Ladies only Input please

[luvestodizz]

I need some experienced females. I'm 41 yo and my cycles have always been regular- ranging from 22 to 26 days apart. My last cycle was 32 days and it was fairly light and lasted 4 days. After that ended I had some brown spotting off and on. Today, 13 days later I am having a period again. It's different because I have very mild cramps, usually I have severe cramps. I had a normal pap in December but naturally I'm thinking something serious is wrong. I've never taken birth control pills either. Ant advice?

 

[MainStreetMomma]

It could have been any number of things from a very early pregnancy loss to the beginning stages of menopause.

Place a call to your ob/gyn to get a legit answer and to find out if s/he needs to see you.

Also, it is really helpful to read Taking Charge of Your Fertility, it explains so many marvelous things about the female reproductive system, including how to monitor your cycles to be better informed when things like what you experienced happen.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor but I did play one in a school play once.

 

[happygirl]

I need some experienced females. I'm 41 yo and my cycles have always been regular- ranging from 22 to 26 days apart. My last cycle was 32 days and it was fairly light and lasted 4 days. After that ended I had some brown spotting off and on. Today, 13 days later I am having a period again. It's different because I have very mild cramps, usually I have severe cramps. I had a normal pap in December but naturally I'm thinking something serious is wrong. I've never taken birth control pills either. Ant advice?

Could it be menapause?

 

[luvmy3]

I have spotted when ovulating before and since 13 days would be around ovulation it could be something like that. Is it like a regular period, or is it lighter than normal?
I wouldn't worry about it being anything serious, because it could be something to not even worry about. Call your OB/GYN and set up an appt to put yourself at ease

 

[Liberty Belle]

I need some experienced females. I'm 41 yo and my cycles have always been regular- ranging from 22 to 26 days apart. My last cycle was 32 days and it was fairly light and lasted 4 days. After that ended I had some brown spotting off and on. Today, 13 days later I am having a period again. It's different because I have very mild cramps, usually I have severe cramps. I had a normal pap in December but naturally I'm thinking something serious is wrong. I've never taken birth control pills either. Ant advice?

Could you be pregnant? Ever been diagnosed with fibroids?

 

[FredinFL]

Could be perimenopause. It's the stage before full menopause...of course my doctor kept saying it was perimenopause because I was young, um yah...now I am thru it and never really did anything for it. I guess I went "natural"

 

[Christine]

I probably wouldn't go running freaking out to the GYN at this point although it is unsettling when your very routine body gets out of it. The 40s is when that starts.

The easy explanation is that you've had a hormone blip. Your cycle that was 32 days was abnormal for you. You probably didn't ovulate that month or ovulated late and your hormones got screwy. This "mini" period you are having could be your body's attempt to normalize.

GYN doctors don't rush to do testing on a 41 year old woman with ONE unusual bleeding pattern. They want to see what happens over 3 months time.

Yes, mid-cycle bleeding can be a sign of something ominous; however, a doctor will be looking for a recurring theme. And since you've been good about your annual checkups and testing, I would only go to the doctor if it continues to happen for another two cycles.

 

[kellydizfan]

I had this back in 2005 where I had 2 periods in one month and they were very dark almost black and lasted a week each. Not normal for me by any means. I ended up have a fibroid tumor - non-cancerous that was very large taken out by out-patient surgery. I also have a yeast injection that started it off. Now I will be 45 in a couple of months and my periods have been irregular - miss a month or go 6 weeks or more between and he said it is nothing to worry about - going thru menopause (premenopause).

 

[DebbieB]

I'm 51, the same things started when I was around 45. I've had ultrasounds (external and internal) three times and all it showed was fibroids. Twice I had endometrial biopsies, negative. They were not bad enough to remove and the symptoms weren't too bad so we let it ride, my mom went through menopause at 48. Well, last year I was still going through the same thing but more frequent spotting. I had my annual in November and the doctor sent me for ultrasounds again. I had the ultrasound in December and by the time I got an appt with her to talk about the results in late January, I had not had any bleeding since Thanksgiving. The results showed the fibroids were smaller and since I wasn't having any bleeding and I did start having hot flashes, we're hoping I'm in menopause. Over 4 months now, keeping my fingers crossed! Start keeping a chart and if it keeps up, see your doctor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Eh, welcome to the 40's & perimenopause.

 

[Jennasis]

You have described me (I'm 34). Dr. ordered some bloodwork and it turns out I have a very off Prolactin level (it's a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland). It causes irregular periods (and even breast lactating, though I didn't have that). I went to a gyno who ordered an MRI to rule out a the possibility of micro-tumors in my pituitary gland (Prolactinomas). I didn't have them. She put me on a drug called Bromocriptine, which should level me out. I will be on the drug for a year or two.

See you gyno. She'll set you straight!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm 51, the same things started when I was around 45. I've had ultrasounds (external and internal) three times and all it showed was fibroids. Twice I had endometrial biopsies, negative. They were not bad enough to remove and the symptoms weren't too bad so we let it ride, my mom went through menopause at 48. Well, last year I was still going through the same thing but more frequent spotting. I had my annual in November and the doctor sent me for ultrasounds again. I had the ultrasound in December and by the time I got an appt with her to talk about the results in late January, I had not had any bleeding since Thanksgiving. The results showed the fibroids were smaller and since I wasn't having any bleeding and I did start having hot flashes, we're hoping I'm in menopause. Over 4 months now, keeping my fingers crossed! Start keeping a chart and if it keeps up, see your doctor.

I'm glad your fibroids are smaller, and hopefully they'll go away after menopause, but please don't be surprised (as I was ) if they suddenly grow larger after menopause.

 

[lemondog]

Well I am 39, had cramping last month at a weird time, imagine my shock when the pg test I bought on a whim turned out positive.

My point is...don't rule out the obvious. My vote goes to ovulation, but do take a pg test to make sure!

 

[Tinijocaro]

My periods have started out with dark blackish stuff that I call sludge. Usually about 4 days fo this before my period starts. I'm 46 and this has been going on for years. I assumed this was normal. Not so sure now.

Last month, I got my period out of the blue, no sludge beforehand. It lasted a day then stopped. Two weeks later I got my period, sludge and all.

 

[dolcezena]

Sign me up for the side that votes you get a pregnancy test. Irregular bleeding that's been "dark" has been my clue both times I've been knocked up. (Or blessed, choose your terminology )

 

[Megan_J]

Sounds like perimenopause. I'm 40 and started it less than a year ago. My cycles are now closer together and take forever to end. I spot brownish/old looking blood in the beginning for a few days then it's a deluge for two to three days with lots of blood clots.

 

[dis-happy]

Just in to see my gyno last week and we were talking about this; I'm in my 40's too.

Anyway, in perimenopause they get closer together before spreading out to longer apart to nothing. The one thing that did stick in my mind though: she told me if they become less than 21 days apart I needed to give her a call. So, it probably wouldn't hurt to check with your doctor if your annual isn't due in the near future.

 

[superdiz]

Can't hurt to take a pregnancy test. I agree with previous posters regarding a possible miscarriage - women have them all the time and don't know it because they aren't counting their cycle days. The first period could have been implantation spotting since it was shorter/lighter/different. I'd be more inclined to that aspect of things over menopause. And it is true, you could chalk it up to a funky month as well. But always talk to the OB about these kinds of things. It's most likely nothing.

To the person with the dark sludge - have you talked to your OB about it? Most likely it is "old blood" - which can be blackish or brown. It's probably normal. But I would ask just in case