I'm 44 and had been experiencing strange things with my periods for a couple of years, not so regular, lighter than usual... last Christmas they went haywire enough that I went to see my doctor who told me I was perimenopausal, I was a bit gobsmacked, it had never crossed my mind. I thought it might be to do with coming off long term Depo a while before because I knew it can take a long time for your body to get back to normal, although four or five years is probably pushing it!

Since about March I've been having a number of other difficulties that have convinced me it is my menopause, moodswings, lack of concentration, depression (so not me), forgetfulness, tearfulness... but no hot flushes or anything concrete.

Now my periods are getting really close together and heavier, soon I expect I'll just be having one long period if it continues. Can this be a sign that I'm approaching the latter stages of perimenopause? I do hope so, these past months have come as quite a shock, I never knew it could screw you up so bad!

Here is a link to a website which describes the stages of perimenopause. It is from a university research centre. (Someone posted the link on PS about a month ago and there was a thread on it.) I have read the book "Estrogen Storm Season by Jerilynn Prior, the Dr on that site, and, if I remember correctly, she said that stage C (which is where I think you might be) begins with the first period that is more than 7 days outside of what is the norm for you. She also said, in the book, that phase C often begins with a heavy flooding period. And once you have actually skipped a full period (stage D) it is about a year until your periods stop. From the beginning of stage C to your final period is about 3 years, according to her. But remember, this is just a rough guide. Everyone is different and Dr Prior acknowledges this. I was in stage C for 1 year and have now been in phase D for 21 months. I have skipped several months and have gone back to having monthly periods a couple of times. My last period was about 5 weeks ago and I was sure I was at the end. Now I feel like I may be getting another one.

http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/ask/onset_of_perimenopause

I don't know if your heavy periods coming closer together is a sign of later stages of peri.....if so I have been in the later stages for 3 years only to have them regulate for the past few mo. which has been comletely frustrating, not that I liked the relentless bleeding, but to become regular only made me feel like menopause is still way far off...literally there was no regularity to them for 3 years...I have for the better part of 3 years had 2 cycles a mo. of heavy flooding, and when I wasn't doing that I have spotted for weeks on end, and I have missed cycles. Try as they might I don't think there is anyone, even the professionals with experience dealing with this stage of life who can tell you when menopause will come or the stages of bleeding you will go through up to that point.....there has been absolutely no schedule I can follow for myself, no time line, no #'s(mine have been post menopausal ranges for 2 years and yet I continue to cycle haphazzardly or now regularly) Can you sense my own frustration with this....I never expected this irregularity and exhausting flooding. I hope for you you are in the last stage of peri. but reality is you probably will go through some time of maddening irregularity beforehand. HUgs and welcome Mikki

Thank u Gazelle,
I have not seen a doctor during this peri stuff. This info is wonderful, cause I knew nothing about it.

I went through a phase of about 4 years where my periods got closer together and heavier. And now just recently things have started getting farther apart (I'm late again for the 2nd consecutive month) although the flow seems to be about the same. So I'm guessing I'm getting closer to the end. I think you are too, but you still have a ways to go. But then again, you might have one more period and never have another one. We're all different.

Ah well, it never hurts to be optimistic. It seems I may have some way to go yet after all. Thanks for the examples of how it has been for yourselves, it does help make some kind of sense to my own situation although it also adds to my uncertainty in other respects - I seem to be doing it all backwards! First thing I noticed was periods getting lighter and slightly further apart and I did skip one or two which had me running to the chemist for pregnancy test kits! NOW, I'm bleeding to different degrees almost all the time with a week off here and there.

One day at a time then...

Oh wouldn't life be so much easier for us all if we all travelled the exact same road!!! But alas, we all have our own personal journey's, no two exactly the same.

I would say I was in stage C for 8 years!!! Go figure, cycles got closer together...24 days...periods were heavy and lasted 7 - 9 days...it felt like I was always bleeding..grrrrrrr!!! Then suddenly, my periods were 90 days apart....I didn't work up to that, just went from 24 days to 90. I did that for 2 years....then...nothing. I stopped periods at 46. Done. Finished.

Wish I could say things got better then, but no. For me menopause has been MUCH worse than peri ever was. I hope you travel a different road than I have.

Good luck!!!

The weirdest thing has happened to me ....
after several years of VERY heavy periods,sometimes lasting 3 weeks.....I have just had 24 hours of flooding {changing towel regularly through the night} then,a few days VERY light,then today....nothing.
This has never happened before
this period came a week early and I have had a few months lately where they have been a week late
I have other peri symptoms and am wondering now if this is the beginning of the end?!
I dont want to be going through early Menopause but because of how I,ve felt in the last few years,am wondering if,at least diagnosed as menopausal I might get some form of treatment?
I have been so depressed and 'not me' for so long that I want an explaination to give to my loved ones and friends as to why I,ve been such a miserable bitch!!!!
I get my blood results on thursday....if they are normal......is there anything herbal I can take ?
Does anyone know wether you can take St Johns Wort with Ramapril? I have High Blood Pressure,which I have also heard is connected with the Menopause

As far as I know, the answer to your question is "no" because it's so unique to each woman. I had regular periods until the very last year. I missed a month and then later missed 2 months and that was it - no more periods. I never had heavy bleeding (thankfully) or spotting, etc. It's amazing how different this is for each of us. Kathleent