Periods and Menopause

Periods and Menopause

“The first sign of the perimenopause is usually,
but not always, a change in the normal pattern
of your periods, for example they become irregular”.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?

According to the (United Kingdom) NHS:

“The first sign of the perimenopause is usually, but not always, a change in the normal pattern of your periods, for example they become irregular”.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 Menstrual Calendar the Menopause Society explain:

“Call your health care provider if you experience:

  • 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: 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 What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health also note:

“Talk to your doctor if you are worried about:

  • Irregular periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
  • Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.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. About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
  2. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
  3. Are Menstrual Cups Right for You?
  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. FAQs: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  17. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  18. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  19. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  20. First Symptoms of Menopause
  21. Gynecologic Cancers
  22. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  23. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: What Women Need To Know – Podcast
  24. Heavy Periods
  25. Heavy Periods
  26. Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia)
  27. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  28. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  29. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  30. How To Deal With Perimenopause Cramps
  31. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Heavy Periods
    Periods and Menopause
  32. Irregular or Absent Periods
  33. Just A Period – Let’s Talk Heavy And Painful Periods Webinar
  34. “Just A Period” [+ Video: Ever Been Told That It’s “Just a period?”]
  35. 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]
  36. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Perimenopause and Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Menometrorrhagia
    Periods and Menopause
  39. Menopause
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause
    Periods and Menopause
  42. Menopause Basics
  43. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 2: Bye Bye Periods
    Periods and Menopause
  44. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  45. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Periods and Menopause
  46. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  47. Menopause: Identification and Management NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy
  48. Menopause: Symptoms
  49. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  50. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  51. Menometrorrhagia
  52. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  53. Periods and Menopause Menstrual Calendar
  54. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  55. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  56. Menstrual Cycle
  57. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  58. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  59. Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
  60. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  62. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  63. PMD Awareness Month [April]
    Periods and Menopause
  64. Peri-Menopause and Irregular Periods
  65. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  66. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  67. Perimenopause
    Periods and Menopause
  68. Perimenopause
  69. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  70. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Periods and Menopause
  71. Period Symptom Checker
    Periods and Menopause
  72. Periods
  73. Periods
  74. Periods Information Hub
  75. Periods (Menstruation) [Other Languages and Formats]
  76. Periods: Do I Need A Doctor?
  77. Periods: Menstrual Cycle: Animation
  78. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  79. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  80. Symptoms of Menopause
  81. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  82. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
  83. Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not – What About Menopause?
  84. Uterine Cancer
  85. Uterine Cancer Awareness
    Periods and Menopause
  86. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
  87. Vaginal Bleeding
  88. Vaginal Bleeding
  89. Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods or After Sex
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  91. Webinars: The Perimenopause Journey: An Adaptive Reproductive Phase
  92. What Are Heavy Periods?
  93. What Is the Menopause?Periods Pattern
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  95. Why Is Bleeding So Heavy?
  96. World GO Day [World Gynecologic Oncology Day, 20 September 2025]
    Menopause and Bleeding After Menopause
  97. World Ovarian Cancer Day May 8, 2025
    Menopause and Bleeding After Menopause
  98. You Need To Know [+ Video: Bleeding After the Menopause – An Important Message You Need To Know]
  99. Your Period

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 17 January 2026
  2. Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 17 January 2026
  3. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 17 January 2026
  4. Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/symptoms Accessed: 17 January 2026
  5. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 17 January 2026
  6. Symptoms: Changes In Menstrual Periods – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/symptoms Accessed: 17 January 2026
  7. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 17 January 2026
  8. 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: 17 January 2026
  9. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 28 August 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause#when-to-see-your-doctor Accessed: 17 January 2026
Topic Last Updated: 17 January 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 17 January 2026

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