Cycles in perimenopause

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Hi everyone. My periods started being a bit irregular just under 2 years ago. I've had 3 cycles in this time that were 33, 38 and 44 days. Not close together - and they often followed a shorter cycle of 22 or 23 days. Generally though my period starts around the 25/26/27 day point.

My last cycle though was 19 days and now I'm sitting out a 46 day and counting wait. Just wondering if anyone would feel OK to share if they had this type of pattern and whether they had period cycles of 40, 50 or even 60 days which is what the internet tells me could happen. I am 50, very fed up and stressed at work, obese but work out 3 or 4 days a week - have increases weights I use to 11kg and 14kg in the last month or so and not pregnant if any of those factors seem salient.

Thanks very much.

Mine started going irregular about 2.5y ago. They've varied between 17 and 65 days since then, though mostly longer rather than shorter. Length of bleeding has also varied from a couple of days, to a usual 5 days to 10 days. Last one was a 43 day epic, and I'm currently on iron tablets with a gynae referral next month as a result, just to check there's nothing else going on.

Mine went from 28 days to 19-21 days about 2.5 years ago. Occasionally 35 days. Then nothing at all for 6 months! Then 28 ish days again. Bonkers. I never know where I am. I am 49.

Thank you both so much for sharing your experiences. I was also talking to a work colleague today, who is about 3 years older than me and hers were mostly shorter cycles and longer periods.

EBearhug - do you mean a 43 day bleed or a 43 day cycle? Im probably just being thick cos I'm still at work and tired, but not sure!

Calminacrisis - it is bonkers! What you have described with absent periods sounds a bit like when my periods first started. Quite early - I was about 12 - and they were generally regular until I was 17 and then they stopped for no reason for about 8 months, then I had a MASSIVE heavy period (that started without warning when I was queuing outside Sheffield Leadmill to go and see Throwing Muses and I bled all over my Doc Marten's!) And then nothing again for about 6 months, another massive sudden bleed (ruining a sofa that time) and then regular until a few years ago.

Hope I don't get to revisit those days.....

EBearhug - do you mean a 43 day bleed or a 43 day cycle? Im probably just being thick cos I'm still at work and tired, but not sure!

43 day bleed. I bled from 21st Dec to 1st Feb inclusive. Currently on about day 64 since that started. Am on iron tablets and have a gynae appointment mid March.

Mine went from a pretty regular 24 day cycle with light bleeding to every other month being around 60 days, all bleeding became really heavy, I soaked through pads in 30 minutes. This went on for about 2 1/2 years until they pretty much stopped altogether.

Mine started freaking out.... nothing for 53 days then two in the next month. Then long absence again. Periods were incredibly heavy, soaking through night pad, pants pyjamas in under 30 minutes. Ended up putting puppy training pads in the bed so I didn't ruin the new mattress. I was eventually referred to gynaecologist and had the coil in. No periods for four years and officially in menopause at year 3. Next time round I'm coming back as a pampered cat 🐈

Also its not knowing when it's going to arrive..... carrying full change of clothes everywhere just in case 🥹

Oh wow. Thanks for clarifying and I really hope the gynae gives you some answers/support.

CrikeyMajikey and shellyleppard - thanks very much for posting. shellyleppard - I'm glad you found some relief with the coil. And the life of a pampered cat sounds good 🙂.

I am slightly prepared for a surprise period as because of another peri symptom - mild u.i. - I have replaced 80% of my knicker drawer with M&S period pants. So might help a bit!

Thanks everyone again who has posted, it has been really helpful.

Oh, this! I'm staying with friends at the weekend, and I have some premenstrual signs, but I no longer know if this actually means anything - so I'll be taking a range of protection, spare clothing, extra spare knickers... all just in case. It's also not helpful for planning dates!

Hi. Here are my cycles in days from tracking over the last year and a half - one was a 21 day period - all very heavy and awaiting gynae results. Agree with others the complete unpredictability is a nightmare.

19, 36, 23, 25, 31, 26, 16, 55, 34, 47, 78, 58, 56

It would be good to know what is ‘typical’ as there is anything from just stopping to this going on for years reported. Must be plenty of data in tracking apps now waiting for a study.

Must be plenty of data in tracking apps now waiting for a study.

When I first signed up to Clue a few years ago, it said it didn't cover peri. It does now offer it as a paid extra, but I doubt I'm the only one not paying. I'd be surprised if they're major outliers on this. So sadly, there may not be as much useful data as there ought to be.

Thanks for the new posts - interesting to see that pattern newyeardelurker and feeling considerable trepidation now as to where the next few months are headed!

Something I am finding annoying is I've had some mild cramping pains - the kind I would have at the start of a period and I keep thinking oh maybe now its here and it never is. Internet also suggests phantom period pains might be a perimenopause thing. Hurray!

I think you're right and the amount of data that's being collected on clue (the one I also use) and other tracker apps must be able to give some better ideas about what is 'typical'... I also don't have th3 paid app, but I did sign up for a free trial of the paid app and there was info on peri but no kind of special features I could see. So I cancelled before the end of the trial. I have noticed the functionality of the free app has been stripped right back to the bone - e.g. can't add symptoms now to track. I guess they have to make money off it somehow so can't whinge too much!

I realise this is a bit old now but @EBearhug did you get any answers about your lengthy bleeding? I am having similar issues with prolonged bleeding and have a scan in a couple of weeks. My gynaecologist isn’t concerned but I’m worried 😧

Not really. I have been to gynae - transvaginsl ultrasound. There's a small fibroid but nothing to worry about. So I have been signed off/ discharged by gynae. I've since had two mostly normal almost regular periods, though I'm now about 10 days over when a normal period would be (no complaints from me - I started a new job this week, and didn't really want to be dealing with bleeding on top of that.) My iron levels were good enough for me to give blood a couple of weeks ago, too. So it seems it's just one of thr joys of perimenopause.

Good luck for yours @cazb78.

@EBearhug Thanks for your reply and I’m pleased yours was nothing sinister. I had scans 2.5 years ago including a hysteroscopy and nothing was found so I’m crossing fingers it’s still the same. The gynaecologist said my cervix is fine and she can’t feel any palpable masses . Hopefully I’ll get some answers soon. The joys of womanhood eh!! Best of luck in your new job!!! X

@newyeardelurker please may I ask if you ever got any answers about your bleeding? I’m having issues myself (see above). Just wondered if you’d found any cause . Tia xxx

Hi @cazb78 I had a polyp removed and still have several fibroids. I think the polyp removal helped, haven’t had a long bleed since. Hope you get some answers.

Joining this thread if I may. I had irregular cycles all through my mid to later 30s until I had a miscarriage. From then they’ve been like clockwork 28 day cycles. However now that I’ve hit 40 I’ve had this weird pattern of light spotting for about 3 days followed by two days of super heavy flow, going through tampons like crazy. Then suddenly boom over. I actually look grey from the blood loss today! Does anyone else have this?
On a side note, I’ve found creatine excellent for reducing pre menstrual symptoms, brain fog and improving mood.

Hi Candoolili - sorry I only just noticed this additional post on this thread.

That sounds very similar to periods in my 40s where I would notice the 1st blood about the usual time for my cycle but it could take up to 5 days for it to start flowing properly and not just spot. And then it would be heavy for about 2 days (though that's been a characteristic of my cycle since it started when I was about kid). And it would stop pretty suddenly. It still happens now sometimes e.g. I just started a cycle 47 days after my last ken and 4 two days it was light spotting with brown blood.

I consulted a doctor in my mid 40s and had a TVU scan but nothing seemed to be wrong. So chalked it up to early stages of perimenopause. Like everything else!

Mine are nuts. I’ve been trying to book in for a smear since November. I’ve cancelled three so far. My cycles are unpredictable and I spot as well so I just can’t predict when I will be ok to go. When I last booked the receptionist asked when I would be mid cycle. I just laughed ruefully. I’ve got no bloody idea.

46 next month.

May to Oct 24, no period, 150 ish days.

Period in Oct, not very heavy, but kept thinking it was over and then more blood would shed (after sex), So it was a bit awkward.

Period in Nov. Was normal, then 5/6 weeks later had an odd period in December, I had all the pmt, no shedding. Then it shed almost like a pee, old brown blood peeing out, followed by fresh red blood. 16th Dec. Nothing since, but felt pms ey on 2nd Feb, had all the signs, wiped twice, very pale pink mucus, extremely pale pink. Nothing since.

I m achey, putting on weight, but happy enough. I think it's coming to an end.

Hoping I can jump on this thread please? In the midst of my first long cycle as no sign of period. Wondered if any of you are on HRT and if so whether you have changed regime after irregular bleeds/ longer cycle? I’m currently on a day 15-26 regime for utrogestan (200) Wondering if I should now move to a continuous regime (100)?! Also feeling pretty rubbish so wonder if this will help.

Hi peaceandfun. I'm on topical HRT - Ovestin vaginal cream x2 weekly. I didn't tolerate other HRT (worsened a vestibular migraine condition) so I also take Red Clover isoflavones supplement from Boots.

My last 6 months of cycles have been:
47 (current) 29 51 30 25 35.

Can't help.on the utrogestan question sorry. It's one of the pills I couldn't tolerate.

Hi I thought I’d update my never ending peri…

19, 36, 23, 25, 31, 26, 16, 55, 34, 47, 78, 58, 56, 36, 41, 28, 22, 32, 108, 23, 19, 37, 45 and counting

I do think I might be coming through it now though, periods are getting lighter and hot flushes easing off to be replaced with muscle aches and vaginal dryness 🙁

I’m not on hrt (yet) so can’t answer that.