Hello Ladies I'm 40 and will be turning 41 in April, Dec 07 I had 2 periods one at the start of that month and at the end of that month. Jan 08 rolls around same pattern with period one at the start & at the end of that month also. Well Feb comes and I missed my first period, Now I sit here not knowing what to expect and it frightens me badly. And during the time I was suppose to get my cycle in Feb I had all the symptoms of getting a period but no blood, and to top all that off got a Yeast Infection Too which I got My Dr. to call me in a prescription for that... How fun..
But who all here around my age started this skipping cycles or quit them all together and if so could you share some of your symptoms with me.... Geez I hate all of this, but I guess as long as I'm not pouring to blood I should be thankful because I know many women have that problem and that is very scary as well, not to mention it can leave havoic on ones' body.

Thanks Ladies

Hi Blue!.My periods became erratic in the last 6 months. There was shorter times in between the beginning of one and the beginning of the next. 2 in one month happene a couple of times. I had my last period Dec 9th 2007. Thought I was getting my Jan period with all the symptoms but never came. same with Feb and now we are on to March. Same thing. My anxiety, hot flashes began in earnest with the first skipped period. I had only skipped one other peiod in my life and it was in March of 07. Last month I got a yeast infection and the cold sores at the corner of my mouth. Stress and hormaonal imbalance says my Dr. Get you hormone levels tested if you skip another one and see where you are. Thsi is all very common and nothing to fear. The anxiety is the worst now that my flashes are reduced to 5 or 6 a day.
Louisa

Dear ((((Blue)))))
I know that you have been experiencing some frightenning moments during this time. It is important that you read .....The Physiology of Menopause Surge - Educate your Body - Educate your mind It is important ....so that you are not frightenned but rather impowered to understand the why's of what you are going through.....

In part this article reads....

To best understand what occurs at menopause, it is helpful to know about the physiology of menstruation and the hormones that are involved in our monthly cycle. Hormones are substances in our bodies that act like messengers. They travel throughout the body and can bind to specialized areas of cells known as receptor sites, where they then initiate a specific chain of events. The first half of the menstrual cycle is dominated by estrogen, whose role is to build the lining of the uterus in preparation for a potential pregnancy. At approximately day 14 of the cycle, or two weeks prior to menstruation, an egg is released from the ovaries. This is referred to as ovulation.

As a result of ovulation the ovary begins producing progesterone. It is during this second half of the cycle that progesterone is dominant. Progesterone's role is to change the character of the uterine lining to prepare for pregnancy, and to prevent further buildup of the lining by estrogen. At the end of the cycle, if the egg is not fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, causing a sloughing of the uterine lining, or menstruation. The body goes through this cycle every month to ensure a fresh uterine lining in preparation for a potential pregnancy.

If a woman fails to ovulate, however, she does not produce progesterone, and this may result in the experience of symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Women are born with a finite number of eggs that eventually runs out. At birth, a woman has close to a million eggs, by puberty a mere 300,000. In the 10 to 15 years prior to menopause, this loss begins to accelerate. Perimenopause is the term used to describe the time of transition between a woman's reproductive years and when menstruation ceases completely. Typically perimenopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 51 and may last anywhere from six months to ten years. During this time, hormone levels naturally fluctuate and decline, but they do not necessarily do so in an orderly manner. Shifts in hormones are a major contributor to that sense of physical, mental, and emotional imbalance that may characterize a woman's experience of menopause.

Eventually estrogen levels decrease to the point that the lining of the uterus no longer builds up and menstruation ceases. This is menopause. After menopause, estrogen levels off at approximately 40 to 60% of its premenopausal levels and progesterone falls close to zero. Although there are similarities in what happens hormonally, each woman's experience can be very different. Genetics may play a role in the timing, but lifestyle can certainly influence a woman's experience of menopause. Many women find that the right combination of herbs, exercise, nutritional support, and natural hormones helps them to manage most of their symptoms. Others find they may need some medical intervention and pharmaceutical agents.

Also VERY helpful and noteworthy is the 34 signs of Menopause.......
The VERY FIRST sign is.....Changes in your menstrual cycle - i.e., longer or shorter periods, heavier or lighter periods, or missed periods
Read more here -----34 signs of Menopause

You are not alone.
((((Hugs)))))
Dottie

hang in there sd.. i had no symptoms at all until my late 40's so my experience is probably not what you need, and my cycles were always all over the place from the very start, unless i was taking a birth control pill.. but i just wanted to offer a little support anyway.. the whole process does not have to be scary.. trust me... would i lie to you?

Hi Blue,
Im just a bit older than you so I will tell you what happened to me.

About 8 to 10 months ago I missed my first period. My first thought was oh no Im pregnant but I wasnt. It scared the living heck out of me. I did a pregnancy test which was negative. A week later I did another one which was also negative. I then asked for a blood test just to be sure. Well it too was negative.

I was relieved as to be pregnant at my age would have not been what I wanted. My youngest will be 10 this year so to think that I might have had a baby is not what I wanted.

My Mum started Premenapause when she was 36 so I assume that I will be the same as her. Since she is not here to ask what it was like for her. I am finding my way by chatting to Ladies in the insta-chat. I find reading posts helps to understand more too.

Since I missed my first period I have gone on to have the normal 1 a month for me. They seen to last for 3 to 5 days. It seems to be every 20 to 24 days like clockwork.

Well Blue I hope this has help you try to figure out things.

Remember it does and will get better.

From Deb

Blue honey,

I think your greatest fear is your age, and I started peri meno at 37!! I didn't skip periods, instead I went the other way...shortened cycle and heavy heavy periods. I felt like I only got to have a week or so a month without bleeding. This went on for about 6 years and eventually the period got so heavy I had to take medication to slow it down because I was going through an Ultra tampon in 15 minutes!

At about 43 I started missing periods and they finally settle down to one every 3 months, which was a nice break quite honestly. Then at 46.5 they stopped altogether and I haven't had one since. There is no set age. I know a lady in real life who was post by age 39. Don't worry about being too young, because you aren't too young...just on the young end of the age range.

We all experience this transition differently, but it is nothing to fear, merely a normal course of life. It is possible for you to miss a period or two and then have things return to normal for years yet. You don't know, no one knows for sure...so just settle in for an interesting ride, never knowing exactly what is around the next corner....but at least life won't be boring!

Hang in there Blue, and don't fear the unknown! You will get through it and will come out the other side.

Its ok, blue, this is all normal. Well whatever normal is....I always had very short periods, then about a year prior to my first missed period things started to change. They always used to be on time. Then the timing started getting irratic. I think this all started when I was 36.
Then the changes started with the way my period progressed. I would have one day of the brown yucky junk and then nothing for a day, Then the bleeding would start and last for about four day and be heavier than it had been in the past. Then just like that I would not have one for six months! It would show up for one maybe two days-most of the time the bleeding was very scant. Then gone for six months. I always read about the heavy flooding that was supposed to happen...mine did the opposite. Go figure, I always have to be different. I am fast approaching 47 and haven't had a period in 3.5 years.
Blue, you WILL get through this, I promise. Just take things day by day and accept the changes. And always remember, you have a whole bunch of women out there ready to give you support!
big hugs, my dear friend
LeaAnn

This is why I've been tracking myself for the past several years. My cycles started becoming scattered, varied between heavy, normal, light, one a month, two a month, then nothing. Then the cycles started lengthening between and as of today, I have been 6 months period free. I have flashes and phantom periods (hate those with a passion), and other occasional little annoyances. Don't let the process scare you, it is normal and if you need help, ask the doctor.

If you need a bit of help, ask the doctor. A lot of my friends (even my mother and I'm sure my SIL) have had help with hormones, procedures etc. I've been fortunate enough to be able to see this through without any aid thus far. BTW, I'm 48.

Well, I skipped Feb. Cycle... But along comes March and I started another period.... Oh well I guess I can now say I had my first official skip....LOL I try to find humor in all this madness.... but it gets very hard and frustrating.... Now it seems since missing that cycle... I'm how having crashing fatigue really bad.
But thanks to all you great ladies on the replies

it sound like you already did get the info & support that you needed, but just wanted to add that i started skipping in my late 30s (my period, that it). it has varied since - i am now 44. i have experienced that series of sensations that you describe where you think you will start & nothing happens. in the last 4 years or so, my cycles have ranged anywhere from 18 to 49 days. recently i had 2 cycles of 18/19, then 47, now at day 32 & who knows....

good luck & take care,
ellen

Welcome to PS! Here is a peri (((Hug!))) Dont be surprised if you dr says you are too young and you walk out of the office shaking your head. Come to this board if you need encouragement.

I will be 47 in May and have yet to skip a period. They have become longer, shorter, heavier, lighter. You name it. So we are all differnet. I would love to skip (I think?) as long as the symptoms stay at bay!