QuestionQUESTION: I am 54 and am perimenopausal. I have been having regular periods up until this month. I feel ridiculous asking this but how likely is it that I could become pregnant at this age? I am almost two weeks late, have breast tenderness and fullness and have had intermittent nausea for about a week now. I am thinking of getting pregnancy test but feel silly.
ANSWER: Dear Jan
pregnancy is a possibility as long as you are having regular periods. I advise home pregnancy test if you are 2 weeks late.
Best wishes
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Dr. Kandeel,
I took 2 HPTs two days apart at the two week late point and they were both negative. However, I still haven't had any sign of a period, continue to have nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and now a "tight" or "firm" feeling in my lower pelvis (almost like a cramp but not painful) in addition to a slight lower backache. Should I do another HPT or get a blood test now? Could this just be perimenopause symptoms? My next period would be due in about 8 days from now. Should I wait and see what happens?
AnswerDear Jan
Although it seems extremely remote to be pregnancy after 2 negative pregnany tests at 54, I would suggest a transvaginal ultrasound to exclude abortion especially you are still having nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and abdominal cramps. In fact, a case known as missed abortion can have very similar picture. My recommendation for ultrasound is that missed abortion, if confirmed, should not be retained inside your womb for more than 4 weeks to avoid serious consequences.
Rarely menopause occurs all of a sudden without previous irregualrity or lengthening of periods between your menstrual cycle, hot flushes, mood swings...etc.
If the findings of the ultrasound came out normal, then most probably, you are starting to experience the symptoms that usually occur at your age, or earlier, and known as menopausal symptoms including menstrual changes.
Best of Luck
