Perimenopause - does this sound normal?

[Geminijust]

56 and still in perimenopuse 🙄. A couple of years ago my periods became extremely heavy and closer together, often less than 3 weeks apart. As they typically lasted more than 10 days, I was on an almost permanent period! I do have fibroids which doesn't help and after some surgery to improve but not remove them my periods got a bit lighter. They then started getting further apart. For much of this year they've been around 5 weeks apart and much lighter - often mostly brownish blood that stops & starts and barely requires a tampon. I have also had occasional spotting in between periods but even that hasn't happened for a while. I was therefore hopeful the end was in sight! My last cycle was 38 days which ended with a very light period so was keeping my fingers crossed I was almost done. Then, 2 days ago on day 18, I started spotting brown blood and this morning its turned bright red and seems a bit heavier. I feel very despondent and wondered if this sounded normal. Will my periods ever stop?!?

Anyone had similar?

Thanks x

I think at day 18 this constitutes bleeding between periods and I’d push for a gyne referral to give you a full check over. You’ve had a recent smear?

Hmm, 18 day cycles have not been unusual for me since I've been peri, just not lately as the cycles have been lengthening. This does now feel like a proper period. Am actually due a smear.

It’s been two years at least if I’m reading your post right? So it’s worth investigating, they’d probably start with a smear. See if you can get it to be more than a HPV test, that someone will actually check your smear for CIN type cell changes.

I don’t think anything is wrong, I’d just want peace of mind in your shoes.

No - I've only settled into this 5 week pattern these last few months (March I think). Prior to that I was all over the place, cycles ranging from 17-26 days, some even shorter than that (had one that was 12 days!) as well as random, in between bleeding I have a long history of random bleeding spanning 10 years and have had 3 lots of surgery & investigations for this that has never found anything more than fibroids. Last one was 18 months ago (hysterocopy, fibroid resection & biopsies, all clear). The benefit of the surgery was lighter periods which started spacing out after a while. My question was whether it was normal for periods to go back to closer together after starting to space out. Hopefully, it's a one off and they will continue spacing out before stopping completely soon! If it persists, I will go back, not least because it's a bloody nuisance (although not heavy anymore) just I thought I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I will also book the smear (recently had invitation letter, just not got round to it yet).

If I'd known 10 years ago I would still be having periods at 56 I would have had the hysterectomy that one doctor suggested. However, I figured I must be quite close to menopause then so not worth putting myself through the surgery (keyhole not an option for me apparently)

I had periods until age 56. In fact I was almost 57!

My periods were erratic for 4 years! Nightmare.

It's now a full on heavy period - so frustrating after months of light manageable periods.

I had no period for 11 months. Period came at month 12! I had lots of erratic periods prior to this. Personally and only to ease your mind, I would speak to a doc. But to me it sounds peri menopausal.

I think that to be on the safe side you should see your GP and expect to be referred for a scan of your uterus.

Still having periods at 56 is not unheard of but 80% of women are post meno by 54.

@Geminijust no suggestions just empathy from someone also wondering when it will all stop!! I'm 54 and since I had a coil fitted 6 years ago my periods have been much more manageable - after years of heavy and erratic cycle its been heaven. However they are still coming every 26 days albeit getting lighter and lighter!! Hope this is your cycles last 'hurrah' and you get no more bleeding once its done x

Yes, I had heard about the last hurrah and am hoping this is mine! I will see my GP after holiday although I already have a 10 year history of fibroids (for which I've had 3 lots of surgery) and erratic bleeding. My uterus is full of fibroids!

Not on the NHS you can't. The nurse can't override the national protocol. If she rang the lab they'd just say no.
She also needs swabs and a gynae exam and possible referral.

Probably a really stupid question, but I've been taking Menopace tablets the last few weeks, could that affect my periods at all?Seen no improvement to my menopause symptoms at all - if anything they are worse, even hotter & sweatier than normal!