Could this be perimenopause?

[niclw]

I'm 43 and haven't (as far as I've noticed) had any symptoms of perimenopause. Since i had my dc about 5 years ago my periods have been roughly every 4 weeks (give or take a day). For the last 4 days I've been having a little spotting (red) and the feeling that my period is coming in my tummy. There is zero chance that I'm pregnant and I'm expecting my period on Thursday or thereabouts. I'm not on any birth control. Could this be perimenopause? I've been looking online and it doesn't mention spotting anywhere but I thought that it might be a possibility. Any ideas?

I am older than you and recently had this for the first time- I went to the gp as it wasn’t usual for me and I wanted to get it checked. They referred me for an ultrasound which showed I have some polyps which might be causing the bleeding and I’m waiting to see a gynae. It could be peri but if you want peace of mind I’d see your gp

Any unusual bleeding should be checked out, so I’d be getting that spotting seen to. And yes, spotting can be peri.

Thank you for your advice. I think it is my period come early and extremely light but if it continues I will definitely get medical advice.

This is why I was searching through the forum!
Im 46yo, suspect I’ve been in perimenopause for a while now - my regular, fairly light periods have gone all over the place - very heavy, back to normal and down to 23 day cycle with the odd much longer cycle thrown in. But I never spot.
my last period was late, 30 days (been 24/25 lately), was quite light. Now I’ve been spotting each evening for 3 days, not enough for a pad just light pink when wipe.
I was searching to see if spotting is normal, I guess it is then

It's so confusing isn't it. I can't ask my mum for advice because she had a hysterectomy at 36. My spotting completely stopped after 5 days and I've had nothing since. My period was due on today. I'm going to see what happens over the next few weeks and if I get more spotting I will get a doctors appt. I find getting an appt a hassle at my surgery though as they don't understand that with my job I can't do phone call appts so they make it difficult to get an in person appt at a convenient time.

It is confusing. I also don’t have my mum to talk to about this, she died before menopause and I find if you google you get conflicting information
My doctor just says yes it sounds like perimenopause but doesn’t do anything really. My symptoms started a couple of years ago. Initially he said I was too young then, but my mums sister said both she and my Nan went through it early (about the only thing she’s confirmed unfortunately). I just bumble along taking comfort that I’ve had a smear etc and nothing unusual has come back 🤷‍♀️

I agree you should get it checked but this is exactly how my first perimenopause synptoms were. Something to do with progesterone levels. I'm now 48 and have had this since I was 42. It's a voting because my body is gearing up fir the period and I have spotting but no period for 5 days or so. I feel a lot of physical and emotional tension during this time.

I'm surprised your GP hasn't referred you for a smear or (God forbid) a hysteroscopy, they are normally very keen to do this, but yes, it could just be the hormonal upheaval of perimenopause starting. If you don't have a normal period this month that's more likely. But irregular bleeding between normal cycles is usually investigated and quite promptly (unless the NHS in your area really has gone to pot, that is).