Start of perimenopause

[Hi7]

Can anyone describe their experiences of first menstrual cycle changes in perimenopause pls. Is having two periods close together actually normal?

For me, it started at 42. I'd get brown spotting then several days of no bleeding but extreme PMT, then I'd get a period. They'd sometimes come close together, about 21 days between each cycle. Sometimes I'd get flooding, Sometimes very light periods.

Thanks so much. My period was 10 -17th Dec and started spotting 22nd and been spotting since until today and now looks like a regular period.

I suddenly started having very heavy but very short periods. So heavy/flooding with clots (which I've never had before) for a day or two then very light flow for another day or so. Also cycle became shorter - 23 days as opposed to 26/27.

Looks like this isn’t normal.

My periods started getting closer together a few years ago and I had one instance like you describe about a year ago. They're now getting more erratic (cycle length anywhere between 21 and 35 days) but I don't typically bleed in between periods. I wouldn't worry as a one off but worth checking out if it keeps happening.

So cycle lengths less than 21 days not normal?

Mid 40s my cycle started getting shorter, but periods as normal (heavy/painful) so it wasn’t great. I went on the mini pill which stopped my periods completely. At 49 I started to get annoying night sweats and extreme anxiety, so saw a doctor and now have a Mirena coil and oestrogen gel as HRT. I still have light “periods” at 51 but more like spotting, not enough to need a tampon, just a pant liner.

No, you should get that checked, just to be sure.

Mine are now about 26-27 days apart, so a little closer together, but otherwise nothing has changed. I'm early 50s.

So worried

I went to the GP about this and she basically said it just happens sometimes but to come back if it happens again.

How close together was you bleeding? I had a period 10th -17th and spotted from 22/12 and still going , although more like a period today.
Think just perimenopause?

I had a Mirena coil fitted at 40 after DS was born. Twenty years of endometriosis had almost ruined my life and I no longer wanted the anxiety associated with heavy, painful. lengthy periods and associated chronic anaemia. I had no periods or pain for 15yrs. I was also able to use an oestrogen patch when menopause hit. It took away all the stress of irregular periods and a lot of the perimenopause symptoms.
I probably hit post menopause around 55, having had very few problems. I came off HRT and had the coil removed when I was 57 and haven’t looked back.

Hi. Did you dr say that periods close together normal? Just come back if happens again?

My periods were all over the place. Very close together, then far apart. And sometimes very long. I had blood tests and a scan, but everything was normal

Also got spotting and bled once for 22 days.
Go to your GP OP, but it is probably simply peri menopause. So I would not worry, but go just as an extra check to reassure you.

Thanks Merrymaker. So reassuring. When you say close together, how close could they be? I had 7 day period, 5 days gap and started agsin and still going- been another 7 days . Although most days light

I always had very regular periods every 32 days. From about age 41, they have very, very, slowly got shorter and now 5yrs on, are still very regular, but 27days apart now. No other symptoms that I've noticed- but waiting to see.

Thanks Merrymaker. I’ve got myself very worried as comments really vary. How long did you have periods very close together? Were you in perimenopause? On hormonal contraception?

How old are you @Hi7?

At about 44 my cycle started to change, it had always been 28 days pretty much exactly. Then I noticed it changing to anything from 18 days to 35 days, so quite different from before.

They also became heavier, especially if the gap was longer. Then I found I would miss one completely, or have two very close together. I got fed up of the inconvenience and unpredictability after about 18 months of this, saw my GP and got a Mirena coil. Result, no more periods.

OP, spotting is almost certainly nothing to worry about if you're of perimenopausal age, but if I were you I'd see the GP just in case.

Hi Dramaalpaca. I’m 49. I’m worried sick. It is definitely much more like a period than spotting now. What would the shortest gaps you had between be? I definitely need to do something. I can’t sleep or eat with worry

Hi @Hi7 I think 10 to 14 days maybe, it's a few years ago now.

Cycle changes are absolutely classic in peri and different for every woman, and the chances are that's all it is with you, especially given your age.

Random bleeding in peri isn't usually anything sinister, it's far more worrying if it happens after your periods finally stop. It happened to me, but everything was fine, I just needed my HRT tweaking.

Don't panic, but make an appointment with your GP in the morning. It's worth getting checked out just to reassure you if nothing else.

I had something like four periods in seven weeks at one point. And then no periods for three months. Just very irregular.

My periods have become closer together by about 5 days (31 down to 26) and I am bleeding for between 2 and 5 days longer, so that they do feel incredibly close together now.

A couple of friends of mine had periods like yours; one starting at 38, the other about 42. One bled for 2 weeks, a couple of days not bleeding then started again. All peri.

This was exactly my experience too