AJsMama, it absolutely could be perimenopause. Perimenopause can be marked by as much as a decade of irregular periods, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer or heavier, sometimes missing altogether. As in adolescence, our hormones can wreak havoc with our "regular" cycles, making ovulation less predictable. For instance, if during one cycle you take 5 more days to ovulate, you're going to be 5 days late that month.
Here's a Mayo Clinic page on symptoms of menopause; it sounds like there are other symptoms here that you find yourself dealing with on an occasional basis (hot flashes or insomnia, for instance):
It's good to know when your mother stopped having periods altogether. But don't forget, early symptoms of perimenopause can start a decade before menopause. You might miss this period and not miss another one for a year. Or you might go through menopause earlier than your mom. Or you might have something else going on altogether.
The fact, however, that you are worried about a possible pregnancy puts more stress on you, which can also affect your cycle. Having sex on 10/20 was 16 days ago, so if you got pregnant either then or the time before, a pregnancy test would show you that. Would it be better to know for sure? On the other hand, waiting a couple of days won't change much, other than your level of stress (Although you've had plenty of stress over the last year, it sounds like, with regular periods the entire time.)
Are you extra fatigued? Are your breasts tender or swollen? There are other early symptoms of pregnancy that you probably know about, but just in case:
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AJsMama, it absolutely could be perimenopause. Perimenopause can be marked by as much as a decade of irregular periods, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer or heavier, sometimes missing altogether. As in adolescence, our hormones can wreak havoc with our "regular" cycles, making ovulation less predictable. For instance, if during one cycle you take 5 more days to ovulate, you're going to be 5 days late that month.
Here's a Mayo Clinic page on symptoms of menopause; it sounds like there are other symptoms here that you find yourself dealing with on an occasional basis (hot flashes or insomnia, for instance):
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554/DSECTION=symptoms
It's good to know when your mother stopped having periods altogether. But don't forget, early symptoms of perimenopause can start a decade before menopause. You might miss this period and not miss another one for a year. Or you might go through menopause earlier than your mom. Or you might have something else going on altogether.
The fact, however, that you are worried about a possible pregnancy puts more stress on you, which can also affect your cycle. Having sex on 10/20 was 16 days ago, so if you got pregnant either then or the time before, a pregnancy test would show you that. Would it be better to know for sure? On the other hand, waiting a couple of days won't change much, other than your level of stress (Although you've had plenty of stress over the last year, it sounds like, with regular periods the entire time.)
Are you extra fatigued? Are your breasts tender or swollen? There are other early symptoms of pregnancy that you probably know about, but just in case:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptoms-of-pregnancy/PR00102
Take care. I wish you well in your decision whether to buy an HPT or not, and come back and let us know what happens!
November 4, 2008 - 9:52amThis Comment
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