are irregular periods a sign of menopause?
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Throughout the menopausal transition, some subtle — and some not-so-subtle — changes in your body may take place. You might experience: Irregular periods. As ovulation becomes more unpredictable, the length of time between periods may be longer or shorter, your flow may be light to heavy, and you may skip some periods.
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Some common, normal signs include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood swings—all results of unevenly changing levels of ovarian hormones (estrogen) in your body. Read more about how you'll know you're near menopause.
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Your periods are getting irregular in length and frequency. Your ovaries may release an egg some months, but not others. Although your fertility is declining, you can still conceive. If you don't want to get pregnant, you need to use birth control throughout perimenopause.
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Some common, normal signs include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood swings—all results of unevenly changing levels of ovarian hormones (estrogen) in your body.
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Your menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and you may begin having menstrual cycles in which your ovaries don't release an egg (ovulate). You may also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems and vaginal dryness. Treatments are available to help ease these symptoms.
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Irregular or missed periods are not the most common sign of ovarian cancer. There are other, more common symptoms. Contact your doctor if you're concerned about ovarian cancer or notice anything different in your monthly cycle.
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Then, you're in menopause. Although your estrogen level drops in menopause, it swings up and down during perimenopause. That's why your menstrual cycles become so erratic. When your estrogen level is high, abdominal cramps — along with symptoms like heavy periods and tender breasts — are common.
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Symptoms of high FSH in females often mimic those of menopause, including irregular periods, hot flashes, and headaches. In couples actively trying to conceive, difficulty getting pregnant can also be a sign.
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PMS: the link with menopause! However, during the perimenopause symptoms usually deteriorate due to fluctuating hormones. Thus, both PMS and menopause symptoms can affect a woman's wellbeing and quality of life at this time. The symptoms of PMS can in fact be similar to those experienced during the menopause.
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Changes to your periods The first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods. You may start having either unusually light or heavy periods. The frequency of your periods may also be affected.
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A couple of irregular periods per year are usually nothing to worry about. Any more than that, and you should see a doctor to be sure an ovulation problem or health condition isn't the cause.
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Occasionally, menstrual periods will be skipped for several months, then return as regular as clockwork. The hormonal ups and downs of perimenopause can be the cause of almost any imaginable bleeding pattern. When estrogen is lower, the uterine lining gets thinner, causing the flow to be lighter or to last fewer days.
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Researchers say it's normal, however, for the majority of them to experience an increase in the amount and duration of bleeding episodes, which may occur at various times throughout the menopausal transition. Women going through menopause most likely think of it as the time for an end to predictable monthly periods.
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Your periods may be longer or shorter than usual. You might skip a few months or have unusually long or short menstrual cycles. Your period may be heavier or lighter than before. Many women also have hot flashes and other menopause symptoms during this transition.
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Symptoms may include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and emotional changes that last an average of 7.4 years after the last period. Doctors define menopause as occurring 1 year after a person's last period.
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Fatigue. Hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness are common symptoms of menopause. Fatigue can also be an issue during the transitional time when your menstrual periods stop and fertility ends. When that fatigue is constant and severe, it can affect your quality of life.
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Any bleeding after menopause is abnormal and should be reported to your health care professional. Although the menstrual period may become irregular during perimenopause, you should be alert for abnormal bleeding, which can signal a problem not related to perimenopause.