Missed period but not pregnant

[Anonymous]

This month I missed my period. I just turned 42. I have never missed a period before. Pregnancy test was negative. We have been TTC #2 for 5 years with no luck, so I knew there was a slim chance that I could actually be pregnant. I ovulated on Day 12 this month, confirmed by temping and OPKs. However it is now Day 40 and no period in sight.

I was just at my GYN for my annual last month, no issues. Normally my cycle is 28 days.

What should I do?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I am worried I am now on the path to menopause with this missed period. GYN told me I was at the "very early stages of peri-menopause" at my annual exam last month.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like perimenopause. That doesn’t mean that you are now totally infertile, but it might be a good idea to start considering reproductive assistance, if you haven’t already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like perimenopause. That doesn’t mean that you are now totally infertile, but it might be a good idea to start considering reproductive assistance, if you haven’t already.

OP here. We did IVF five times from age 38-40 and then were done with infertility treatment. Now just trying on our own.

[Anonymous]

I had a 50 day cycle a couple of months before conceiving #2 at age 40. Didn't mean much. It's not that unusual to miss ovulation once a year, even for younger women. I did hate it at the time though!

[Anonymous]

Could also be a thyroid issue. Get a checkup and have them test your tsh. You want it to be 2.5 or below for ttc. Thyroid issues are common in your late 30s/early 40s.

Also look at your vitamin D levels. That impacts ovarian function. You want it in the higher end of normal. If it’s low, take 5000iu supplements.

[Anonymous]

When did you test?

I had 30 day cycles when I conceived, and I didn’t get a positive until day 40.

But if you want your period to come, wearing white pants, and going on a somewhat-remote outdoor excursion always seems to trigger my period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am worried I am now on the path to menopause with this missed period. GYN told me I was at the "very early stages of peri-menopause" at my annual exam last month.

You’re definitely at an age where you might be entering peri menopause. Menopause does not officially begin until you have gone 1 year without your period. You can spend years in perimenopause. As another post said, you could still get pregnant in perimenopause , but it’s highly unlikely.

I’m sorry that you’re not getting the news of a pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Your doctor said you're early perimenopausal, not infertile. That is the good news.
But the other side of that is that your fertility window -- like the rest of us -- is getting smaller each year. You seem to have a good grasp of what your likelihood of getting pregnant is so just keep on what you are doing.
I suggest you not beat yourself up if you miss your period or you get hot at night -- or read into everything going on with your body as a sign of menopause. You can miss your period because of stress, working out more etc. You may be hot because it is a typical DC summer.
I also have heard that when you hit your 40s your normal cycle changes so there is that too.