Periods Pattern

“The first sign of the menopause
is usually a change in
the normal pattern of your periods”.1

Umbrella
What may the Periods Pattern Umbrella include?

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

  • Menopause and Periods
  • Perimenopause Periods
  • Periods Pattern

First Sign of Menopause

What is usually the first sign of menopause?

In Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods the (United Kingdom) NHS explain:

“The first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods.

You may start having either unusually light or heavy periods.

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”.2

Look for A Pattern

How may I Look for A Pattern with my periods?

You may have always kept a record of your periods so you knew when to expect them and perhaps when to tweak your lifestyle with less sugar, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and stress; and more exercise and sleep.

Periods PatternIt may be in your best interest to choose to continue keeping a record of your periods or begin doing this.

In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: When Will Menopause Occur? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health elaborate on:

“Keep a record of your menstrual cycle to see if your periods are irregular or have stopped for some time”.3

The (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“To find out what’s normal for you, start keeping a record of your menstrual cycle on a calendar. Begin by tracking your start date every month for several months in a row to identify the regularity of your periods”.4

In Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? the Mayo Clinic also elaborate on:

“If you’re concerned about your periods, then also make note of the following every month:

  • End date…
  • Flow…
  • Abnormal bleeding…
  • Pain…
  • Other changes…”.5

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 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”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help to look for a pattern with my periods?

If you would like help to look for a pattern with your periods, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about your record. Together you can identify any patterns, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

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:

Periods Pattern

“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:

“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”.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 Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“Irregular periods are common and normal during perimenopause (the menopause transition). But other conditions can cause abnormalities in menstrual bleeding. If any of the following situations apply to you, see a doctor 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”.9

In About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health 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 Pattern?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Periods Pattern?

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.

  1. Abnormal Bleeding
  2. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Peri- and Postmenopausal Women
  3. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Charts
  4. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences: Women’s Profiles
  5. Heavy Periods Video In 6 Languages
  6. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  7. Know Your Normal Get Abnormal Bleeding Checked Periods Pattern
  8. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Headaches and Menstruation
  9. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Spotting, Perimenopause and Menopause
  10. Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  11. Menopause FAQs: Expert Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause
  12. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms
  13. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  14. Menopause – What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  15. 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?
  16. Menopause: Changes In Periods [Video Interview Stories]
  17. Menopause: Profiles – Perimenopausal [Video Interview Stories]
  18. Menstrual Calendar
  19. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  20. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  21. Menstrual Changes After Covid-19 Vaccination
  22. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  23. Migraine Headaches
  24. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  25. PMDD/PMS
  26. PMS, PMDD and You
  27. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  28. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
  29. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  30. Periods
  31. Sex & Relationships: Managing Contraception During Menopause
  32. Tips for Tracking Bleeding
  33. Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
  34. Understanding Menopause [Booklet]
  35. Video Series-2017 – Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  36. When Your Periods Leave Too Early
  37. World Menopause Day 2017World Menopause Day 2017: Patient Information Leaflet – Changes Before the Change Perimenopausal Bleeding [+ Multiply Languages]

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: 29 September 2018. NHS  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 06 July 2021
  2. 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: 06 July 2021
  3. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: When Will Menopause Occur? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 06 July 2021
  4. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? 29 April 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186 Accessed: 06 July 2021
  5. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? 29 April 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186 Accessed: 06 July 2021
  6. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 14 October 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 06 July 2021
  7. 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: 06 July 2021
  8. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 06 July 2021
  9. 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: 06 July 2021
  10. 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://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 06 July 2021

Topic Last Updated: 18 September 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 July 2021
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