I am 49 and not done, but here's what I can add: I had 5 periods last year. When I mentioned this to my doctor, he said he thought I'd have fewer this year. I've had 3 so far, who knows. My friends that have stopped, many have said that they had irregular periods, so they could never tell what was happening, and then just stopped. I'm not sure there is a definitive pattern. Other than fewer and fewer... I hope some others can share their experiences to give us an idea.

That helps. I've had in my head I think that they would get closer and closer then just stop suddenly. So I should probably expect that if I do skip any they'll probably return off and on for maybe years?

I'm 51 and still not over. My periods have been every 3 weeks for the last year, then all the sudden in the beginning of May I started flowing and only stopped for 2 days the beginning of June. It is now June 16th - it been 6 weeks I've been flowing with only 2 days off. This sucks.

Hopefully this means I am getting close to it being over. :-)

Thank you for that info. I think that's similar to what happened to my mom. Hope that's variable though and not set it stone for me.

Before they were every 3 weeks, like the prior year, were they occasionally 3 then suddenly always 3? And for how long? I'm occasionally 3 but usually 4 so wondering how long this stage may last.

Again, thanks!

I think everybody is different, but my periods (when I had them fairly reg.) were coming about every 21 days, then I had them skipping for 3 month another period, nothing for 3 month, than a longer period with nothing, period, another very light period a couple of weeks ago. So that what I experienced. I think all this crap we are going thru is pretty normal, even it makes me crazy. Hope that was of any help. Peace and Love.

I was on the pill so i got my period like clock work every month. GYN gave me a FSH test- proclaimed me post meno-stopped the pill and I never got another period.
I highly recommend this

I am going to see my doctor soon and am thinking about asking about getting on a very low dose BC pill because my life is a mess around all this period stuff - always has been. I really need to know when to expect it and if it cuts down on very long 2 week bouts of PMS like I just went through, I'd be grateful. But the last time I tried a very low dose BC pill, I felt worse in a way. So I don't know. I was crying a lot, felt sort of numb, and think I got more depressed. But it's an interesting idea that you can still regulate your periods and now when you no longer need the pill due to FSH testing.

Hi...I haven't been on here in a very long time.

I'm soon to be 45(nov). My periods have always been every month since day 1. In nov of 2013 I skipped my first perimeno unseal period didn't get it again till Feb of 2014. Since February 2014 I have been skipping about 2 to 3 months in between periods and bleeding was normal to very light. However in May 2015 I got a period that was flooding..I went to ER. They did 2 ultrasounds, one of them pelvic and found nothing but a very small fibroid. My dr said it was more likely hormonal, so she put me on BC to control bleeding. I took BC for 3 months, remainder of May, then Jun and the last month was July. I had periods & they were still heavy (but not as much as when I went to ER) and painful with cramps nothing like what I had gotten used to in the last year and a half. Aug I had a heavy period, 1 day out of 5 I had painful cramping and passing clots, then thank god it stopped! This month (Sep) I just started Thursday night spotting only once, Fri spotting twice, Sat cramping only on right side and little spotting throughout day, last night(still Sat) it started to look more like a normal period. This morning,Sun. Still getting painful cramps off & on and bleeding is more. And it looks like they are going 3 weeks in between. I also heard they become fewer then can become heavy and more frequent before they stop...I just know I was having it easy and now it's not! I'm ready for them to just be gone!

I actually printed up a Menstrual Record Chart and keep it under my plastic desk cover in my home office so I record every single period glitch!

And yes, I approach it with glee! I remember for years before I could not wait to reach menopause. NO MORE PERIODS! LOL They get old after all these years.....12 to be exact!

I turned 50 this year. I couldn't wait to turn 50! I counted the years. In fact, that meant I could join the Red Hat club! Still haven't yet though.

So....to give you my personal rundown of those year/years leading up to THE END...I go like this....

2015-January, February....what? No visit from Aunt Flo!

March....a somewhat normal 5-6 days.

April....what i call "mummy dust" for 5 days. :)

May, June, July, August, September...NONE yay!

So.....maybe no more but you know how fickle Mother Nature is!

Mine were closer together for about a year until June 1 this year. Bleeding lasted for over 2 months, ended 8/9. Then started bleeding again 8/29 and it's still going :(

My period used to be very regular, every 28 days. The last 2-3 years the pattern changed. The first time it skipped a couple of months but when I did get my period, it would be very heavy for the first 3 days and would last almost 2 weeks. I had my doctor check for abnormalities due to the heavy bleeding, but nothing found. The pattern has been 2-3 month skipping, sometimes longer intervals since, but recently it has come every month with heavy bleeding. My mother had similar experiences so my guess is that it is normal for me. I will definitely continue to communicate with my doctor about it, though.

Act2part1

Your experience has been pretty much like mine.

I've always been very regular, every month...until nov 2013 (age43), I skipped for the very first time (other than when pregnant). Since Nov 2013, I was going 2-3 months without one and they very light...it was great...for that year & a half... I honestly thought I was almost done with them. Then, May of this year it changed...it's been every month and very heavy....5 to 6 days flow and 2 days are very heavy with painful cramping and clots, ughhh!

I just don't understand how they took a break and then came back like with a vengeance! I just hope and pray this doesn't last too long and that they just go away for good. I've read here that some women go for upto 2 months straight (I believe Monae and a few others) without stopping. What we women have to go through!

I didn't even start having missed or lighter periods until I was over 55 (first period at 13). It just got lighter and lighter and then started skipping months until it stopped.
Over the last 2 years I haven't had any periods or spotting. Then the vaginal dryness and painful intercourse kicked in. Recently I worked with a holistic health practitioner who recommended some hormone drops by Bizwecken (I think that's the name brand). So I've been taking the drops for a couple of weeks, the dryness and pain are fixed and now I'm having a period. I haven't been able to get in touch with her to ask her about it yet, but I didn't know this would be a side effect of the drops.

I am 50 and mine stopped at 48. I was every 28 days from the start of my periods.Towards the end they became more irregular and the last couple very light before stopping completely. I never thought I would miss my period but, menopause is no treat either!! The loss of estrogen is reaking havoc on my body!!

Mine: closer together when I was about 47, then very far apart for a couple of years. Then closer together.
Last few:
61 days
18 days
55 days

They range from heavier to almost not at all.
On the plus side: no real PMS, and no cravings
Granted, I'm bloated and PMSY all the time, so it would be hard to know!