Spotting perimenopause

[Hi7]

Hi I’m almost 49. Over past few months my period has become irregular. Longer between them generally and varying cycle length. I had put this down to hormonal changes due to age. However both this month and last I have had some light spotting about 10 -12 days after my period , so about a week or so after ended.
Is this due to the same hormonal changes which are causing irregular cycles?

Hello, fellow peri here. Yes, it sounds like mid cycle spotting, as it's roughly when you would ordinarily be ovulating, which will be rather variable given changes in your cycle. Do speak to a HCP if you have any other symptoms like pain or cramping. I've linked below to more on this (A. Vogel has a very helpful YT channel on perimeno as well)

www.avogel.co.uk/health/periods/should-i-be-worried-about-spotting-mid-cycle/

Hi there. Thank you so much for responding. I’ve contacted drs and they’re going to run bloods. Do you think it’s most likely just down to hormonal changes. So worried and can’t settle to enjoy Christmas

Very natural to feel anxious when it's uncharted territory, OP. But in that event, you've done the right thing and reached out to a clinician, who will be able to advise further.

In your experience and what you’ve heard, is spotting between periods common in perimenopause?
Thank you so much.

The linked article above indicates that it's fairly common, @Hi7 - it's to do with anovulatory cycles. I noticed my own cycles getting very erratic, lengthening periods and not ovulating. However, please confirm with a clinician; nothing I say can ever substitute for qualified clinical opinion.

I am 41 and experienced my first mid cycle bleed around ovulation this month. Dr checked my cervix which was fine (paranoid as I had Lletz treatment two years ago) and being sent for bloods but hormones can do this.

I’m glad to hear that your situation is similar. This is my second mid cycle spotting or maybe it’s another period only 12 days after the first one started. More inclined to call it spotting as so light. Been 6 days now. I too had Lletz in 2019 so I understand. My bloods came back ok.
What do they do next?

Was your last smear clear. Mine was hpv negative two years ago so not due until next year

Yeah my test of cure six months after treatment in august 2023 was HPV negative. I think sadly it is our age hun. I’m now 3 days late for a period. It was due Xmas Eve but only had brown slushy spotting since. So I had mid cycle spotting of red for one day and now this but feel I could be properly on any min… deffo hormones I think.

That’s good. I had my period 10-17th December and bleeding started again on 22nd and hasn’t stopped. Initially light but definitely heavier today. I’ve never had anything like this.
Be great just to know that it is only perimenopause not a sign of a problem. Affecting me so much

My bloods came back fine but dr tells me that bloods wouldn’t show any gynaecology big problems

I'm having something similar. Im 41 and cycles are now approximately every 24 days. I have a period as usual, I have nothing for about 3 days then start with brown spotting that gets darker as it continues until it completely stops (around ovulation). Not enough for a pad, it's super light. This continues for about 6-7 days and has been going on a year. My last smear this year was HPV negative. I've had a TV ultrasound which showed a small (2cm) fibroid but lining and ovaries were normal. I had to wait 9 months to be referred to gynaecology, where the gynaecologist said the fibroid is likely too small to be causing these symptoms. So I've now been referred to colscopy to have a closer look at my cervix. The waiting is awful and has caused me to become really anxious. Mine definitely follows a pattern each month. I don't have any random spotting, it always follows my period, but doctors don't think it's related to peri. Many women of a similar age have the same symptoms on other forums that I've been on, so whilst it's not necessarily normal, it is common. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

My experience has been almost identical to @Louise121806 although I found similar experiences on other MN threads so haven’t even been to the doctor about it. Assume it’s my age (43) . Should probably get checked I guess.

@Dorothyparker010 I wasn't overly concerned at first. I presumed it was down to my age too. Also, it's never really got any worse. I'd always the same each month. GP's in my experience, are reluctant to even discuss possible perimenopause. I didn't ask for and don't want HRT which they are reluctant to give to under 45's, I was just looking for some reassurance or a possible explanation. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure they know them selves. I have read that spotting in the folllicular phase can be due to declining estrogen levels. Estrogen drops just before your period , then slowly builds again. If there's not enough of it, it can cause your lining to come away which could explain the spotting. I've also read that fluctuating hormones can cause your lining to come away intermittently during your period which can cause your period to stop/start/stutter which could also be another explanation. However, I've found this information online and haven't been told it by a health practitioner. I've also read that many people with small fibroids like myself have similar symptoms as the fibroid can prevent the uterus from contracting properly, causing lingering periods as the lining comes away unevenly. The gynaecologist seems to think it's my cervix though which is causing me to feel really anxious now. I'll update when I've had my appointment.

@Louise121806 thank you so much for taking the time to explain, interesting. If be really interested to hear how you get on. I might go to the GP in the new year and see what they say to me. I just hate appointments, and waiting for them, and the anxiety, but realise I need to pull myself together and get used to it as I get older!! 😅

Could anyone advise what their first cycle changes were like when they noticed changes in perimenopause? Thank you sooooo much