“…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”.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 
How can most women tell if they are approaching menopause?
According to the (United Kingdom) NHS:
“The first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods”.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:
“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
In Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods the NHS explain:
The frequency of your periods may also be affected. You may have them every 2 or 3 weeks, or you may not have them for months at a time.
Eventually, you’ll stop having periods altogether”.4
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”.5
Postmenopausal Bleeding
Is postmenopausal bleeding or bleeding after menopause, normal?
No. In Health After Menopause: Postmenopausal Bleeding the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH):
“It is important to note that bleeding after menopause is not normal and should be investigated. Postmenopausal bleeding is bleeding that occurs more than 12 months after your final period (the menopause). It can be bleeding like a period, spotting or staining”.6
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
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 explain:
“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”.7
In Menstrual Calendar the NAMS also 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”.8
In Menopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause: 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:
- 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”.9
In About the Menstrual Cycle the JH also note:
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”.10
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Periods and Menopause?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Periods and Menopause?
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.- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- About Gynecologic Cancers
- About Menopause
- About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
- Bleeding Disorders In Women
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
- Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
- Endometriosis
- Endometriosis
- Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September, United States]
- Health After Menopause: Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Heavy Bleeding
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Fact Sheet
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: What Women Need To Know – Podcast
- Heavy Periods
- Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
- Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
- Help for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Spotting, Perimenopause and Menopause
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Expert Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause
- Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause and Women’s Health In Later Life
- Menopause – What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause
- Menopause: Changes In Periods [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Overview [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Symptoms
- Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
- Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
- Menstrual Calendar
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
- 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?
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause or Menopausal Transition
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Periods
- Periods
- Periods – Fact Sheet
- Periods: Do I Need A Doctor?
- Periods: Menstrual Cycle: Animation
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Symptoms of Menopause
- Uterine Bleeding: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Video Series-2017 – Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Video Series-2021
- Webinars: Managing Menopausal Bleeding
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?
- What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle?- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause?
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2017
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2017: A White Paper – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopause [+ Multiply Languages]
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2017: Patient Information Leaflet – Changes Before the Change [+ Multiply Languages]
- Yarning About Periods (Menstrual Cycle)
- Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- 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: 24 May 2021
- Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 29 August 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 24 May 2021
- 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: 24 May 2021
- Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 29 August 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 24 May 2021
- Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 14 October 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 24 May 2021
- Health After Menopause: Postmenopausal Bleeding. Last Updated: 25 March 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/health-after-menopause#postmenopausal-bleeding Accessed: 24 May 2021
- 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: 24 May 2021
- Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 24 May 2021
- Menopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause: Living With – How Do I Know If Changes In My Periods Are Normal Perimenopausal Symptoms or Something To Be Concerned About? This Document Was Last Reviewed on: 24 December 2019. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15224-menopause-perimenopause-and-postmenopause/living-with Accessed: 24 May 2021
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 03 March 2020 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 24 May 2021
Topic Last Updated: 24 May 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 May 2021
