Cycle length in perimenopause

[Cornishbelle]

Following on from another thread I've just read about someone questioning perimenopause as her cycle has got shorter - my gp advised me that my cycle getting shorter couldn't be menopause symptoms as "in menopause periods get further apart".

This is not true is it? I don't know whether to be more frustrated at myself for not learning this stuff about my own body, or my gp for not knowing. I am trying to learn more to help myself as not getting anywhere with the gp. He took my bloods and they came back 'normal'. Assuming it was FSH he tested for it should have been done on a particular day shouldn't it? I started my period three days later so was at the end of my cycle, but he didn't say anything about timing the test.

My cycle is now shorter than it was, the number of days I bleed for has reduced, and I'm 48. I had thought this was peri, but your GP wouldn't believe me...

And regarding blood tests for hormones, pretty sure they aren't considered reliable for the reason you mentioned!

Mine got shorter for a while but is now longer than it ever was.

Shorter cycles was my first peri change, cycle gradually went from 29-30 days to 22-23 over the course of about a year, I would have been around 46 when it started shortening. I'm 48 now and it's completely erratic at this stage, I can have anything from 2 weeks to 3 months between periods and I never know how long I will bleed for, my record is 8 weeks 😱

My cycle has shortened and become more regular. It's now 27 days whereas before it could turn up at any point from 30 days onwards.
My blood tests apparently all 'normal' too. Must summon the energy to go back to GP.