Menopause

[children11]

Last month my period was very heavy (with a lot of clots) for 3 days. Light for 7 days. Bleed for a total of 10 days. Throughout the 10 days, it was bright red. Never a dull brownish red. I got my period yesterday and so far it's lighter than normal. Bright red but on the TP, it looks like a conbination of bright red and brownish red. Could this be a sign of menopause? I'm 43 and early menopause runs in my family.

Thank you,

Bernice

[metalbudderfly]

hello there,
well i know your doctor can perform a test to see if you are in any stages of menopause. i'm not sure but i thought that you could buy a home type test for that also from drugstores. irregular periods could be a sign that you might be starting menopause. do you have any other symptoms? hot flashes or vaginal dryness? by all means if your worried or concerned ask your gyno.

[children11]

Thanks for your reply. I don't have any other symtoms. I get the normal crapping, moodiness and bloating that comes with your period. I went to my doctor last month because I was bleeding longer than normal. She did an exam and said everything seems find. She said the bleeding seems to be slowing day and it should stop by the weekend (I went to her on a Friday). She said if it doesn't stop, she'll put me on BCP to help stop it. The next Wednesday, I was still bleeding and so I called her and she prescribed BCP and I was to take 4 a day. Well I picked up the pills and the bleeding stopped. I didn't need to take them but I still kept them just in case the bleeding started again.

I asked her if I can be starting early menopause, she said no because I'm too young. But then I did some checking and asked my family who told me that early menopause runs in my family.

Now I got my period this month and so far it's light and a combination of bright red/brownish red mixed together.

I don't bleed in between periods. It's just longer/shorter than normal.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Bernice

[metalbudderfly]

hey bernice,
well maybe the bc helped regulate a little. i know as i have gotten older(i'm 38) my periods have done some funny things. sometimes they will only be like 1 or 2 days and sometimes they will be a whole 5-7 days long. maybe you should check into that over the counter home kit to check for menopause. then if you did have any findings that menopause has started consult your gyno and let her know your findings. i wish i could be more of a help when it comes to this......

[children11]

Could you tell me more about the over the counter kit for menopause? What is it called?

Thank you,

Bernice

[metalbudderfly]

Menopause Test Kit i think this is the link for the home test. the test is fairly cheap. i think around $20 or so. good luck......

[children11]

Thank you. I just ordered the Menopause Kit. My period is longer, heavy and bright red, a lot of clots, crapping not bad but alittle more than usual. Last month my period lasted 10 days with the 1st 3 days being heavy. The day it stopped my doctor prescribed BCP but I didn't take it because the bleeding stopped. Even when it was slowing down, it was still bright red. My doctor said it's not the color, it's how much blood that would be a concern.

This month, it's been the same so far. Bright red period, heavy but not as heavy as last month but close. A lot of clots, crapping but not that bad. It's been 4 days and I'm waiting for the brownish red blood but it's staying bright red.

Even if my doctor isn't too concern about the bright red, I am and it's freaking me out. I'm calling my doctor tomorrow because something is making my period abnormal.

I guess it could be a good thing that I don't bleed in between periods and that I don't double over with pain. I thought menopause (or preimenopause) causes your period to be lighter and shorter and even don't get it some months?

Does anyone know if a STD causes heavy, longer, bright red bleeding with a lot of clots?

Thank you,

Bernice

[metalbudderfly]

hello bernice, well i don't know of any type of std that would cause you to have a different period. one thought though....... my mom had a similar situation as your having right now. as my mom got older her periods got heavier with lots of clots. she was really bleeding badly and i made her go to her gyno to get checked. well she ended up having fibroids. she ultimatly ended up having a hystorectomy. it brought much relief for her because she was happy to get rid of her terrible periods....

[children11]

I was reading up on all the possibilites for long, heavy bleeding. I understand Fibroid are common and nothing to worry about. If this is what is causing my long, heavy, bright red periods, I would be OK with having Fibroids. Actually, this is what I hope it is, if anything. I probably won't have a hysterectomy (sp) but I probably will take BCP to regulate my periods. I would be OK with peri-menopause too. LOL

Bernice

[children11]

Lynne,

Did your mom also have the bright red blood then didn't turn to the brownish red when she had problems with her period?

Bernice