Hello,
My gynecologist tells me that I am perimenopausal, and she is aware of my symptoms and problems with my cycles, but I wanted to run them by a few of you to see if they are "typical."
I continue to have cycles sporadically -- but not at times that are all predictable. Furthermore, I can start my cyle, it will continue for a couple of days and then slow considerably. Following that, not to be gross, my flow gets very dark brown and eventually stops. Sometimes a week later, I'll start AGAIN, sometimes with bright, red flow and go for several more days. I assume that the brownish flow is the end of my cycle, but when I start again it's like a whole new cycle! This doesn't happen every month -- I've gone as long as 3 months without a cycle, so it's usually a surprise. For awhile I would have breakthrough bleeding following intercourse, sometimes with pain (even if my cycle ended 2 weeks before!) I haven't had that problem for about the last 6 months, but while it was happening, my GYN (who is AWESOME by the way), ran all kinds of diagnostic tests to be sure there was no sign of cancer or other health issues.
I have my paps and internal exams done regularly, and have never had a questionable pap. My annual exams have been normal -- no issues.
A little background: I'm an older mom (49) of 8 and 11 year old daughters. (I had my youngest when I was 40.) My pregnancies were fine -- nothing out of the ordinary. I haven't been on birth control pills since I was 34, and my husband began using condoms after I conceived my first child, and this has been my birth control method since then, so I'm not concerned about ill-effects from b/c. My mom was on b/c after her last child at 40, and had her last cycle at 43 -- which I understand is young to start menopause.
Just checking to see if others have had similar experieces. I know that my cycles will change and can come at strange times, etc., but I am mostly worried about the breakthrough bleeding I was having after intercourse, and the change in color of my cycles/proximity to the previous cycle.
Thanks for your help!
All normal. Been there. I started perimenopause at age 40 about 4 years later I was all done. Except with night sweats and hot flashes I get both occasionally still.
Hi I am a medical assistant and have seen many women with your symptoms. I was wondering if you have any labs to check your hormones? Your doctor can tell you for sure if you are perimenopausal from these tests.
It does sound normal and if you Mom went through it early chances are you will too.
Good luck.
I'm right there with you, L.. 45 and have been perimenopausal for several years. To rule out that I was losing my mind, I had my hormone levels tested against a baseline I'd had a few years prior, and sure enough my estrogen level has dropped within the range that confirms I'm going through the change. I'm early too, as was my Mom.
I've dropped a couple of periods in the last year, but I've also had months when I get two periods. Sometimes they're red and mostly normal, other times it's been that black spidery stuff -- ugh! I also get an achy pelvic floor before my period most times, and for some reason I get a sore (pimple?) on the inside tip of my right nostril a couple of days before -- it's very tender and hurts! That's been going on for a couple of years now... I thought maybe my PMS sweets craving was feeding it, but I gave up sweets for Lent and the little bugger still appeared, so it's likely the PMS thicker oils are clogging a gland in there.
I've never been able to handle caffiene, but felt like I could use a boost so I started drinking green tea given all it's positive health attributes. About three weeks into it, I realized I was having killer hot flashes day and night. I cut out the tea and the hot flashes went away. I guess we each just have to listen to our own bodies and figure out what works best for us. If I have a cocktail or two (or sometimes even chocolate at night --wah, I love my dark chocolate!), I'll sleep hard for about four hours then have a major hot flash and my brain activity kicks up and I can't go back to sleep. Not fun, but at least I understand my triggers and can make it a choice : ) I've also noticed I'm much more light sensitive, likely because we no longer spend as much time in deep sleep and daybreak wakes me up...
Dr. Christiane Northrup has written a lot of good info to help us understand what our bodies are doing. Google her and/or you can find her books at the library. Personally, I was a little miffed that all this stuff could be happening -- why hadn't I been taught about this? Turns out until the turn of the century, women's life expectancy was much shorter so not many went through menopause and lived to tell about it. Medicine has also focused mostly on men until recent years, we're only catching up now on studying and educating on women's health.
Hope some of that helps you find the answers you're seeking! Hang in there, get educated, and know you're not alone!
Oh my, during menopause anything is "normal".
Strangest things happen.
Any and all of your symptoms can and do happen to us.
I had a lot of prolonged bleeding and my doc gave me a medication that would stop it.
Sorry, it was so many years ago that I do not recall the name of the drug.
BUT that being said , at 64 I still have a period now and again for a couple days. Had ALL the possible tests for other causes and there is none to be found except I did have three small fibroid tumors which seem now to have dried up and shrunk away.
My Mum had erratic periods well into her seventies, and when she was 76 or so they did a hysterectomy.
Guess if everything checks our ok, just go with the flow. ( little pun there hehehe)
Tincture of time hon, and this too will pass. You will be fine. Odd, how many years it takes to get thru menopause tho, yes?
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell
Hi
I am 45 (in may!) and I have the same syptoms as you with regard to sporadic periods ...new this year . I have been told by docs that perimenopause as far as sporadic periods.
Howevr, pain and and dark blood is an issue I have had for years and this is a common syptom of ovarian cysts, which I do have. Ussually you will feel the pain right on teh ovary esp if touched during intercourse. They grow and go away uss with pain and then come back it is a cycle.
Internal ultrasounds detect these. A blood test to see what your hormone balance or imbalance is can be helpful too. I became quite unbalanced a couple years ago and my doctor said he would not consider it menopause just unbalance
I have to take the pill for this reason ...would love to stop but my period then too heavy
Maybe cysts have been ruled out for you?
I am looking at some accupunture treatments for hormonal balance because I have spoken to a couple of women who felt it worked wonders ... and insurance ussually covers a certain amount per year.
Hope this is helpful!
Hi L.
Wow-the mood swings, and all the uncertainty that accompany menopause. And how many times we are told to either live with it or take drugs.
I have suffered from extreme PMS and cramping since my teens. Now that I am 54-menopause is looming around the corner.
I have taken Reliv's soysentials for 18 months now and I can tell you that when I ran out one time-that PMS monster came back within 3 days. I will never run out again. (My husband will attest to that!)
I,too, have had fluctuating symptoms and never knew what would happen. The soysentials curb the mood swiings, hot flashes and other things that come with this coming of age we are to enjoy!
Happy to share info with you.
J. H
I do think that your symptoms are "normal" as your cycles begin to wind down. If you can find a local herbalist I think he/she could really help you to have an easier time. The brown blood is a sign that your uterus is not toned and not working efficiently. Something as simple as drinking Raspberry Leaf tea could help a great deal. Other herbs could help as well depending on your symptoms as a whole.
It's good that you are getting all of this checked out by a physician to rule out anything more serious.
This all seems normal to me. I am sure everyone is different, but, this is pretty much the story of what happened with me. Good luck!
Hi L.,
I am in a very similar situation as you. I am 48 years old with two daughters ages 7 and 9. I also am beginning menopause.
From my understanding women experience varying menstrual cycle abnormalities including irregularity, excessive bleeding, (I actually worked with a women who needed a blood transfusion due to heavy bleeding during menopause) some lucky women say they just stopped.
For me, I would say I began to become irregular (meaning every three weeks instead of every four and then sometimes three weeks some times five) this started about 2 1/2 years ago. I would also have an occasional hot flash but it was brief and not intense. I also noticed I would start my flow slowly with a blackish blood for a day or two and then spot much longer and occasional stop and then restart several days later. I also noticed that my PMS symptoms were more intense.
Last July I missed my first full month and then had regular (28 days apart) periods in August, September, October and November. I missed December and at the beginning of January began having debilitating hot flashes (I mean I was NOT sleeping) I had no period in December, January or February and the hot flashes were almost constant night and day.
In the first week of March I was aware of the hallmark signs of ovulation, (I get a little pain in my left ovary when I ovulate from there due to a cyst) I also had the increased discharge and increase in libido and thank God, a relief of the hot flashes. I then had pretty severe PMS and bloating and ultimately I started my period on March 16, It actually seemed pretty normal though I am still flowing bright red blood and it is probably heavier than usual.
So, I guess the bottom line is the experience can be very individual. It is a difficult time with alot of emotional responses as well, as our daughter's are becoming young women we are ending our fertile years. Remember, your period does not make you female. You are female just as your daughter's are before the Menarche. That is why most little girl's love butterfly's, hearts ruffles's and ribbon's. We will continue to be strong, healthy feminine and yes, sexy, women even as we leave our child bearing years behind.
Best Wishes and May God Bless You and Your Family.
J. L.
L.,
I'm also an older Mom of 43 and I have been charting my cycles for the last year. I don't have much to offer for help - just wanted to let you know that I too am experiencing funky periods. The last one was Jan 24 and it lasted about 7 days - light but still... I was PMS and all set for the next period, that never came. Cramps on day 35 and lots of mucus blobs. Since moving to Sandwich a year and a half ago I haven't gotten a doctor for myself and am overdue by two years for a pap. You seem very happy with your doctor. Would you care to share? Last week I called Cape Obstetrics, Midwifery & Gyn for an appt but they say it can take a bit to get the first appt scheduled. This, by the way, is my first post - very new to this group.
-M. E.
welcome to the world of menopause. your symptoms sound pretty normal to me. i am presently 52. my last period was when i was 50. for the last few years before that my cycles were very sporatic. skipping months here and there, and other times getting it again after only a few days. some months only lasting a day or two, other times lasting for a month. soemtimes just spotting , other times pretty darn heavy.
Sounds very typical but SOOOO frustrating. The brownish blood is probably just older blood that either pooled a bit or just didn't slough off the sides of the uterus (endometrial lining). When the hormones drop during menopause, you don't always get a full release of the uterine lining as you do during a "normal" period (whatever that is!). The red blood is more fresh flow. Again, you aren't building up a uterine lining for the full 25 days and then losing it for 3 (assuming 28 days, you know?). It's coming in dribs and drabs. If you have ruled out anything else such as infection or ovarian cysts, then you just have to deal with it. It's not even really 'breakthrough' bleeding anymore because that presumes a full normal cycle with bleeding at the end - your hormones are changing and aren't enough to necessarily sustain/build the endometrial lining and hold it there until a single, monthly hormonal change. Use pads & pantiliners. And I know so many women who have seen relief from the menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, etc., plus the bone density loss by using SoySentials from Reliv. It's the best thing out there - a women's supplement that is completely absorbable (not like pills) and based on research instead of some company's desire to just make money through heavy sales with no follow-up/customer support. Try it! I'd be happy to give you more info!
You're completely normal! I agree with Christine. Find a local herbalist who can blend a tea for you specific to your symptoms. Red raspberry leaf will definitely be a main ingredient, but probably yellow dock and chastetree berry as well. Good luck and be well :)
Hi L. -
I think what you're going through is completely normal - I went through the same things as well as having a period so heavy that I was going through a tampon and pad (overnight one to boot) every 45 min.! My cycle was irregularly regular, sometimes lasting 3 and 4 weeks at a time. I ended up having a procedure done - endometrial ablation - and though I wasn't one of the lucky ones who never have another period, I have a very light flow, more like heavy spotting and it lasts about a week about every 3 months. This might be something you want to look into just for the regularity if nothing else. Good Luck!
