“Irregular periods are common and normal during
perimenopause, but other conditions
can cause abnormalities in menstrual bleeding”.1
Umbrella
What may the Perimenopausal Bleeding Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB)
- Perimenopausal Bleeding
Perimenopause
What is perimenopause?
DotS the definition of perimenopause may vary. The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
“Peri-menopause refers to the time from the onset of a change in menstrual cycle pattern or onset of menopausal symptoms, through to one year after the last menstrual period. The average duration is 4-6 years with onset in the fifth decade of life (40’s)”.2
Period Changes
During perimenopause, how may periods change?
In What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (The Menopausal Transition?) the AMS note:
Skipping Periods
During perimenopause is it normal to skip periods?
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:
“During the transition to menopause (called perimenopause), it is normal to skip periods, but very frequent or heavy bleeding episodes often requires an evaluation by your healthcare provider. Any bleeding after menopause requires an evaluation by your healthcare provider”.4
Spotting
What does spotting mean?
In Mayo Clinic Q and A: Spotting, Perimenopause and Menopause the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on the answer to the question:
ANSWER: It’s possible that you haven’t reached menopause yet. Clinically, menopause is defined as going without a period for one year. At 10 months, you don’t quite meet that threshold, but it is possible that you are just beginning menopause. However, depending upon when you last saw your health care provider and had a pelvic exam, it might be worthwhile to make an appointment, as there are a number of conditions where breakthrough bleeding is the first indication of an issue…”.5
Menstrual Calendar
Where may I find a menstrual calendar to keep a record of perimenopausal bleeding?
In MenoNotes the NAMS include:
Menstrual Calendar
Follow up
When may follow up be required?
In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding the European Menopause and Andropause Society note:
Health Care Provider
What if I think I have perimenopausal bleeding?
If you think you have perimenopausal bleeding, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk your health care provider about this. In Menstrual Calendar the NAMS note:
- Periods that are much heavier than usual
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Periods that last longer than 10 days
- Bleeding after sex
- Frequent periods (fewer than 21 days between periods)
- Any bleeding after menopause”.7
In Perimenopause: How Do I Know If Changes In My Periods Are Normal Perimenopausal Symptoms or Something To Be Concerned About? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:
- Your periods are changing to become very heavy, or accompanied by blood clots
- Your periods last several days longer than usual
- You spot or bleed after your period
- You experience spotting after sex
- Your periods occur closer together”.8
In About the Menstrual Cycle the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

There are many reasons you might need to see your doctor about your periods, including:
- Changes in the pattern of your periods
- Increasingly heavy periods
- Long periods of more than eight days
- Periods that come fewer than three weeks apart
- Periods coming more than two to three months apart
- Painful periods that cause you to stay home
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding after intercourse
Your menstrual cycle is a normal process for your body. Each woman experiences her menstrual cycle differently, most without any difficulties. If there is any change in your cycle that worries you, see your doctor”.9
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Perimenopausal Bleeding?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Perimenopausal Bleeding?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopausal Women: The Role of Hysteroscopy and Its Impact on Quality of Life and Sexuality
- About the Menstrual Cycle
- About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
- BMS TV: Menopause Explained
- Bleeding After Sex: What You Should Know
- Bleeding Disorders In Women
- Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
- Blood Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Blood Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
- Cervical Cancer
- Do My Period Changes Mean Perimenopause?
- Endofound.org [Endometriosis Foundation of America]
- Endometriosis
- Endowise.org.au [Endo Wise, Australia]
- Everything You Should Know About Menometrorrhagia
- FAQs: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- FAQs: Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods
- FAQs: Endometriosis
- FAQs: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- Foundationforwomenscancer.org [Foundation for Women’s Cancers, United States]
- Gynecologic Cancers
- Gynecologic Cancers: What Are the Symptoms?
- Gynecological Cancers
- Health After Menopause: Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Heavy Bleeding
- Heavy Periods
- Heavy Periods: Overview – Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
- Heavy Periods: What You Need To Know
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Spotting, Perimenopause and Menopause
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Understanding Endometrial Cancer
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provide
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
- Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods
- Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
- Menstrual Calendar
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
- Menstrual Changes After Covid-19 Vaccination
- Menstrual Cycle
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
- Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- Ovarian Cancer/Primary Peritoneal
- Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
- Perimenopause or Menopausal Transition
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Periods
- Periods
- Periods: Overview – Menstrual Cycle: Animation
- Periods: Period Problems
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- The Eve Appeal [United Kingdom]
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
- Uterine Bleeding: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video: Researchers Emphasize Normalization of Menopause
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
- Vulvar Cancer
- Webinars: Previous – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
- Webinars: Previous – Pay Attention on Your Way In! The Vulva Is An Important Organ Too
- What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
- What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Menopause
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Is An Endometrial Biopsy?
- What Is Endometriosis?
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
- You Need To Know [+ Video: Bleeding After the Menopause – An Important Message You Need To Know]
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Perimenopause: How Do I Know If Changes In My Periods Are Normal Perimenopausal Symptoms or Something To Be Concerned About? Last Reviewed: 05 October 2021. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause Accessed: 08 November 2023
- What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (The Menopausal Transition?). Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/what-is-menopause Accessed: 08 November 2023
- What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (The Menopausal Transition?). Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/what-is-menopause Accessed: 08 November 2023
- Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 08 November 2023
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Spotting, Perimenopause and Menopause. 21 December 2020. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-spotting-perimenopause-and-menopause/ Accessed: 08 November 2023
- Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding. 2022. European Menopause and Andropause Society https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Perimenopausal-and-postmenopausal-bleeding.pdf Accessed: 08 November 2023
- Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 08 November 2023
- Perimenopause: How Do I Know If Changes In My Periods Are Normal Perimenopausal Symptoms or Something To Be Concerned About? Last Reviewed: 05 October 2021. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause Accessed: 08 November 2023
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 10 February 2022 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 08 November 2023