Periods and Menopause

Periods and Menopause

“One of the first signs of perimenopause is usually
a change to your periods. They may happen more often
or less often, and bleeding may get heavier or lighter”.1

Umbrella

What may the Periods and Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menstrual Cycle Changes/Symptoms
  • Menstrual Periods Changes/Symptoms
  • Monthly Period Changes/Symptoms
  • Period Changes/Symptoms

First Sign of Menopause

What can be the first sign of the perimenopause?

In Menopause and Perimenopause Symptoms: Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause – Changes To Your Periods, reviewed 19 May 2026, according to the (United Kingdom) NHS:

“One of the first signs of perimenopause is usually a change to your periods. They may happen more often or less often, and bleeding may get heavier or lighter. Eventually, you stop having periods altogether”.2

Skipped Periods

Are skipped periods during perimenopause common?

In Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“Skipped periods during perimenopause are common and expected. Often, menstrual periods skip a month and return. Or they skip a few months and then start monthly cycles again for a few months.

Period cycles tend to get shorter in early perimenopause, so periods are closer together. As menopause gets closer, periods get farther apart for months before they end”.3

Normal or Not

Are all period changes normal?

In Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:


“What is considered a normal menstrual cycle varies greatly from woman to woman. Still, in the years approaching perimenopause, most women will have a pattern that’s fairly consistent, so any changes in their bleeding pattern may be noticeable. To determine whether these changes are of concern, it is important that a woman consults with a healthcare professional. Keep in mind that it can be useful to track the bleeding on a calendar or app so that it can be easily reviewed and assessed”.4

Menstrual Calendar

Where may I find a menstrual calendar to keep a record of my periods?

In MenoNotes the Menopause Society include:


Menstrual Calendar

  1. Menstrual Calendar
  2. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  3. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]

Pregnant or Not

Can you still get pregnant during this time?

Yes. In Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the Mayo Clinic explain:

“You can still get pregnant during this time. If you’ve skipped a period but aren’t sure it’s due to menopause, think about taking a pregnancy test”.5

Other Causes

What may be other causes of period changes?

In Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding the Menopause Society also note:

“Don’t assume that any abnormal bleeding is simply part of normal menopause. Most of the time, that’s true, but abnormal bleeding can also be a sign of another health condition or even cancer. In cases such as cancer, the earlier that symptoms can be identified and diagnosed, the greater likelihood of successful treatment. Other possible causes of abnormal bleeding include fibroids, infections, thyroid dysfunction, and the use of certain medications or herbal products. Heavy or irregular bleeding, even when not related to cancer, can have a negative effect on quality of life”.6

Health Care Provider

What if my periods are changing?

In Perimenopause: Symptoms and Causes – How Can I Reduce My Risk of Perimenopause Complications? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic note:

“Irregular periods are common and normal during perimenopause, but other conditions can also cause irregular vaginal bleeding. If any of the following apply to you, see a healthcare provider to rule out other causes:

  • Your periods become very heavy or contain large blood clots
  • You change pads or tampons every one to two hours
  • Your periods last several days longer than usual
  • You spot or bleed between periods
  • You bleed after sex
  • Your periods occur less than 21 days apart”.8

In FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause – Should I Talk To My Ob-Gyn About My Bleeding? the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists advise us:

Yes. Although it’s normal for periods to change as you near menopause, you should still talk with your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) about bleeding changes. Abnormal bleeding sometimes can be a sign of health problems. It’s especially important to tell your ob-gyn if you have bleeding after menopause”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Periods and Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Periods and Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Bleeding Changes In Perimenopause
  2. Absent Periods
  3. Are My Periods Too Heavy?
    Periods and Menopause
  4. Bleeding Between Periods? How To Tell If It’s A Problem
  5. Bleeding Disorders In Women
  6. Bleeding Disorders In Women: About Bleeding Disorders In Women
  7. Bleeding Disorders In Women: About Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Testing and Diagnosis: Menstrual Chart & Scoring System
    Periods and Menopause
  8. Bleeding During Menopause | Dr Louise Newson
  9. Bleeding on HRT Explained | Dr Louise Newson Live
  10. Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
  11. Can HRT Stop Your Periods?
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding—When To See A Clinician
  14. Endometriosis
  15. Endometriosis
  16. Everything You Need To Know About Menstrual Cups
  17. FAQs: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  18. FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. First Symptoms of Menopause
  23. Gynecologic Cancers
  24. Heavy Periods
  25. Heavy Periods
  26. Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia) [Multiply Languages]
  27. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  28. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  29. Heavy Periods: Signs and Treatment | NHS
  30. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  31. How To Deal With Perimenopause Cramps
  32. How To Track Your Perimenopause Periods
  33. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  34. Irregular Periods
  35. Just A Period – Let’s Talk Heavy And Painful Periods Webinar
  36. “Just A Period” [+ Video: Ever Been Told That It’s “Just a period?”]
  37. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  38. Mayo Clinic Minute: Perimenopause and Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  39. Menometrorrhagia
    Periods and Menopause
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause
    Periods and Menopause
  43. Menopause Basics
  44. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 2: Bye Bye Periods
  45. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  46. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  47. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  48. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  49. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy
  50. Menopause: Symptoms
  51. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  52. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  53. Menometrorrhagia
  54. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  55. Menstrual Calendar
  56. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  57. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  58. Menstrual Cycle
  59. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  60. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  61. Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
    Periods and Menopause
  62. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  63. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  65. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  66. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  67. PMD Awareness Month [April]
    Periods and Menopause
  68. Peri-Menopause and Irregular Periods
  69. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  70. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  71. Perimenopause
  72. Perimenopause
  73. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  74. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Periods and Menopause
  75. Period Symptom Checker
    Periods and Menopause
  76. Periods
  77. Periods (Menstruation) [Other Languages and Formats]
  78. Periods Information Hub
  79. Periods [Multiply Languages]
  80. Periods: Do I Need A Doctor?
  81. Periods: Menstrual Cycle: Animation
  82. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  83. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  84. Talk About Heavy Periods
  85. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
  86. Uterine Cancer Awareness
    Periods and Menopause
  87. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
  88. Vaginal Bleeding
  89. Vaginal Bleeding
  90. Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods or After Sex
  91. What Are Heavy Periods?
  92. What Causes Cramps but No Period?
  93. What Doctor Should You See for Perimenopause Signs
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  95. Why Is Bleeding So Heavy?
  96. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  97. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Here’s What To Know

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause and Perimenopause Symptoms: Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 19 May 2026. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 27 June 2026
  2. Menopause and Perimenopause Symptoms: Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 19 May 2026. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 27 June 2026
  3. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 27 June 2026
  4. Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/symptoms Accessed: 27 June 2026
  5. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 27 June 2026
  6. Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/symptoms Accessed: 27 June 2026
  7. Perimenopause: Symptoms and Causes – How Can I Reduce My Risk of Perimenopause Complications? Last Reviewed: 29 July 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause Accessed: 27 June 2026
  8. FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause – Should I Talk To My Ob-gyn About My Bleeding? Last Updated: October 2020. Last Reviewed: February 2024. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/perimenopausal-bleeding-and-bleeding-after-menopause Accessed: 27 June 2026
Topic Last Updated: 27 June 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 27 June 2026

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