What’s your period like now age 42-44?

[LovedMyLastNameItHadToGo]

I’m 43 my period is pretty debilitating today.

It’s day 3 probably my heaviest day of 5 days.

My cycle varies from 23-27 days. I have pretty bad PMT the week before. Very low mood, just very sad. I’m not overly irritable, just really sad.

I also suffer from insomnia 1-2 days before my period. It’s awful.

I could barely keep my eyes open last night in bed for 1015pm slightly disturbed night of sleep.

I work for myself so I can have an off day. But I don’t know how I’d cope if I didn’t work for myself.

Also 2-3 days ago night sweats

Bump

Sorry to hear that. Mine are all over the place and also getting awful pms where I have near-suicidal thoughts.

@blackrabbitwhiterabbit that sounds awful! I’ve just started sertaraline? I’m on 25mg for a few more days before going up to 50mg.

I'm 45 and still have very regular periods. Since 40 though, they have very slowly changed from being a 32 day cycle, to now a 28 day one. I get slightly short tempered a few days prior to my period, but that has always been in the case.

Look up family planning/sexual health clinics in your area. Some run menopause clinics too, but you'd need to ring a check. Usually, you'd see a gynaecologist or an experience nurse. I worked in one years ago (different role though), and found they had more up to date advice than the GP, knew the latest meds etc.

Find Family planning services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

At that age I was very similar . I’m 50 now and not far off menopause . I think those symptoms were the start of peri menopause for me although I wasn’t aware at the time . Would be wise to rule out anything else with your GP though

I’m almost 42, my periods are pretty awful, often have 2 a month, sometimes light/normal but often heavy to the point I can’t leave the house for a day or 2 😬. I have just started HRT (low dose) in the hope it helps.

Mine are the same as they've always been. 28 day cycles. Pretty sure I'm still ovulating as I still get the pain mid cycle & other signs.
Started my periods at 9 & was told this would mean I'd probably go through menopause early too but maybe it's a myth?

Still going strong and I’m 50 in January. Anywhere between 29 and 35 day cycles. Definitely getting heavier though.

All over the place.

I’ve just turned 42 and when I was seen up the hospital this week and asked about peri I just got a head shake and no, we’re not there yet.

I just find it hard as we can all start periods at different ages I was a 10 yr old at primary school when it started for me and had friends who didn’t start till 13, 15 etc, why is peri only at a certain age. I’ve asked a handful of medics now with no interest in entertaining peri as if it doesn’t clinically exist and only menopause matters. Suppose it is so subjective.

I'm just about to be 42 - my cycles have got shorter, 21-27 days but 24/25 is average. I'm usually quite sad/depressed too but I probably always have been. Haven't noticed any other changes yet.

Very erratic- they stop for months on end then come back unexpectedly and when they do they are very very heavy. I've just started on oestrogen patches and am due to have a mirena coil in tne new year. Hoping it helps.

My PMT when I do have a period is awful now. I get so ratty and irritated, very out of character for me. And feel very flat and low in mood.

Every 28 days but a bit heavier than before 5 days as usual

I'm 45, my periods are around 27 days but the week before I'm all over the shop, irritable, anxious and really tired. They are awful for two days and usually come with a horrible heads as well.

Terrific 😕

I was in Year 8 I think when my periods started. I also went to the GP they said all this is normal and not peri meni! I still also get mittleschmerz (the pain when you ovulate and know it’s a different ovary every month)! It’s the insomnia two days before and the erratic cycles. I took my print off from my Apple Watch to my GP she was amazed I collated the data then told me it was all normal!!

I was having bad insomnia, since I started the HRT a few weeks ago I have the opposite problem, I feel tired and am sleeping really well, the weird vivid dreams have stopped and the hot/cold sweats.

@Lovemusic82 i need to find another GP!!
what sort of HRT are you on?

I'm 44, cycle length is 24-27 days which is a bit shorter than they used to be. Period lasts about 4 days and is quite light and not painful. PMS has always been bad, I get very low and irritable. But I don't think it's got any worse, it's been like that all my life. No issues with most peri symptoms - no tiredness or brain fog.

I swear I am perimenopausal, but my blood test results say otherwise. However, I know a blood test isn’t reliable, due to the fluctuating hormone levels. I have a whole list of symptoms 😞.

One change is my periods, which have dropped to every 4wks (they have been every 5wks for the last 15 yrs). The most recent one lasted for 2-3days, and it much lighter. I’m 43yrs old in March.

I could have written your post . I was exactly the same . Then i got the coil and havnt had a period in 3 years .

I literally dreaded my period coming . Having the coil was the best decision I have ever made .

@allofthelove is this the mirena? Has it caused weight gain?

As you can see mine varies. Most of mine are not much more than spotting or that horrible brown stuff but about every 6 months or so I get a week of brown and then a week of flooding and clots where I have ended up taking transamic acid to stop the bleeding.
I've had to up my sertraline from 50mg which I've been on for 8 years with no issues to 100mg in the last 2 months as I was a mess.
Doctors laughed when I mentioned peri.

42, it's non existent. Has been awol for 2 1/2 months

Mine are all over the place (I'm 43). I seem to have a few light ones then a heavy one. I get an absolutely awful headache ache the day before. My head was so bad this time It made me vomit.