In my mid-thirties I suffered from extremely frequent periods - every 13 days! This continued for a number of years. Usually they were very heavy for the first day or so, but by the time I was 42 this pattern had stopped. My periods returned to the normal 24 day cycle and now I have regular periods for 7-9 months of the year followed by a more lengthly gap. During this gap, my periods would normally start every 36 days. The gap has increased over the years and it is now around 70 days. Lately I am experiencing old blood spotting rather than periods between these gaps, though the flow is still heavy enough to warrent wearing protection. I am doubting whether or not this was a period. I have been going through family stress recently with my mum. On three occasions I've experienced hot flushes at night, although I took Sage tablets for a week and they seem to have worked. I suffered from hair loss around 5 years ago, and I am with a hair clinic who have confirmed that I have typical female pattern baldness. Consequently, I am taking minoxodil drops which have improved my hair growth to a very good rate. My last blood test, which was taken a year go, revealed that I was not menopausal. However, a blood test taken two years prior to that one, indicated that I was borderline. If anything else, I am more concerned with why I am bleeding brown blood, and I was wondering if this was one of the Peri-menopausal symptoms? Your opinion on the other factors would be greatly appreciated too.