I use to go the whole week of my cycle and now I have cut down to like three days(which I like). Is this something that just happens as a person gets older? I notice that my cycles are coming at different times too.

Does everyone else do this?

Oh yeah I've gone from every 28 days to every 26 days. I bleed 3 days stop for one then bleed for 1. And talk about yucky and messy. This has happened over the past 2 or 3 years and I'm 41.

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Laura
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I have never had a "regular" cycle so i can't comment. You might need to watch that b/c it can be an indicator for female cancers. I would talk to my GYN or my PCP (not the drug LOL) about this....you never can be to cautious with your health.

Yep, me too. And I've also had 2 periods in one month (a few times). I'll be 42 in June, and my doctor told me a couple of years ago when this all started that I'm going thru peri-menopause....which could last up to 10 years! I have noticed the last several months I've been getting hot flashes too, so I'm guessing that I'm getting closer to menopause.....slowly.....

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I turned 42 in December and mine are very reliable - I'm on the pill! Dr. told me since I was already on it with no problems (and don't smoke) to stay on it until I'm 50 and it will mask alot of these peri-menapause symptoms!

Lisa

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I'm 43, still regular although they have shortened to around 3 days but no complaints about that. I haven't kept track since I got my tubes tied. Probably not something that I should have quit doing (keeping track) -- I've heard of little surprises being born after a tubal. YIKES!

I belong to that exclusive club and my little surprise is now 13 years old!

Back to the topic yes it is natural for your cycle to change as you age. I have celebrated the second big "F" birthday and my cycle is crazy. I totally skipped a month 3 times in a row and then this month I was right back on track (grrrr). My dr. told me that I am nearing the end. I don't know about the lighter periods though because I started taking coumadin 1 year ago and that makes my flow so much heavier. At least the urge to run out and buy a pg test is not as strong these days.

I forgot to add that I am 33 yrs old.

I am 44 and I have gone from every 28 days.....to about every 24 days. I don't get hot flashes during the day, but I wake up in the middle of the night, very sweaty. My emotions have been all over the place, and to add to all that.....my migraines have increased a great deal in the past six months. Yuck!

I'm 41 and this is my plan too! Even better I take Seasonal and I get a 3 day period every 90 days! My docotr was funny, she said we'll take this right on through menapause and you'll never know! I hope so, I remember my mom being insane with hot flashes!

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I'm the opposite after the third baby. My periods come anywhere from 29-35 days. They now last 4-5 days and are so much heavier. I get a lot of cramping, like someone is stabbing me with a knife around my left ovary. Luckily last month wasn't like that. OBGYN said to take ibuprofen and if I couldn't stand it to come back for a pain RX until I'm ready for BC pills and to be "opened up" to see what is going on. I'm not ready to do that yet since we're working on #4 right now.

Anyway, my periods used to be so much lighter and only last 3-4 days. I'm 31.

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and announcing......
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I was having this problem and my Dr performed a D and C an everything went right back to normal. I guess everything needs a "Dusting and Cleaning" every once in a while...

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I work at an OB/GYN office and I can tell you a lot of patients come in with more irratic menstral cycles. Some not as long, some lasting a lot longer, etc. And yes, the recommend starting on pills or having bloodwork done to see where your hormones are as far as menopause.

As far as the reply about the longer periods sooner, if you are done having children (and are certain that you are done), you can talk to your GYN about having an Endometrial Ablation. This is a surgical procedure that lasts maybe 30 minutes and they use heat or ice to destroy the lining of the uterus to make your menses less...or not happen at all. Your body will no longer be able to carry a fetus therefore you need to be sure you are done with childbearing.

Best thing I can say is check with your GYN to discuss options best for your medical conditions, pills, ablations and bloodwork. They may want to do more tests to make sure it is only hormonal.

I talked to my dr. about the Seasonal and then decided against it. It sounds great, but messing with your cycle like that made me a little nervous. It's still in the back of my mind, though. Do you ever have break-through bleeding or any side effects?

Lisa

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I have had no break through bleeding or side effects. I'm done having kids so I'm not worried about it's effects on the fertility relm. It's an individual thing but it worked for me better than any other pill ever did.

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I'm done having kids, too, and I still think about how great that would be. I may have to revisit it with the dr. Thanks for the info!

Lisa

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