Irregular periods during menopause can start as early as the 30s due to less reliable hormone production, and fertility levels decrease as women age. Hormonal fluctuations become increasingly apparent in the 40s, and irregularities can include cycles being further apart, shorter and more frequent, or of unpredictable length. Women are still potentially fertile until they have not had periods for a year, and bleeding after true menopause is not normal and should be checked by a doctor.
Irregular periods during menopause, as it is classically defined, do not occur because menopause is the cessation of periods and is considered over when women have not had periods for about a year. Informally, menopause can be discussed as the gradual process of cessation of menstruation and described as occurring over the course of many years. The period of time before menstruation completely ceases is sometimes called premenopause or perimenopause, and doctors may suggest a window of time for these starting 10 to 15 years before true menopause occurs. Many women first notice irregular periods during menopause in these pre- or perimenopause stages, and as they near the end of their periods, these irregularities frequently increase.
A trend in family-building and parenting has many women choosing to have children in their 30s and 40s, but from a purely biological standpoint, this isn’t the best time. Female hormones, which support conception and pregnancy, tend to be more stable and regular when women are much younger, and the tendency to conceive later in life reflects some of the problems caused by this decision. Fertility levels decrease as women age, which also means hormone levels decrease. This can lead to symptoms such as irregular periods or unreliable ovulation.
This example illustrates that irregular periods before or during menopause can start as early as the 30s and are due to less reliable hormone production. If a woman has previously been exceptionally regular, she may only notice minor changes that occur occasionally, as hormone levels drop slightly. Women who have already dealt with irregular periods may notice more pronounced symptoms. Most of these changes are subtle, but have a progressive quality.
As women hit their 40s, more and more of them will notice more and more irregular periods. Although most women do not reach full menopause until the age of 50, hormonal fluctuations become increasingly apparent. The first hot flashes, weight gain, increased risk of depression, and more significant PMS symptoms also occur long before true menopause occurs.
Actual irregularities can be characterized in several ways. Cycles may be further apart, shorter and more frequent, or of unpredictable length. Other changes might include increased or decreased fluid retention, amount of bleeding, mood changes, or headaches.
In context, it is very important to understand irregular periods during menopause. As long as there is menstruation, and even though older women may have lower fertility levels, there is still a chance of pregnancy. Women are usually not considered menopausal and completely infertile until they have had their periods for a year. Some women incorrectly assume that being in any stage of menopause guarantees pregnancy, but this is not true. No matter how irregular your periods may seem during menopause, they still represent potential fertility.
Bleeding after true menopause is not normal, and this can indicate significant health problems. Women should see a doctor if they notice this symptom after the cessation of periods.
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