Is this normal? Periods

[Paninaro94]

Until the end of last year my periods were completely regular, almost to the hour. 28 day cycle, 5-6 days long. This year everything is totally messed up:

January: a light, two-week period from first sign to last sign

February- normal period

March- skipped altogether

April- normal period, maybe a little heavier at times but nothing too out of the ordinary.

And now, more than a week early, I am feeling like I am about to come on again. My boobs are aching and my pelvis definitely feels like my period is about to start. Even my vaginal discharge is as it would be just before a period.

I think my question is, how do I approach this part of my life? What is ‘normal’ (if there is such a thing) and do I need to see a doctor at all? What will they be able to help me with anyway? Other than this, I feel very well at the moment with the exception of sometimes waking up in the night which I have experienced for a while now.

Sorry if this is a bit of a non-situation but I don’t have anyone else to ask really. My mum died before we ever got to talk about her menopause and my best friend’s periods were normal and just stopped one day and that was the end of that.

Would be grateful for any advice or just a few words saying it’s normal.

It sounds pretty normal. I wouldn't bother the doctor with this.

Thanks @Hoglet70. I don’t live in the UK so do have a gynaecologist, I will ask her about it all next time I see her, rather than make a special appointment

I had a year or so when I had periods every two weeks, proper periods. Then they became erratic until eventually they stopped. I had a 'surprise' period after a year of none and then they stopped for good. The only extra symptom I had during the periods was burning sensations in my breasts.

Your erratic schedule sounds normal, I just carried tampons and pads at all times just in case.

How old are you op?

Sounds completely normal to me. I had a similar thing,that went on and off for over 3 years, I'd go a few months with nothing,think that was it,then get the period from hell. Some months I'd have spotting,but no period,some months,back to normal.
I was 55 in October last year,you think that I'd be done with it now,but no, my last period was this January. Nothing since then,but who knows. According to my GP, I was the exception to the rule 2 years ago,for still having periods at 53. Fantastic!🙄

Thanks everyone, I won’t worry in that case. Just take it as it comes. I have been carrying pads and tampons with me as a rule and will continue to do so.

I’m 49 so it’s not a surprise, I just wondered if my pattern was normal (if there is such a thing) and whether I needed to be concerned.

oh this is driving me crazy too.....in the last 12 months my cycle has gone 28, 33, 36, 30, 29, 30, 19, 44, 18, 23, 30, 28 days, and currently on day 32 but had serious PMT cramps and back ache a week ago!! The longest at 44 days was after I had Covid and that happened after the first vaccine a couple of years ago too. I'm HRT patches and apparently you're supposed to have a bleed just after stopping the 2 weeks of progesterone patch but my womb clearly hasn't got the memo 😤

Sounds like perimenopause to me.

It’s normal i think, in the last 4/5 years my shortest cycle has been 11 days, the longest 137, and everything in between. Sometimes so heavy it’s unmanageable, sometimes so light its barely noticeable.
I’m 47, and looking back first peri symptoms were in my late 30’s…I’m hopeful the end is nigh!

I started my period today so a 19 day cycle. The last one was as about 50 days.

Fed up of it already. Oh well, here goes….