Perimenopause? Spotting before and after periods

[ilovethesummer]

Hi, I posted this under general health earlier:

I'm 43 and have had heavy periods causing anaemia for the past few years. My mother starting having heavy periods in her early 40s and went through the menopause at around 46/48, so I assume I will follow a similar pattern. I've been to the Doctors about the heavy periods and she thinks it's my age. I had a smear a year ago, all fine, and an abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound 6 months ago, both fine. My GP also had a look at my cervix and said it looked fine.

My periods have always been very regular and normal, although has become shorter in the past few years, since I've had children, every 23/24 days instead of every 28.

6 months ago I had 4 days of spotting before a period and 4 days of spotting after it finished. So from start to finish was 2 weeks. I checked with my GP and she said it was fluctuating hormones and not to worry about it. She said that spotting for a few days before or after a period is quite normal (although I've never had it in 30 years of periods). Since then I've had a couple of normal (heavy) periods with just a few days of spotting before.

However this month I had an afternoon of spotting mid-cycle and then with my last period had 4 days of spotting before and after, so 2 weeks altogether.

Sorry this is long!!! Do you think these symptoms could be the perimenopause?

Thanks.

Anyone?

Very perimenopause and try not to worry.

Usually due to low progesterone.

I am post meno. I had some mid cycle spotting late 40s, many years before my periods stopped and was told it was probably hormonal.

I am puzzled how you think you have post period spotting as surely it is just a period petering out? Same with pre-period spotting- is it just a period that is slow to come to full flow? Anyway- all to do with low hormoes.

I had a friend who spotted constantly all month and she was given progesterone tablets by GP to sort it out.

Thanks for your reply purplepeony. It's interesting and reassuring to hear other experiences.

The reason why I think I have pre and post period spotting is:

Normally - for 30 years I have had periods where when my period is due I have no more than 12 hours of spotting and then a proper period which lasts between 2 to 4 days followed by 1 or 2 days of petering out.

Over past 6 months - 4 days of spotting before a period is due followed by 2 to 4 days of proper period, followed by 1 or 2 days petering out, followed by 4 days of spotting, some of which is fresh blood, as if my period is going to start again.

I'm hoping it's just hormonal.

If you have had all the investigations you mention then I am sure you are okay. I have had all that poking and prodding too as I have a small ovarian cyst which they are watching, adn they can see a lot with the scans etc you have had.

If you had a uterine polyp or anything wrong with your uterine lining it would have been found by now.

If it gets very bad, ask your dr for progestrone to regulate the bleeding.

oh -p.s- I used to get fresh bleeding a day or two after my period stopped- ie after 4 days of bleeding with a lighter flow daily, it would stop- then 2 days later start again for 2 days!

Thanks again purplepeony, it's very reassuring. I don't feel so worried now but will keep an eye on it.

i am 45 and i too used to have very regular af's, non descript af's. thinking about it at a guess that last couple of years, certainly the last year they have been getting quite unpredictable ie one cycle recently was 19 days and one cycle was 34. one month i might have light brown from spotting up to when af comes with mild cramping (used to think it was a pregnancy but unlikely) and some months it doesn't happen, sometimes i too get af's that seem to stop after normal 3/4 days bleeding then to come back a day later only light spotting and a different kind of red as opposed to dark af red. i went to gyni about 1 1/2 years ago re this, i had scans and he thought it was fine ie couldn't see any fibroids/polyps, ovaries looked fine and cervix seemed fine (he operated on my cervix nearly 2 years ago with CIN1 so he knows my cervix well!). i haven't had scans since then and i worry too that what if something had since 'appeared' but am hoping it is just normal 'female agining'. i can handle the discomfort and hormones as long as it is meno' related, i will go to dr if af's get worse. unsettling isn't it. i feel i have to wear a pant liner incase i suddenly bleed; i also dread going to the loo in a way incase i look down and there is blood, you just don't know if it is af (related) or something else. i used to when alot younger for years get mid cycle 'show' and at the time had it investigated but turned out to be nothing, i since found out some women do get this (at the time i didn't know of anyone), i don't really get it now as i doubt i ovulate, i always used to get ovulation pain, agony some months, but was handy when i was ttc my dd 8 years ago!! x isn't it good when it turns out by disclosing something about ourselves we discover that someone else is having the same thing!

Thanks kelway, it's reassuring to read your experience. I've also had the odd irregular period over the past couple of years, one cycle was 14 days and another 35 days, but it hasn't happened again. It didn't worry me as being over 40 you know that your body is inevitably going to go through some changes. Now I always carry liners in my handbag, you just never know! The spotting is more worrying as you know it could be a whole host of things. I spoke with my GP again and she doesn't seem too concerned but said to keep an eye on it. I had a scare last year with a breast lump that was found and had to have 3 biopsies and there was possible talk of a mastectomy as it was thought I had a rare type of breast disease. After a couple of months and a second opinion was told that I was ok although need 6 monthly checks. The whole thing was all a bit scary and I realise the importance of getting things checked out. Hopefully this is just hormonal.

I remember well the irregular periods, anything from 19 days to 12 weeks apart! That went on for a few years, and now at 52 have had nothing since December last year. The two previous were 6 months apart as well. I daren't assume this is my last, and like kelway always take supplies with me everywhere. I can highly recommend the Natracare and Nature Women ranges of pads and panty liners, lovely and soft natural materials and no horrid plasticky top sheet which I find really irritating. Natracare also do tampons, but haven't used them as I was afraid they wouldn't cope with flooding. Waitrose stock them.

A tip I got from a holiday review site if you're going on a cruise; take all your sanitary supplies with you. The onboard shop may not be open when you need them, they only open limited hours and carry limited stock! Also, some of the ports you stop at are not near towns, so no chance of going ashore.

Thanks girlywhirly, I wish I'd posted on here before as I've spent 6 months worrying about the spotting. I was aware that irregular and heavier periods were due to the perimenopause but not the spotting. Am feeling much better. Some good tips too! I'll check out the Natracare and Nature Women ranges. Anything to feel more comfortable!

Just need some advice here to stop me worrying myself silly. Im 47 and in August for the first time I had mid cycle bleeding. I cant even call it bleeding as it only happens when I get up in the morning. When I go to the loo and wipe myself there is a smear of brownish, light red mucusy mess on the loo paper. Once this has happened I have nothing else all day until the next morning and the same again, This seems to be about day 14 of a cycle and lasts for about 4 days and then nothing until my normal period, This has happened exactly the same for the last 3 cycles. Today I went to the GP in tears and she has ordered blood tests and an up to date smear so I'm now terrified Ive got cancer, Has anyone any ideas?? Im so stressed out about it all

Hi all I hope someone can help me. I'm currently 7 days late for my monthly cycle. I thought I had started on Thursday of last week but by early hours Friday morning I had nothing and since then nothing. What i had on Thursday didn't look like normal monthly cycle. I have done a test and it's negative. Please help I'm stressing. 🤔🤔🤔

Following this thread - hoping for some advice and terrified of something sinister too.
For the last 18months had terrible heavy periods but much shorter than usual with 'flooding' literally can not leave the house for the first and second days, nothing copes with the flow and the clots.
Around 5 or 6 months ago noticed 'spotting'/ brownish stained discharge mid cycle and the last 2 months it can be red streaks of blood in discharge when I have a bowel movement.

GP ordered a transvaginal ultrasound which apparently showed some cysts but they told me nothing to worry about and all tests for infections etc came back clear. Offered me a coil to help with the heavy periods but have so far declined.

Extremely worried that there is something more to this that hasn't been picked up and considering looking for a private gyno that will investigate further. They are always warning us that change needs to be looked at but I am having a hard time convincing my GP to do anything more.

Smear due in September, this is my first 3 year wait for a smear after being on annual smears for 9 years following CIN1 treatment in my early 30's and I've read recently there is up to a 3 month wait on smear results at the moment. Its this history of CIN1 that worries me most, I'm convinced something has come back.

So worried its taking over my every waking hour :/

has anyone else found a private gyno more willing to investigate concerns?
thank you.

Hi ladies,

I too have posted on the General health page before stumbling across this thread while in my current anxious state.

A lot of what I have read on this thread, I can very much relate to. I am 50 with a child of 11. I still have regular periods although they have gone from a cycle of 35 days before I gave birth, to a 28 day cycle and far heavier periods after I had my baby.
As I gave gone through my 40s, my periods have ranged from 21 days to 36 days and have been increasingly heavy.
Last week I was upset to find I had post coital bleeding on Day 16 of my cycle, however this has now continued and its day 22. The bleeding is very light and with fresh blood.
I did what I shouldn't have done and googled this and it came up as a red flag symptom of a whole host of horrors including cervical and uterine cancer!
I tried to make an appt yesterday with my female GP, queuing from 7.30am for when the Surgery opened at 8am, only to be told she was on annual leave for 2 weeks and there was no other female GP available. I therefore accepted an appt with the Practice Nurse who examined me and said my cervix looked pink and healthy.

I asked the Nurse if the bleeding could be a cervical erosion of a polyp but she said she could see neither, she also said I didn't look sore. I therefore asked if the bleeding could be uterine cancer and she said she couldn't rule it out but this cause would be very unlikely, as would cervical cancer as I was upto date with my smears and me and my husband had only had the other as a partner.

Yesterday, I had some temporary relief from my anxiety about what this bleeding could be. However now I am worrying all over again and thinking should I gave pushed for a colposcopy and a transvagunal scan? The Nurse felt no need to refer me as I was considered low risk and that this bleeding could be linked to declining Hormonal levels. Yet she also contradicted herself by saying as my periods were still regular (ish) I hadn't entered menopause yet.

On reading earlier posts on here, I am now querying whether it wasn't a post coital bleed but the start of a new period, but very, very early? But the bleed seems too light and scanty to be a period.

I now don't know what to think or do for the best. Do I accept what the Nurse said and see how it goes? Or do I make an appt with my GP to push for further tests, which in themselves, are stressful.

Any words of advice would be much appreciated.

Message to Mummymskesit so

I once contacted the BMI private health providers ( nstionwide) and they should have private gynaecologists they can recommend. When we were TTC I went private for a smear and a colposcopy, and the cost was around £600. This was back in 2006 but I had the results the next day when the Consultant phoned me.

It may be worth looking up? I may go down thus route again myself.

Hi I've just stumbled across this in my search to see what's going on... I have noticed my cycle is between 25 and 30 dya lays long but my periods are only about 3 to 4 days long... When i was younger they would have been 5 to 6 days... I'm. 41 and today I had some spotting mid cycle and now I'm. Worried what could be wrong... So I'm. Hoping someone will be able to give me some insight... Iv never had this before and wondering could you just have a random ovulation bleed lik this and it be a once off or could I bet perimenopausal... Any Input would be great as I'm a terrible worrier thank you x

Hi there, so I am 43, almost 44 and been told that I am perimenopausal. It started about Mid last year, my periods became lighter and every 21 days from 30 years of every 28. Always used to get very tender boobs before a period too and a headache day before and day after they ended. May this year I had a very light period then when it finished, I had nothing but hot flushes every half hour, feeling a little tearful, no hot flushes for a few days, then there they were again, anyway 8 weeks later, mid July, I had a period..lasted 3 days, very light...I have had nothing since except, like yesterday and today, a smear of discoloured pinkish/brown something...I have been to Drs, had blood tests, transvaginal scans which were clear. Blo D tests showed that I am clearly well into my perimenopause with a reading of 269 for oestrogen and 78 for Progesterone. I can’t go onto HRT yet as oestrogen needs to be 150 or less, I believe a healthy reading is something like 650? (May have that wrong) but I still have no sore boobs, don’t miss that, no period since July 13th and hot flushes for two weeks then off for two weeks etc. I actually miss periods because, silly as it sounds or maybe not, I feel like my ‘womanhood’ is coming to an end, I’m going to dry up and become some moody, hairy, achy old girl, I feel old. I need to have another blood test in 6 months to see where we are at but as I’m classed as young for this to be well on the way now, I will go into HRT when the oestrogen hits 150 just to take me up to the age where really, this should have been happening, about 50/51. I do ache a little more and my labido is getting flatter by the day. But, I know there could be worse things but when it happens it is quite a sad/tough/expected thing. I’m hoping it is the Peri and nothing else, all signs and blood tests point to it. But, there’s my dealing. This is great being on here and part of a forum where women going through the same things can all reassure each other. have a hunger all the time too! Is that a symptom or am I just using it to tell myself that half pack of hobnobs with a cuppa was justified and caused by hormones:)

I've stumbled across this chat looking for some answers... I am 40 ill be 41 in Jan anf worried about my weird periods... I have noticed since I had my last son 4 years ago and stopped with the coil my periods have become very light and short maybe only 3 or 4 days long as opposed to 5 to 7...recently I had a very long cycle of 43 day which I put down to alot of stress then had notmal 25/28 day cycles... Then last month I had a very light short period and then about CD 14 I had a light bleed one day it was red when I wiped but it never really. Made it onto my liner just slightly this went in for about 3 days but was very light... Now I'm on CD 35 anf no sign of my period... I went to the Dr after this bleed and she did a smear swab and blood test the bloods came back normal and so dis swab... I'm waiting I thr smear resukts but she says she's hapoy they'll. Come back clear .. So my question is could this be perimenopausal symptoms despite the bloods coming back in the normal range I seem to be having more headaches also lately... I'm just so worried it could be something awful lik ovarian cancer etc so any help. Would be greatly appreciated x

Just came across this thread, at the age of 43 (just in July) and my 6th baby born 23/6/2018 I know I’m not getting any younger but I’ve since having my daughter been spotting for 4 days before period, 1-2 heavy bleeding and 2-3 very mild ..I’ve been regular with periods for years and instead of bleeding every 21 days it’s now like every 14-17 days! Am I premenopausal? The whole thing is giving me the fear

The same here! I am 42 and the whole peri thing started a year ago. I had too severe symptoms and it was a bit scaring. Hrt solved everything and I’m back to my normal self. I cannot imagine my life without hrt.

I spoke to my gp today again about the blood resukts and he said there was nothing in them to indicate anything problems with my hormones so now I'm freaking out about all this spotting that's not started again 6 days after my period was due 😢

*Now started again

*Emerald I'm interested to hear you're on hrt at 42. I'm the same age and think I'm at a point where I need it. I'm struggling most of the month and don't know myself anymore

I'm 52yrs old I have my period on the 7of march 2019 for 4days now on the 14 of March I have spotting what could this be

I am 55 years and 7 months old with a 14 year old daughter. Had mirena removed on 12th March 19 and am still bleeding off and on. I am now petrified that 'at my age' I can possibly get pregnant. I am in shock, thought my period would have stopped by now. I have to visit my gp but am listening out to anyone who's been in a similar situation. My period started late at 16 years 5 months (my daughter at 12!).