Slight TMI (NO pic!) Is this just what periods are like in your early 40's?

[MyNameForToday1980]

I don't remember how long I've felt this way during my period, certainly no more than a few years.

But I read so often on here about heavy periods and the stock response is 'A&E now' or 'it doesn't have to be this way'.

Every month I get 4 day spotting before my period starts. Inconvenient, but fine.

Then two days horrendous flow (not A&E worthy but a maxi pad an hour, two over night and the race to the loo before the deluge in the morning).

But what I find difficult is the sweats/hot cold, shivery/boiling sensation. And the fact it feels like every ounce of energy is being sapped out of my body, I'm nauseous, I get a bad stomach, and a bit shaky, and generally a bit weedy and pathetic. But not painful, just really uncomfortable.

Then I get a further three days of bright pink, quite (brace yourself) mucousy blood.

Then it's all over for 3 weeks.

So not awful. Definitely not as bad as many I read about. But certainly less pleasant than the periods in my 30's.

Is this the sort of thing I should have checked out or just live with it, becuase I've probably only got another few years of periods left (if menopause age is hereditary).

You need to see your doctor, talk to them about peri-menopause, and taking HRT. There is no need to suffer like this. Obviously, make sure there are no other issues, but you are at a prime age for peri.

Well mine have become lighter and easier as I’ve aged, I think any significant change like you describe is worth mentioning to your GP.

The symptoms you describe could be perimenopause but could be other things too. While perimenopause is every women right of passage and she has to go through it with or without HRT, the other reasons are quite treatable. You should visit your GP and let them run some test - thyroid , blood, and ultrasound as you might have fibroids, polyps, persistent cyst , low b12/iron, or low thyroid. All these conditions are treatable, some cause hot flushes too as all of them disturb your hormones. With personal experience I can tell you that 2 days of heavy period very soon convert into 3-5 flooding periods and 4 days pre spotting goes to 9 if hormonal imbalance continue. It is best to get treatment on time and continue having quality of life.

My experience (I'm 49) is that periods are still regular but have become lighter and shorter, so for 3-4 days rather than 5. If I was experiencing what you are describing I would definitely be seeing my GP. The change to lighter, shorter periods is only in last couple of years though. No change in early 40s so make sure you see someone . At your age I wonder if it's more likely to be cyst, polyps etc than menopause symptoms.

Mine got increasing like you describe in my early 40's. I went to the GP when the bleeding got so heavy that was impacting my daily life - was working from home if I could on the first couple of days, wearing 2 forms of protection, scared to go to the gym or for long runs for fear of flooding etc. I got diagnosed with fibroids which have since been treated (after various attempts with the pill and mirena), had a couple of polyps removed as well and an ovarian cyst picked up along the way which went when they did a follow-up check on it. I've had a couple of friends recently experience similar so I'm sure it's our age!!

I had this although much worse (10 days of heavy bleeding each month) and my (female) GP just fobbed me off saying it was my age.

I eventually saw another GP and got referred to a gynae consultant. I had a large fibroid removed and my periods went back to normal.

That was about 6 years ago, I'm now in my mid 50s and my periods are still ok.

Ask to speak to your GP.

My periods have been similar over the last year or two, except I'm now going 6-8 weeks between (I'm 45).

That said I've had a very stressful couple of years, have an underactive thyroid and only one ovary so it's probably not surprising.

Glad I read this I’m 42 and since having my baby last year my periods have been terrible. 2 days of really heavy flow (changing pad within the hour) and then a couple of weeks of spotting either side. Really fed up. Always had period problems - hence only having my baby last year. Took 8 years to get pregnant with mild endometriosis.