Do Your Cycles Become Shorter Right Before You Enter Menopause?

Updated on June 22, 2012
M.C. asks from Saint Petersburg, FL
8 answers

Pre Baby I was always irregular. My cycle was about 33 to 37 days and I would skip several each year. After having my son, it returned right before his first birthday (which I know is normal since I was nursing). Shockingly, I was then regular for the first time in my life..every 28 days. The past few months shortened to 23 days (aghh). I am 38 so I know it is not extremely common to enter menopause right now, but some go earlier than others. Was this shorter cycle a sign in any of you that went through this already? I am just curious as to why this is happening and taking a stab at the reason. Thanks

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

I hope not because I'm only 42 and down to 21 days (which is a very short cycle in my book).

Drives me crazy . . . I basically get one week of feeling normal.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from New York on

Women's cycles definitely become shorter during perimenopause, but this a 10-year process -- it doesn't mean you're on the immediate verge of menopause at all. However, you probably should start thinking of shorter cycles as the "new normal."

5 moms found this helpful

☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm so glad you've asked this. I've been in the 23-28 day range since having our daughter 7 years ago. Just this month, it's 18 days and I'm NOT HAPPY about that. I'm 43. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your responses. My doctor told me a few weeks ago that menopause takes about a decade to kick in, just like puberty. But definitely things start happening w/in that decade, like puberty, as well.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.P.

answers from Philadelphia on

Yes, It is a sign of peri menopause. They become shorter.and sometimes periods are either lighter or heavier. Check this website out women to women. com.. Make sure you take the right multivitamin. I was told one a day vitamins aren't that good. Also make sure you are eating healthy and exercising etc so hormones aren't unbalanced.

3 moms found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

With changes in your hormones your periods can become longer or shorter, irregular or very regular. Yes the wonders of the female cycle.

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Sometimes.
23 days is a slightly short, but not too unusual.
A period in 14 days is short.
It's not a concern as long as it happens only once in awhile.
You can mention it to your doctor come annual exam time.
A friend of mine had periods that were getting longer and longer and happening more frequently until she was bleeding almost constantly and getting anemic.
It turned out it was an early sign of breast cancer.
They caught it early and she's fine now.
I'm 50 now and have been peri-menopausing for roughly 10 years now.
Sometimes I'm normal, sometimes I skip a month or two, occasionally I'll bleed twice in one month - it's all normal.
But I'm getting to the point where I'm looking forward to it just quitting for good already.

2 moms found this helpful

T.M.

answers from Redding on

Mine was always about every 28 days and stayed pretty consistent until my late 40s. My signs were skipped periods every now and then and some longer than normal bleeding times.... like 10 or 15 days ... that was a NIGHTmare, I hated it because it became very unpredictable.
I LOVE not having a period now, it's SO awesome!

2 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Cleveland on

Thank you so much for asking this question. I'm turning 40 this fall. My cycle has gone from very predictable at 38-39 days to 30 all of a sudden. I was wondering if I was being to enter perimenopause. My body is still trying to reset from pregnancy/breastfeeding but my cycles have never been a "normal" 30 days. Seems like we were able to conceive our little miracle just in the nick of time. Wishing everyone else in this situation good health and happiness as we move into the next phase of our lives.

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions