|
About Irregular Periods
Irregular periods are often one of the first signs that a woman is going through menopause. Irregular periods signal that estrogen and progesterone are beginning to decline as the ovaries prepare to stop producing these hormones completely.
Though the exact symptoms of irregular periods vary depending on a woman's unique cycle, virtually all women will experience irregular periods for three to ten years before periods stop completely. In fact, only ten percent of women reach menopause without any irregular periods. |
Research
Recent research shows shortened intervals between periods are one of the most common symptoms of irregular periods in early menopause. |
Read on to learn more about irregular periods and their symptoms, how fertility may be affected, and special cases of these.
|
|
Definition of Irregular Periods
In order to define irregular periods, it is helpful to first define what is normal. While every woman is different, normal periods are typically described as having an interval of 25 to 31 days from period start to period start, with bleeding lasting approximately five days. The average amount of blood loss during a normal period is two to eight tablespoons.
While this is a "textbook" definition of normal periods, some women may experience menstruation differently. Thus, irregular periods might be characterized by symptoms that are unusual for them.
Irregular periods, then, are alterations in a woman's typical menstrual cycle that persist for several months. Irregular periods are those characterized by abnormal bleeding and/or unusual cycle lengths. Continue reading to learn more about the specific symptoms of irregular periods. |
 |
Symptoms of Irregular Periods
Symptoms of irregular periods may vary depending on the woman, her hormonal patterns, and her menstrual history. Nonetheless, the following characteristics of irregular periods are common:
• Infrequent/too frequent periods (oligomenorrhea/ polymenorrhea): Periods that come more often than every two weeks or less than every six weeks are |
See a doctor if bleeding lasts more than seven days or cycles are less than 21 or more than 35 days long. |
|
irregular.
• Missed Periods (amenorrhea): Missing a period completely is common during menopause. In fact, some women will go months without a period, only to have them begin again.
• Painful cramping (dysmenorrhea): While some women experience mild cramping just before or during regular periods, heavy cramping may occur with irregular periods.
• Abnormal duration of bleeding: Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week (menorrhagia) or only a day or two (hypomenorrhea). Some women may also experience spotting during the middle of a menstrual cycle.
• Changes in blood flow: Irregular periods are often marked by unusually heavy or light blood flow.
• Blood clots: While seeing clots in your menstrual blood is often normal (these clots are actually uterine tissues sloughed off with every menses), women with irregular periods during menopause might notice a change in blood clots.
|
Common Symptoms of Irregular Periods:
• Unusual frequency (irregular cycles)
• Painful cramping.
• Abnormal bleeding duration.
• Changes in flow and clotting.
 |
Women who have questions about the symptoms of irregular periods during menopause should not hesitate to speak with their physician. Read on to learn more about how fertility is affected during irregular periods.
Fertility and Irregular Periods
Many women wonder about their fertility when they begin to experience irregular periods. It is important to remember that pregnancy can occur anytime before menopause, even if a woman's period is irregular. It is not uncommon during perimenopause to go months without a period, only to have it return. During this time, it is still possible to get pregnant. |
Menopause is said to occur after a woman has not had her period for one year. |
Anovulation
Anovulation is when a woman's ovaries do not release an egg during a menstrual cycle, which occurs often with irregular periods during menopause. It is common for perimenopausal woman to bleed but not ovulate.
|
 |
Experts recommend that women wishing to avoid pregnancy use a reliable form of birth control during perimenopause until it is certain that menopause has occurred. Read on to learn about special cases of irregular periods during menopause.
Special Cases
In some cases of irregular periods it can be difficult to determine whether hormones have reached a menopausal level. For example, taking cyclical hormone therapy, having a hysterectomy, and post menopausal bleeding are all special cases of irregular periods that merit some additional explanation. |
A doctor can perform a blood test to determine if a woman's hormones are officially at menopausal levels. |
 |
Use of cyclical hormones. If a woman is on a form of birth control or hormone replacement therapy during which estrogen is taken on most days and progestin during the last days of her menstrual cycle, she may still have a period, since the latter hormone causes the uterine lining to shed, but she may no longer be fertile. |
Incomplete hysterectomy. If a woman has had her uterus removed, but not her ovaries, she is considered "surgically menopausal", but she may not be hormonally menopausal (since the ovaries are responsible for producing reproductive hormones).
Post menopausal bleeding. Any bleeding after menopause in women who are not taking hormone replacement therapy should be discussed with a qualified health care provider, as this can indicate a more serious health condition.
Please read on to learn more about the causes of irregular periods during menopause.
What are the best ways to cope with irregular periods?
Three approaches can be considered for treating irregular periods: (1) lifestyle changes, (2) alternative remedies, and (3) drugs and surgery. Most experts recommend that women begin with the least aggressive approach and move to the next level of treatment only if symptoms persist. Click on treatments for irregular periods to discover the best route to relief.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
|
