a pregnancy one and a menopause one 😂

This is interesting. I'm 40 and my cycles have become a lot shorter in the last year or so

A menopause test measures your levels of follicle stimulating hormone and is only really accurate for perhaps three says per month.

In any case, simply because you are experiencing age related cycle changes this does not really necessitate perimenopause in the absence of any other symptoms. Its just a sign that peri is a stage you many enter within the next couple of years. Our bodies do give us messages, unfortunately we just aren't educated to pick up on them.
Before I started reading heavily around the subject I rather assumed that it was a quick decline from fertility to menopause when actually the winding down of things can take fifteen years or so.

I'm 38 and just had a positive Menopause test as I have every symptom.
What do I do? I mean, I know going to see my GP is the first step but I've heard that they just put you on a waiting list to see a Menopause consultant and that is around 2 years! What's the point?!

@MadameMackenzie you are only thirty eight so you go to your GP ASAP as pre 40 menopause is taken seriously due to potential cardiac and cognitive issues/osteoporosis risk etc. You demand confirmatory blood tests and will almost definitely be offered HRT due to your young age if you are determined to be menopausal/at the end stages of peri.

Do you still have a regular cycle or is it sporadic?

At your age it will not be a two year wait. Your GP should be very proactive to protect your future health, please do not delay. Wishing you the best.

Im nearly 41 and for the past 6-7 months my cycle has been all over the place. Normally im like clockwork (28-30days) but cycles have been fluttering.. 22days, 25days 29days,33days 32days and now 40days. My period finally came 8 days late! Ive had some aches & pains occur etc my moods have been terrible - ive gone from feeling really emotional & crying to being happy and bouncy, but my biggest issue is feeling horrible about myself & doubting everything this can be an issue in my relationship as i tend to say some daft things to my OH and then i make him feel horrible... could this be peri?? Ive never experienced anything like this just wondering if anyone else is going through this right now