For the ladies -- VERY early period?!?!

[mominpanic]

Last night I noticed a little blood when I wiped, but it was a small amount and I didn't think a whole lot of it because my DH and I had sex yesterday morning, so I thought maybe it for some reason it was a result of that.  This morning, I had a lower backache, which I can get at times before my cycle starts, and then just a bit ago I wiped and I think I have a full-blown period!!  It's only day 19-20 of my cycle, so I'm a good week early.  I am always 28 days give or take a day or 2, but never anything like this.

I am 38 years old, so I am not sure if I'm getting to "that" age where things may be starting to change or not.  Early last week my HA was EXTREMELY high and I was under a great deal of stress for a couple days.  Could this have contributed to my early period?  I always thought stress caused it to be late, not early!?  My last Pap was just about a year ago and it was normal; my Paps have ALWAYS been normal.

[AlaskaMom]

I'm 40 and for the past 5 or 6 years I've had spotting during ovulation. My dr did a pelvic ultrasound, paps, etc. and everything is normal. Just a little spotting mid month. It's normal.  At your next visit, mention to your dr. I'm sure they'll say the same. Really, don't worry about it.

[lane79]

Well, I know your pain and I think stress absolutely plays a role in our cycles-including making it come early. I've personally been really fretting about my cycles lately, plus dealing with a lot of other stress and last month my period started on day 23 which is the earliest I've ever gotten it. I flipped out at first before I realized it was just aunt flow come a week early. And then this month I was back to starting on day 30. So just a weird blip last month. I would really not worry if I were you. If anything, I'd keep track to see if it continues to happen for a few cycles and if so talk to your doctor about any concerns, but I'm sure they'll tell you it's stress related! Don't worry!

[Elodiah]

Are you using birth control? I only ask because if there's any chance of you falling pregnant, you can get bleeding during embryo implantation. But if it's truly enough blood for it to be a period, more than likely you're just having a short cycle, and ovulated earlier than usual.

[rr2005]

If you are taking birth control and you take your pills at a different time of day than normal, you can have breakthrough bleeding.

[megaT]

I could have written this....  I had the exact same thing happen to me several months ago.  I had been stressed and chalked my early period up to that.  You're fine!  :)