For the last 7 years (since my youngest was born), my periods were very heavy. I would have one day of spotting, one day of moderate bleeding, a day where I would soak thru a super plus tampon an hour, then a moderate day, one of spotting and I was done.
For the past 2 periods, they have been very light. I don't even bother wearing a tampon because there is only a very light flow. It lasts for about a week now instead of the 4 days it did before.
Also, it seems like the length between the periods is getting longer. It used to be every 30 days, the last 2 have been 45 and 70 days. I have had some stress - daughter is graduating high school, grandparent dying, money issues, etc. I also will be turning 40 this year. There really is no chance that I would be pregnant.
I made an appointment at the OB/GYN, but can't get in for a month. Anyone else have this happen to them? Any ideas on what it could be?
I'm almost 43 and am having similar changes. It sounds pretty normal for this stage. Isn't being a woman fun? ;)
Yep- sounds like peri-menopause. My symptoms were exactly the same. Chances are good that your OB/GYN will tell you the same. Just be sure to track your flow on a calendar. (My doctor asked me to do that for a few months.)
I'm sorry to hear about the stress in your life... I hope things come around for the better and soon. Take care and keep us posted.
I'm more than 10 years older than you but perimenopause can begin at age 40 - although that's on the early side. But stress can cause all kinds of menstrual changes. A few years ago when I was caring for my elderly mom who was very ill, and my daughter was also in the midst of some mental health problems my normally very heavy period got very light and scarce too. After a sonogram and finding a thickening in my utrine wall my OB/GYN did a uterine biopsy to rule out cancer since my mom had had uterine and ovarian cancer. Ends up it was very benign and the thickening was due to a low progesterone level. It was described that estrogen is like fertilizer makeing the lining grow thicker, and progesterone is like the lawn mower causing the uterine lining to come off. My doc gave me three months of progesterone - on & off like BC pills - and by the end of the first month I had a very very heavy period and then I was back to normal. Within a year I had my last period. (YAY!)
Stress can do all kinds of things to us - don't assume it's not stress related!
If you're older than 35 it might be perimenopause. It can be stopped or eased by taking a certain type of BC.
All I can say is, welcome to perimenopause. It kicks in right around age 40 (happened when I was 39), and it basically makes your cycle go haywire. Please also consider yourself lucky: For a lot of women (myself included) perimenopause means a shorter cycle, and for some, it also means a heavier flow.
Morning
Early stages of Perimenopause
Agree with everyone else; it's a change in your hormones.
Sounds like perimenopause kicking in...
Perimenopause started for me when I turned 40--I mean, it started with a BANG! I got tremendously sick and have been coming back from being sick for the past 5 years. Through changing my entire diet and way of living, though, I have been going through perimenopause with virtually NO issues whatsoever. You CAN go through "menopause" without all the pain, bleeding issues, sweats, flushes, etc.
I used to have a very erratic cycle--many days in between periods, and my periods always lasted 8 days. Suddenly, when I got sick, my periods that used to be 31, 35, 42 days apart were suddenly 19, 18, 15 days apart, very heavy bleeding with clots. I went to my OB/GYN, who discovered that I had hyperplasia of 11 cm (most likely caused because of my erratic periods). I did not have cancer (whew!). I had a NovaSure Ablation done, and it was the best decision I ever made (after having had my tubes tied earlier). Now, I no longer have a period. Makes it harder to judge "when" I am actually in menopause, but I sure don't miss having one!
I also discovered in the fall of 2012 that I was low on progesterone. Wow. Wish I'd known I was low in progesterone while I was a teen and in my 20s and 30s. Could have saved myself months and months of PMS and agony if I'd have started taking it then. Now I no longer have PMS or monthly pain.
I urge every woman who is going through perimenopause or menopause to read the book: The Wisdom of Menopause by Dr. Christiane Northrup. It gives you all sorts of information on how to naturally go through menopause (without the pain and stress and migraines, etc.) as well as a few other aspects of female health. I highly recommend this book to all women.
after the age of 30 period changes are pretty normal, and after 40 they often lighten up as you become less fertile. Talk with your doctor, but I don't think you have anything to be alarmed about.
