What's going on?

[Alexis67]

I'm 44 years of age.  Not been using any contraception since January 2011.  Had 2 chemical pregnancies.  I'm now 13 days late for my period but am having brown spotting and some red blood (about 1/2 a teaspoon a day - I use a mooncup which is why I know that!).  My breasts are sore to touch.  However, I have had two negative HPTs (last one was last Tuesday), so I don't know what's going on!

I'm not stressed, in fact I'm pretty happy and relaxed (apart from my job).

My menstrual cycle is normally 29 days.  I'm NEVER late.  But I don't feel pregnant.  Any ideas anyone?

[Alexis67]

Hi Ecologic.  Yes, I'm used to MUCH more blood (3+ mooncups a day in the first 3 days and then 1-2 thereafter) and agonizing cramps.  So yeah, it's weird.  I guess I'll just have to ride it out and see what happens.  If my proper period doesn't arrive by the weekend I'm going to do another test, and failing that, I'll have to make an appointment to see my old doctor and hope that they'll see me.

[Ecologic]

13 days late + blood = it could be your periods, even if you are used to much more bleeding. I had similar ultra light periods after my last D&C, 2 or 3 cycles but not in a row. I had one cycle ultra light (not even using a small pad a day) then one cycle normal then etc... It seems to be back to normal now - I am 43, never had that before... it's an age thing I guess.

[Alexis67]

Thanks for the reply adgal.  I do get sore breasts usually in the run up to my period so that's not entirely unusual for me.  But the very late period and the spotting is.  It's just weird.  I keep hoping I'm not in perimenopause, but I suspect I may be.  I bought some progesterone cream last week and have started using that as I saw so many testimonials from women in perimenopause who said that it made a massive difference to how they felt - so I'm hoping it does that for me.

If not, and I AM pregnant, then I suspect that my two previous mmcs were caused by low progesterone (I've recently moved so I don't have a doctor yet whom I can see to get bloods done) and some extra progesterone may just help it stick around.

Unfortunately though, I suspect you're right.  I'm trying not to be too disappointed as I really want a baby with my (much younger than me) partner before it's too late for me.

[adgal]

It sounds to me like just an odd cycle.  I am 43 and until very recently had never had an abnormal cycle either.  Now I get them every now and then.  We are at that age where these things do begin to happen.  For the last year I have been experiencing pregnancy like symptoms around ovulation time, and continuing on until my period arrives.  Sore breasts are the biggest thing.  I asked my Dr. about it, and was told this is not atypical as we enter perimenopause.

The thing about perimenopause is it can last 10 years, so it does not mean that menopause is upon us.  And we can still conceive during this time.

I would suggest a trip to the Dr.'s office.  If you are that late and pregnant, any pregnancy test should show positive now.  So I suspect that you are probably going through what I do from time to time now.

All the best to you.