The Link Between Perimenopause and Abnormal Bleeding

The Link Between Perimenopause and Abnormal Bleeding

Most women pass through menopause in their late 40s and early 50s (the average age is 51), which signals the end of their reproductive years. During the period that leads up to this transition — called perimenopause — the symptoms, and their duration, can vary greatly from one woman to the next.

One of the most common signs of impending menopause are menstrual cycles that are irregular or abnormal. In most cases, there’s no cause for alarm.

To give you a better idea about what you might expect during perimenopause and how this transition can lead to abnormal bleedingDr. Ulas Bozdogan and the team here at Advanced Endometriosis Center, pulled together the following information.

Your periods and perimenopause

During your reproductive years, your ovaries release an egg each month for fertilization. To prepare for hosting a fertilized egg, hormones in your body cause the lining of your uterus to thicken. If the egg isn’t fertilized and implanted, the lining of your uterus sheds out through your vagina, creating your period.

As you approach your late mid-to-late 40s, your hormone levels begin to fluctuate in preparation for menopause, which is defined as the end of your menstrual cycles. Once you have no periods for 12 months in a row, we consider you to have transitioned through menopause.

On average, women experience perimenopausal symptoms for about four years prior to the end of menstruation. This is just an average, as some women experience symptoms for only a few months leading up to menopause, while others are plagued by symptoms that last up to 10 years before their periods end.

Symptoms of perimenopause

The primary symptom of perimenopause are periods that are irregular, and this can include several different attributes, such as:

Since your hormone levels are in flux, the balance between your estrogen and progesterone hormones is affected, which is typically what leads to these changes. For example, you may skip a period and then experience a period in which the flow is heavier than usual. Or, your estrogen levels may be high compared to your progesterone levels, which causes more thickening in your uterus and heavier periods.

Outside of changes to your periods, you may also experience other symptoms, such as:

These side effects of perimenopause also occur due to changing reproductive hormone levels in your body.

Treating the symptoms of perimenopause

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we describe above, the first thing to know is that they’re perfectly normal. In most cases, women simply manage the symptoms as best they can as they make their way toward menopause.

That said, if your periods are quite heavy and they’re causing quality-of-life issues, there are steps we can take, such as hormone therapies or endometrial ablation.

If you’d like to learn more about the effects of perimenopause on your menstrual cycles, or if you need help with moderate-to-severe symptoms, book an appointment online or over the phone with Advanced Endometriosis Center today. We have offices in New York City and Hackensack, New Jersey.

You Might Also Enjoy...

How to Know if You Have Fibroids

Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women, yet most don’t know since the growths don’t usually cause symptoms. When they do, however, they can make themselves known in several ways. Read on to learn more.

Why Are My Periods So Heavy?

You dread the arrival of your period each month thanks to heavy bleeding that presents more than a minor inconvenience. Heavy bleeding isn’t normal, and it's important to understand what may be behind the problem.

Can Ovarian Cysts Stop Me from Getting Pregnant?

There are many causes of infertility in women, and cysts that develop in or on your ovaries can certainly be a culprit. That said, it very much depends upon the type of ovarian cysts, as they can be a part of normal ovulation.

Why Surgery for Fibroid Removal is Getting Better

Do you have uterine fibroids that are creating problems? And are you considering having them surgically removed? Read on to learn why fibroids can cause problems and how robotic-assisted surgery has helped many women get relief.