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period changes menopause?

I am 45 have been off bc for over a year and it took 6 months for my periods to return v irregular cycles some 40 days some 21 days some 35 some 37 some 28 etc this month v strange went 24 days had heavy bleeding on day 1 2 3 and then days 4 and 5 hardly anything didn't need sanitary protection now on day 7 backache and every time I wipe I see white mucus with brown / pink blood smeared in it but v little appears on pad could this be my hormone levels changing as I'm mid 40s?
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Avatar universal
There is also an early study that shows that long term usee of oral contraceptives can advance the onset of menopause.
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/16/8/1657/624673
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that's interesting as was on bc for over 20 years
973741 tn?1342342773
COMMUNITY LEADER
OMG, so young.  But it can happen.  I'm older than you and still in the throws of it all starting and have been for a few years.  Pain in my butt.  LOL  So, yep.  I'd say your period is the victim of hormonal changes.  Heavier bleeding when on a period is common or menopause AND spotting like you describe also can happen.  Talk to your doctor next time you see them.  Mine says my few days of heavy bleeding are normal even though I went through 40 plus years of a different type of period preceding it.  
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973741 tn?1342342773
COMMUNITY LEADER
45 is really early for menopause.  And usually it is something that takes place over years (plural) time.  Agree that a doctor can tell you if you are indeed starting menopause.  My pattern as I go through menopause is actually super heavy periods.  Like triple homicide if you know what I mean but only for shorter times like 3 days max.  I have cramping and bleeding like I never had before.  My doctor says this is a common pattern.  I'm regular though.  My good friend had her periods just peter out and come less and less and were shorter and shorter until they were gone by 52 years of age.  Your hormones are also shifting at all times as we age.  The spotting is indicative of that.  Too much progesterone can cause the brown spotting you describe.  

So, see your doctor to have the levels checked and you'll know where you are at and what adjustments may need to be made in order to make this stop.  Let us know what the doctor says!
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1 Comments
I had blood tests last year when periods went missing lol said I was peripausal!
Avatar universal
Menopause is quite likely..some women enter earlier than others.  Your doctor can run a panel and tell you if you are premenopausal.  Also, if you have ever been treated with "lupron depot" during chemotherapy, there is a high likelihood of early menopause.  This was my case and I lost my period at 42.
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