“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:
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.
It 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:
The (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:
In Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? the Mayo Clinic also elaborate on:
- 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
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:
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 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”.9
In About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health also note:
- 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:
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.- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Peri- and Postmenopausal Women
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Charts
- Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences: Women’s Profiles
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life
- 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 What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause – What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- 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?
- Menopause: Changes In Periods [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Profiles – Perimenopausal [Video Interview Stories]
- Menstrual Calendar
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Periods
- Sex & Relationships: Managing Contraception During Menopause
- Understanding Menopause [Booklet]
- Video Series-2017 – Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- World Menopause Day: World 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
- 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: 10 April 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: 10 April 2021
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: When Will Menopause Occur? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 10 April 2021
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? 13 June 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186 Accessed: 10 April 2021
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle? 13 June 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186 Accessed: 10 April 2021
- Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 14 October 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 10 April 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: 10 April 2021
- Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 10 April 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: 10 April 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://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 10 April 2021