41 and my periods are horrendously awful. I bleed so much that I’m getting a second iron infusion in the past 5 months. I was diagnosed with adenomyosis which is like endometriosis but it affects the inside of the uterine muscle. I have horrendous pain as well for about three days every month. I take tramadol for pain. One period I took over 50 Advil and nothing touched my pain. It’s been so bad.
What does your Dr say? Do they think an ablation would help? Or, some sort of hormonal birth control? This sounds awful.
41 and my periods are horrendously awful. I bleed so much that I’m getting a second iron infusion in the past 5 months. I was diagnosed with adenomyosis which is like endometriosis but it affects the inside of the uterine muscle. I have horrendous pain as well for about three days every month. I take tramadol for pain. One period I took over 50 Advil and nothing touched my pain. It’s been so bad.
What does your Dr say? Do they think an ablation would help? Or, some sort of hormonal birth control? This sounds awful.
We are currently ttc through IVF. I had one failed round and will try again this summer. Right now I’m on progesterone birth control. I can’t take regular birth control because I had a DVT when I broke my ankle 4 years ago. The progesterone might help the bleeding a little, not as good as regular birth control. The only cure for adenomyosis is hysterectomy. Ablation won’t help. The infusion will help me feel better but won’t get rid of the heavy bleeding. I was so sick in November and I didn’t make the connection to anemia. My hemoglobin was at an 8 and low normal is 12. My ferritin was at a 3 and normal is 20 and above.
What does your Dr say? Do they think an ablation would help? Or, some sort of hormonal birth control? This sounds awful.
We are currently ttc through IVF. I had one failed round and will try again this summer. Right now I’m on progesterone birth control. I can’t take regular birth control because I had a DVT when I broke my ankle 4 years ago. The progesterone might help the bleeding a little, not as good as regular birth control. The only cure for adenomyosis is hysterectomy. Ablation won’t help. The infusion will help me feel better but won’t get rid of the heavy bleeding. I was so sick in November and I didn’t make the connection to anemia. My hemoglobin was at an 8 and low normal is 12. My ferritin was at a 3 and normal is 20 and above.
That's about the only time I was off of bcp was when we were TTC/Infertility treatments. For reasons that aren't that relevant here, my doctors initially didn't want me to go back on regular bcp, so I tried the progesterone only pills. They didn't work for me because I never stopped spotting. It wasn't heavy though so maybe they will help you some.
Before they let me back on bcp, I told my doctor that I wanted a hysterectomy and she acted like I was crazy. I don't think these doctors understand how horrible periods can be! I was pretty miserable and my situation doesn't sound nearly as bad as yours.
I’m 49 and my periods and cycles are still normal. It actually almost annoys me. While i don’t want to go through menopause, at the same time, I’d love to not have my period. I saw my gyn last week and she was “impressed”. Lol.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Post by notoriousmeg on May 17, 2019 19:20:16 GMT -5
41 here. Have had crazy heavy periods since I had my son at 35. Then I never had one this past January and had it twice in February. I saw my gyn and she thought it was an anomaly but told me to monitor it
I’m 40 and my periods have been increasingly wonky in the past two years. First my periods just got really heavy. It’s like a crime scene the first days. Now they are also unpredictable. Will it be 21 days? 28? 35? Who knows. Not me. PMS is off the charts awful. The bloating...I can’t even. I’m over it. So, so over it. My gyn did confirm that I am in perimenopause.
I don't know the answer to your question, but can I throw in a side question since we're talking about periods changing? I've noticed in the last several months that mine are lighter than ever. I'm about to turn 37 and with my last period, I think I used 5-6 tampons total. And I think only 1-2 were even completely soaked. I really haven't noticed any other health changes. Is this normal? I'm on BC and my periods are still pretty regular, though occasionally a day late.
Omg! So lucky! I use at least 40 tampons per cycle. Plus pads. Every hour I need to change.
I am definitely not complaining! Just seems like an odd change. I am pretty lucky, I know.
43 here and yup...totally weird! I had it on regular cycle as well and fairly light. 4-5 days and done but now?
it is sometimes days early and other times late, it's very heavy and dark. Like purpleish in color too. Also my cramping is worse. I'm thinking its perimenopausal after a bit of research. It is still shorter and GYN was not concerned. I have an appt coming up.
I'm 49 and my period started to change in frequency, heaviness, and duration about five years ago. It had always been like clockwork, so it was definitely unusual for me. I mentioned it to my PCP at my next physical and she said it sounded like perimenopause, but that if I wanted to explore further, I should see a gyn. So that's what I did (and yes, it is perimenopause). I had been having my PCP do my paps and gyn exams for many years because my periods were always so uneventful. But I figure at this stage it's probably a good idea to see a specialist to deal with whatever else impending menopause brings about.
Go see your gyn. Nothing that concerns you is stupid. It probably just is perimenopause, but it's better to know that than to continue to worry.
Post by mrsukyankee on May 18, 2019 2:13:37 GMT -5
I am 50 but as soon as I hit around 42-43, my periods got awful. I honestly felt like it was worse than when I was a teenager. My GP chalked it up to perimenopause. As I've gone through my 40s, it's had ups and downs and I even had a 3 month period of not getting it (was so hoping for menopause). Bad periods - disgustingly heavy & painful at times - plus irregularity has been my perimenopausal experience.
Post by klingklang77 on May 18, 2019 4:17:18 GMT -5
I’m 41. Mine has gotten a lot lighter and a lot more irregular. I used to be like clockwork with every 30-32 days. I’ve never been on any birth control. I have no children.
It started about a year or two ago and I noticed some changes. I was late and my cycle started going to 40+ days in between. Then this month my body decided to have a closer cycle with 20 days in between. Since they have gotten a lot lighter, I don’t seem to get cramps anymore. This month I had cramps.
I went and saw a gyn. Got my pap and then I got an ultrasound. She said nothing was wrong and gave me some herbal medicine (very popular in Germany) to regulate my periods. I didn’t try the medicine because I don’t believe it will really work. She assured me it wasn’t menopause, but she didn’t mention anything about pre-menopause. I think it’s pre-menopause, TBH.
I’ll be 44 next month. Like many others in this thread my cycle has gotten shorter and my periods are lighter. I noticed recently that my boxes of Super Tampons are lasting several months and I’m using many more Regular Tampons. When I was 41 I had two really long (60+ days) cycles but I’ve been having normal cycles since then. The only other noticeable change is that my PMS is insane, my family avoids me like the plague. Unfortunately hormonal birth control is not an option for me due to my history of an Ectopic Pregnancy, luckily my H is fixed.
OP I think you should schedule an appointment with your gyn to make sure you don’t have anything else going on, but it does sound like hormonal changes.
Also, I track my periods using my FitBit and the heart rate feature. It’s amazing how the resting heart rate is tied to the ovulation cycle. Just an FYI for those that have wonky cycles, it’s a great way to track.
Also, I track my periods using my FitBit and the heart rate feature. It’s amazing how the resting heart rate is tied to the ovulation cycle. Just an FYI for those that have wonky cycles, it’s a great way to track.
YES. I've just started to notice this myself. Which is also tied to PMS anxiety. It's all so interesting.
I'm 44. I have just been thinking about this lately b/c I am so annoyed by my period! I am realizing that I don't think I have ever really had much of a normal, regular period in my whole life, but now they are starting to chalk it up to age, which I don't think is correct. I am having a period with weeks of spotting...like a week of light spotting, a couple days of heavy actual "period," and then another several days of trailing off spotting, so a varying total of over 14 days/month. I have talked to my doctor about this, and talked to different doctors over the years, and no one ever seems to have any answers. It comes roughly monthly but exact number of days varies.
Two years ago, I had a trans-vag ultrasound for this exact bleeding pattern and they found a polyp. So they figured the bleeding was the polyp and I had it removed. Years ago, a trans-vag u/s showed cysts, so I went on bcp. I don't really know if that made much impact b/c then I started to have a lot of breakthrough bleeding again.
11 years ago, when I first was pregnant with DD1, I was scheduled for an u/s for irregular bleeding then as well. I think my hormones are messed up. I went back on BCP last spring and summer to skip my period and clear up my skin for a bit. I didn't like the way I felt on them and remembered all the reasons I had wanted off them years ago, although after an initial spotting period I didn't have any further bleeding while on them, and that was fantastic. I don't want to do an IUD--freaks me out.
I'm just dealing with this until my regular check-up in July, and not expecting to get any solutions. It's so annoying, though.
ETA: in your case I would go to the doctor for more testing, since this is new and unusual for you. I don't buy the marathon training causing all of your symptoms.
I'm 44. I have just been thinking about this lately b/c I am so annoyed by my period! I am realizing that I don't think I have ever really had much of a normal, regular period in my whole life, but now they are starting to chalk it up to age, which I don't think is correct. I am having a period with weeks of spotting...like a week of light spotting, a couple days of heavy actual "period," and then another several days of trailing off spotting, so a varying total of over 14 days/month. I have talked to my doctor about this, and talked to different doctors over the years, and no one ever seems to have any answers. It comes roughly monthly but exact number of days varies.
Two years ago, I had a trans-vag ultrasound for this exact bleeding pattern and they found a polyp. So they figured the bleeding was the polyp and I had it removed. Years ago, a trans-vag u/s showed cysts, so I went on bcp. I don't really know if that made much impact b/c then I started to have a lot of breakthrough bleeding again.
11 years ago, when I first was pregnant with DD1, I was scheduled for an u/s for irregular bleeding then as well. I think my hormones are messed up. I went back on BCP last spring and summer to skip my period and clear up my skin for a bit. I didn't like the way I felt on them and remembered all the reasons I had wanted off them years ago, although after an initial spotting period I didn't have any further bleeding while on them, and that was fantastic. I don't want to do an IUD--freaks me out.
I'm just dealing with this until my regular check-up in July, and not expecting to get any solutions. It's so annoying, though.
ETA: in your case I would go to the doctor for more testing, since this is new and unusual for you. I don't buy the marathon training causing all of your symptoms.
Have you had a hysteroscopy? That might lead to some answers.
Post by pinkdutchtulips on May 18, 2019 15:00:23 GMT -5
44, 45 in August and my periods w/in the last year - 18 months started going from 23d to sometimes 35d. for my sanity, i got a Mrena and its been a game changer. i might spot 1-2d a month tops if that !
i got my mirena in Nov at just 44 ... i should be through menopause by the time it needs to be replaced.
I started noticing irregular periods around age 44. My Dr did some blood work and said I was in perimenopause. I had and still have a Mirena IUD and even with that I was getting month long periods with several months in between with nothing. Prior to that I wasn't getting a period at all with my IUD. Twice in the last 5 yrs I've gone 11 months with no period and then I get it and it doesn't seen to want to stop.
At age 49 I'm still going through it and it basically just shows up whenever it wants for however long it wants and gives me no warning.
I would bet you're starting perimenopause. Your gyn should be able to tell you for sure.
I don't know the answer to your question, but can I throw in a side question since we're talking about periods changing? I've noticed in the last several months that mine are lighter than ever. I'm about to turn 37 and with my last period, I think I used 5-6 tampons total. And I think only 1-2 were even completely soaked. I really haven't noticed any other health changes. Is this normal? I'm on BC and my periods are still pretty regular, though occasionally a day late.
That was my normal on no BC from about 34-40. It was glorious.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I don't know the answer to your question, but can I throw in a side question since we're talking about periods changing? I've noticed in the last several months that mine are lighter than ever. I'm about to turn 37 and with my last period, I think I used 5-6 tampons total. And I think only 1-2 were even completely soaked. I really haven't noticed any other health changes. Is this normal? I'm on BC and my periods are still pretty regular, though occasionally a day late.
That was my normal on no BC from about 34-40. It was glorious.
Did it go back to more normal after that? I guess I was just wondering if I'm hitting a very early menopause or if there was some other weird hormonal thing I should look into. IDK. I'm definitely fine with as little as possible of a period, but just want to make sure I'm not ignoring a potential issue.
I'm really sorry so many in this thread have had such terrible issues. It amazes me that in 2019 we don't have better answers about this absolute BS that many women have to deal with in regards to their reproductive health.
That was my normal on no BC from about 34-40. It was glorious.
Did it go back to more normal after that? I guess I was just wondering if I'm hitting a very early menopause or if there was some other weird hormonal thing I should look into. IDK. I'm definitely fine with as little as possible of a period, but just want to make sure I'm not ignoring a potential issue.
I'm really sorry so many in this thread have had such terrible issues. It amazes me that in 2019 we don't have better answers about this absolute BS that many women have to deal with in regards to their reproductive health.
Unfortunately, no. In my 40s, it's gotten progressively heavier and more painful.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Did it go back to more normal after that? I guess I was just wondering if I'm hitting a very early menopause or if there was some other weird hormonal thing I should look into. IDK. I'm definitely fine with as little as possible of a period, but just want to make sure I'm not ignoring a potential issue.
I'm really sorry so many in this thread have had such terrible issues. It amazes me that in 2019 we don't have better answers about this absolute BS that many women have to deal with in regards to their reproductive health.
Unfortunately, no. In my 40s, it's gotten progressively heavier and more painful.
Same. My perimenopausal periods are gross and annoying.