Periods and Menopause

“…about 90% of women
experience 4 to 8 years of menstrual-cycle changes
before their periods finally stop at menopause”.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 MenopausePeriods and Menopause

How can most women tell if they are approaching menopause?

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

Changes

Do periods simply stop or not?

Not usually. In Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. I am bleeding more often and with heavier periods than I used to. I’m 45 years old. What’s wrong with me? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) elaborate on:


Periods and Menopause“A. Probably nothing. As a woman reaches perimenopause, changes in menstrual flow and frequency are common. A few women simply stop menstruating one day and never have another period. But about 90% of women experience 4 to 8 years of menstrual-cycle changes before their periods finally stop at menopause. Most women report irregular periods. These are caused by erratic production of hormones by the ovaries and less frequent ovulation”.3

Menstrual Calendar

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

In MenoNotes the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) include:


Menstrual Calendar

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

Pregnant or Not

Is it possible to become pregnant when skipping periods?

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

“Skipping periods during perimenopause is common and expected. Often, menstrual periods will skip a month and return, or skip several months and then start monthly cycles again for a few months. Periods also tend to happen on shorter cycles, so they are closer together. Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible. If you’ve skipped a period but aren’t sure you’ve started the menopausal transition, consider a pregnancy test”.4

Health Care Provider

What if my periods are changing?

If your periods are changing, it may be in your best interest to choose to ask your health care provider about this.

In Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. I am bleeding more often and with heavier periods than I used to. I’m 45 years old. What’s wrong with me? the NAMS also note:

“A. …But, it should not be assumed that any abnormal bleeding is simply a part of normal menopause. Most of the time it is, but abnormal uterine bleeding can be a sign of other problems such as fibroids, polyps, infections, and even cancer. It’s always best to be evaluated by a healthcare provider if the bleeding is very heavy or prolonged”.5

In Menstrual Calendar the NAMS include:

“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”.6

In Perimenopause: Living With – How Do I Know If Changes In My Periods Are Normal Perimenopausal Symptoms or Something To Be Concerned About? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

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

  • 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”.7

In What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH 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”.8

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

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  19. FAQs: Health After Menopause: Postmenopausal Bleeding
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  25. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  26. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  27. How To Deal With Perimenopause Cramps
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  29. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths] [Other Languages and Formats]
  30. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Does the menopause Just Happen Suddenly] [Other Languages and Formats]
  31. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  32. Mayo Clinic Minute: Perimenopause and Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  33. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Headaches and Menstruation
  34. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Menstrual Cups — Why the Recent Increase In Popularity?
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  39. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 2: Bye Bye Periods
  40. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Periods and Menopause
  42. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
  43. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  44. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
  45. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  46. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  47. Menopause: Symptoms
  48. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  49. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  50. Menstrual Calendar
  51. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  52. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  53. Menstrual Cycle
  54. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  55. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  56. Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
  57. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  59. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  60. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
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  62. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
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  73. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  74. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  75. Push Back Against PMS
  76. Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
  77. Symptoms of Menopause
  78. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  79. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
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  81. Uterine Bleeding: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  82. Uterine Cancer
  83. Uterine Cancer Awareness
    Periods and Menopause
  84. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
  85. Vaginal Bleeding
  86. Vaginal Bleeding
  87. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  88. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  89. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  91. Webinars: Previous – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
  92. What Are Heavy Periods?
  93. What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
  94. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  95. What Is Menopause?
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  97. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  98. Why Is Bleeding So Heavy? [Video]
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  100. Your Period

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. I am bleeding more often and with heavier periods than I used to. I’m 45 years old. What’s wrong with me? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 08 May 2024
  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: 08 May 2024
  3. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. I am bleeding more often and with heavier periods than I used to. I’m 45 years old. What’s wrong with me? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 08 May 2024
  4. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 08 May 2024
  5. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. I am bleeding more often and with heavier periods than I used to. I’m 45 years old. What’s wrong with me? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 08 May 2024
  6. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 08 May 2024
  7. 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 May 2024
  8. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 18 January 2024 | 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: 08 May 2024
Topic Last Updated: 28 August 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 08 May 2024

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