Oh, I meant to add...I've spent hours upon hours researching this and the only sure thing I can come up with is that there is no sure thing. I cannot find any discussion stating a chronology of irregular bleeding patterns, from onset to end.

Can you who have entered menopause remember specific patterns, length of time, etc., from start to finish, leading up to actual menopause? I'm wondering when this is going to end! Arrggh! Been having irregular periods now since I was 47, I believe.

perimenopause can last upwards of 10 years until your periods completely stop.
any time you have more than 8 days of heavy bleeding you really should see a doc.

I'm 51 and still getting a regular period. About 2 years ago, I starting spotting right in the middle of my cycle (probably when ovulating). I went to see a physician who prescribed a bio-identical progesterone cream, which I use twice daily. I have not had any spotting since starting the cream about 1 1/2 years ago.

That's the thing. I've read it can last anywhere from four to 15 years. And I've heard differences of opinion as to how much bleeding is "too much" or "too long." I've read a lot of women's personal experiences with this, EXCEPT they don't mention the chronology of their "symptoms," so to speak. In other words, regardless of how long it took them to get through it, are there any specific patterns one can identify with that signal menopause might be approaching? I haven't seen any such discussion. Even with the wide variation in the perimenopausal phase from woman to woman, you'd think there'd be some common demoninator, some pattern, of symptoms from start to finish. Maybe not.

unfortunately no there is no specific pattern you could look for that would tell you how close you are to reaching the end.

Wendy, that's what I've been considering, but wasn't sure. I know I definitely don't want to start synthetic HRT. I have a younger sister who's had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer that could have been caused ...or at least exacerbated...by having had HRT when she was younger because of a hysterectomy she'd had for endometrosis. I am very very conservative when it comes to taking drugs of any kind. I tend to lean more towards homeopathic things but am very new to this, so wasn't sure what would be the best kind, etc.

I'm almost 51 and have been having odd patterns for several years. About 8-9 years ago, my period came every 3 weeks for almost a year, then went back to 4 weeks, but I started having other perimenopause symptoms, like hair loss and sleeping problems.

My period was regular after that until this year. For about 3 months this spring, I got my period every other week and it seemed like a "regular" flow each time. This summer, it started getting up to 5 weeks between. Then the last one 2 months ago looked an awful lot like how I remember my first period back when I was 12. Since I've not had cramps or any spotting, I'm thinking that I'm not going to have anymore. At least I'm hoping it's that and not some other problem...

I had periods that started, then stopped, then started again and were heavy for 7 days, total time lasting about 2 weeks out of the month. I had a fibroid removed in 2003, had uterine sonograms yearly since (partially due to my bleeding problems, and partially due to the fact that my Mom had contained uterine cancer 7 years ago). They never find anything with the sonograms, except when they discovered my fibroid. This year my GYN suggested changing my IUD from the Paragard (copper) to the Mirena (which has hormones in it). My period does not last nearly as long, and it is much lighter. He told me that for some woman, their cycle stops altogether. Don't know if this will help you.

Hi! I am 42 years old and in July I started having irregular periods. My normal periods only last 3-4 days and it not generally real heavy. But in July it was extremelly heavy and lasted 7 days and then I didn't have another until October which again was even heavier that the one in July and lasted 8 days. I had my tubes tide so I figured I was not pregnant, but I went to the Dr any way. He of course confirmed that I was not, but then told me that I was to young to start menopause.

I was having problems with heavy and irregular bleeding; my Dr did a hormone assessment, and put me on bioidentical progesterone for part of my cycle, and it has helped a lot. It got my cycle back to a 28 day cycle. I starrted out using it for the last 2 weeks of my cycle, now I only use it on days 16-21.

You can start having irregular cycles at any time. My period has changed several times over my lifetime and started getting somewhat unpredictable when I was in my early 40s.

Smurfyone,

My GYN said that 43 (my age) is on the young side to start perimenopause, but it does happen. He has seen women as young as 39 who have started perimenopause.

Hi
I just turned 51 and this is quite a rollercoaster! I went from the last six months of a very light period to a very heavy one on April 1. Then another light one at the end of April. Then nothing until June 23, which was about six weeks later, at which point I started spotting almost daily for two weeks. A woman I work with who is 10 years older than me tells me this is quite normal, it was what she experienced also. When I was younger I was always almost 28 days exactly, so this is quite frustrating!

Hi:

I just had an appointment with a "menopause nurse" and because I happened to mention that I had just had a light period after a 15 day cycle, she wants me to be tested. This makes me anxious ... I thought odd periods were a part of the whole perimenopause thing. I have already had two "unecessary" surgeries in the past six years, I really don't want to add an uneccessary hysterectomy to the list! My instincts are telling me to wait and see if I have another episode of spotting before going in. Running to the doctor for every oddity makes me anxious and I've have plenty anxiety since entering this phase of life. I don't need any more.

I also have heard that Asian women don't have the severe perimenopausal issues that we Americans have. I've read that it is becaseu they are more active and have far better eating habits. Makes sense.

I would like to know if all of us with the irrigualr periods, had thier tubes tied.
and are no longer on the pill. When my heavy bleeding started I read that women who have thier tubes tied go through this heavey bleeding as menopause. My doctor said no, and I have never been able to find it again on the internet.
My sister 53 who had been on the pill her periods just stopped. she had no problems at all.
I have not been on a pill since I was 35 I am now 51 and having a heck of a time going through this menopause.
Just wondering if any of you had your tubes tied??