I'm 49 and wondering if what's going on in just more perimenopausal cyclic fluctuation or pregnancy. I'm 49 and the mother of a teenager; a baby is not on my agenda! I'm only a few days past a 28-day cycle, although for some time (but not last month) my periods were coming a little earlier than that. I plan to get a home test kit this weekend if necessary. From the other posts, it sounds like I'm not the only one who's confused about what's happening, so that's reassuring. I intend to get a prescription for contraception assuming the test is negative. I don't want to keep worrying every time my cycle is off. As a worst case scenario, I guess abortion is still legal, although I never thought I'd be in that position.

Hi Ngroves - I had a "scare" like this about 3 years ago, when I was 45. My periods had been fairly regular, then all of a sudden it was very late. I bought a home pregnancy test - which registered POSITIVE!! :shock: At that time my childern ranged in age from 15 to 7...I had gotten rid of all the baby stuff (clothes, crib, highchair, carseat, etc, etc) as well as all maternity clothes....AND I had no medical insurance. And of course I was very worried about Downs Syndrome. Abortion was absolutely NOT an option. I was trying to think things through, make a plan, see a doctor BEFORE telling my husband (because I knew he would freak out even more than I was) - but then I stated spotting. That went on for a few days, becoming heavier, and I knew I had miscarried (I had several miscarriages when I was younger). I felt relieved, then felt guilty about feeling relieved. Have you not been using contraceptives? My understanding is that you need to continue to do so for 1 - 2 years after your periods cease. Let us know what happens with you...if your home test is positive or not. This may very well be just the flucuation that happens in peri, when periods become erratic. After this episode my periods varied from 3 weeks apart to 10 weeks apart. I am totally ready for them to just STOP :!: