Perimenopause
Understanding Perimenopause Bleeding:
Normal vs. Not
Disclaimer: This article was written for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor if you have been experiencing unusual bleeding. You want to rule out any possible underlying health issues.
If you are Perimenopausal, you can experience symptoms you have never had before… one of them is Perimenopause bleeding. At times your bleeding may seem so bizarre that you can’t imagine other women experiencing them too.
These experiences can make you worried and confused, wanting to know:
“Is this serious? “
“Should I call my doctor? “
“Is it Perimenopause or something else entirely? “
Let me help you recognize what changes to your periods, due to hormonal shifts, you can expect and when you should look further than Perimenopause for the cause.
Changes in Periods and Period Cycles are typical for Perimenopause and are inevitable during those years.
The most frequent changes include:
- Your periods may go on and on. It used to last three days, now it’s five, six or more.
- Your periods may disappear for several months.
- A once-regular cycle goes awry. You can no longer plan vacations or other events around your period because you’re no longer sure when it will come. You flow, you spot, you stop.
- You may experience very heavy bleeding.
- You may begin to have periods twice a month.
LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE SYMPTOMS
The Missing Period
A missing period is scary but often normal at this stage. The obvious rule you need to rule out is pregnancy.
First, suppose you aren’t pregnant. The hormones responsible for periods can also be disrupted by emotions, such as stress. Is there anything unusual?
Another reason can be that you go off birth-control pills.
But what if it’s Perimenopause?
Overall, it is very common to miss your period during Perimenopause. This is often the first sign of Perimenopause.
But what if you have been having symptoms that usually signal the beginning of your period and still you had no period?
It’s possible that your hormone levels were not enough in sync during your cycle to cause ovulation. Therefore you get no period.
The Period That Disappears for Months
How to approach this issue?
First, you rule out pregnancy.
Then, analyze your experiences. Have you noticed other symptoms that occur at this time?
Or, have you recently started to workout intensely? A new intense workout regime is stressful to the body. This can disrupt your hormones and cause your periods to stop.
Or, have you experienced a rapid weight loss? Have you drastically changed your diet? Went on some far diet? These instances can also affect your hormones and cause your periods to stop.
But what if it’s Perimenopause?
Nine out of ten, if you are between ages 40 and 50, the answer to your missing period can be Perimenopause.
Advice: get a doctor’s checkup. You need to rule out any possible health issues before you assign your missing period to Perimenopause.
The Period That May Go On and On
First, ask yourself: Is it a period or a mid-cycle spotting?
Also, let me point out that it is important to keep track of how much bleeding is there.
How heavy is it?
What kind of birth control are you using? Some can cause longer than overage bleeding.
If you’re Postmenopausal (didn’t have a period for 12 months) and experiencing ongoing bleeding, consultation with your OBGYN is mandatory!
Advice: although ongoing bleeding during Perimenopause is common, consultation with your doctor is highly recommended!
The Period That Comes Twice A Month
There is nothing more annoying for most of us than to deal with two periods each month!
Why does this happen?
First, are you really having your period every 21 days or so, which can be normal, or having mid-cycle spotting?
Then, the character of your flow is also important.
Is it the same as usual? Or it’s heavy at one point in the month and much lighter later, which could be spotting.
Spotting between cycles can be a part of ovulation but still, you want to rule out any potential underlying causes.
Never self-diagnose or assume that it’s simply part of Perimenopause. Call your doctor!
What if it’s Perimenopause?
Well, Perimenopause does change periods and cycles. Your periods can become shorter or longer. Your cycles can also change. They can become shorter like every 20 days, which would mean that you are getting your period every three weeks.
If your flow isn’t excessive, what you’re experiencing can be a normal period for you, but your cycle is shorter.
The Heavy Period
Heavy, clotty and prolonged bleeding is very common, and it can be caused by numerous factors.
First, you do need to have a doctor’s exam. You definitely want to rule out any possible medical issues.
The trouble is that you need to recognize that your bleeding isn’t normal.
What can be normal for you may be excessive for your friend.
Here’s a little help for determining if your bleeding is normal or not: if your period can be dealt with by a super-plus tampon, it’s probably within a normal range.
If you have always had 3-day periods where you never bled through a sanitary pad or a tampon, but suddenly your last two periods have lasted 7 days and you’ve ruined your pants, then these periods are abnormal for you.
What if it’s Perimenopause?
Heavy periods are common during Perimenopause. They can be very heavy, very frightening and can occur because of nothing more than a hormonal imbalance.
In fact 75% of Perimenopausal women experience them.
Personally, I’ve experienced sudden very heavy blood flow twice during my Perimenopause and ruined my pants and bedsheets.
Piece of advice: please get a doctor’s checkup. Do not self-diagnose yourself or downplay your bleeding if it is different from the usual.
The Very Light Period
The most important thing is to figure out whether the bleeding is spotting between periods or your period. If you are tracking your periods and using a calendar, it can help you to figure this out.
Also keep in mind that there can be other reasons behind your very light periods besides Perimenopause, like birth-control pills, pregnancy, crushing exercise, fasting, fad diets.
What if it is Perimenopause?
If you are experiencing other Perimenopause symptoms or you are 40 years of age or more, it is possible that you don’t produce as much Estrogen, which affects the uterine lining and when you get your period, it will be lighter.
When Should You See A Doctor About Your Bleeding?
Any bleeding that worries you is enough to make an appointment with your doctor. Different than usual bleeding can be a very normal sign of Perimenopause.
But you should always discuss the following changes in your cycle with your doctor to rule out other causes:
- a very heavy period with clots
- spotting or bleeding between periods
- bleeding after sexual intercourse
- unusual, severe cramps
- bleeding when you haven’t had a period for more than 12 months
Disclaimer: This article was written for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor if you have been experiencing unusual bleeding. You want to rule out any possible underlying health issues.
With all my ❤️
Anna Toth
PS: you might also want to learn about How To Navigate Perimenopause Periods
