Ask the Expert: I'm a 48-year-old woman with a history of regular periods.....

Spread the love

Question:

I’m a 48-year-old woman with a history of regular periods. My tubes have been tied so with no chance of being pregnant, what would cause me to be more than two weeks late on my period?

Answer:

Irregular periods are commonly a first sign of the perimenopausal transition, which are the months (or years) leading up to menopause before the menstrual periods actually stop. As a woman ages, her ovaries get older, too. They do not function regularly as they did before and will often not release a follicle (egg) to create the normal cascade of hormonal changes that create a regular, monthly cycle. Perimenopausal women will have all sorts of changes in their periods ranging from more cramping, to heavier flow, to shorter or longer intervals between periods. These can occur with or without other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Menopause is clinically defined as no periods for 12 consecutive months. Sometimes it takes a while to get there!