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[Machair]

I keep getting yellow mucus every three weeks or so like ovulation just for a few days. Then a couple of weeks later PMT, but just when I think a period must start instead this fertile type yellow mucus happens again. Anyone else had this pattern?

[Taz2]

Yes frequently during my mid forties/early fifties. It's just part of the gearing up for menopause I think.

Taz x

[dahliagirl]

Yes - only I got a random pattern of bleeding too, so the mucus does not come 'mid cycle', and sometimes with the bleeding.

You are probably not ovulating - just raised oestrogen levels, then possibly no actual ovulation, or a very weak corpus luteum formed, so not much progesterone.

[Hurdity]

As dahliagirl says - it is probably not ovulation. If you ovulate you will get a corpus luteum (ruptured egg follicle) which will produce progesterone and if the egg is not fertilised you will get some sort of a period, because there has to be sufficient oestrogen for ovulation to occur and this builds up the lining.  if you don't ovulate you get no appreciable progesterone (that's how I understand it....). I know the hormonal changes that occur during peri-menopause are complex and involve several hormones so no wonder odd symptoms and bleeding patterns are experienced!

I presume you have read the article which explains here about peri-menopause:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

The PMS is probably due to the oestrogen fluctuations (specifically the drop in oestrogen) - which do still occur in the absence of ovulation - as the ovaries are packing up but just not enough hormones to produce an ripe egg (the follicles start to develop)!

That's my understanding anyway 

Hurdity x

[Machair]

Thank you ladies for replying and keeping me sane! Apparently I have read that periods in the last few months before menopause tend to be from oestrogen building up rather than from ovulation. In other words the womb lining builds up and then comes away due to its weight, rather than from the egg follicle producing progesterone. I guess it will depend if the lining has built up enough to cause a bleed- time will tell! This kind of bleeding tends to be prolonged but light, so 3 weeks is not unusual. Hopefully this will help anyone else in the same boat.