Questions & Answers : menstruation

Perimenopause side effects

Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:42:00 GMT

Question:

I'm 51. I have always had regular periods – every 28 days. This year, I skipped a period in March. I then got my period [every month] from April to June. I have not received my period since. I know that I am going through my changes. I have been getting hot flashes.

Lately, I have been feeling breathless and my chest hurts. I had a physical and was told that my heart is fine. I would like to know if feeling breathless is another sign of menopause.

Bernice

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Answer:

The feelings you are describing sound like they are within the range of normal perimenopause side effects. That said, chest pains should never be casually dismissed. It would be a good idea for you to have another checkup and confirm that what you are experiencing is related to the approach of menopause.

How long will this last?

Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:36:00 GMT

Question:

How long does menopause last?

Lucy

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Answer:

Perimenopause can last six years or more. Actual menopause is simply the exact point at which the ovaries stop producing eggs, generally determined by going 12 months without experiencing a period, after which perimenopause may continue for another year, give or take.

Do I need to practice safe sex?

Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:29:00 GMT

Question:

I have not had a period for 22 months. Do I need to worry about contraception?

Name withheld

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Answer:

Probably not. Generally, you are said to have passed menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months. That said, unlikely incidents do occasionally occur. The only way to know absolutely is to have a checkup.

Period back after year-long absence

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:33:00 GMT

Question:

I have not had a period in one year, but now I’m having one. Is this normal?

Name withheld

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Answer:

Has it been slightly less than a year or slightly more? If it’s been a bit less than a year, you may not have passed menopause. If it’s been more than a year, however, common wisdom is that you have – and that you should see a doctor. We’d suggest going with the latter; it can’t hurt.

Concerned hubby asks about menopause

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:10:00 GMT

Question:

My wife is having menopause symptoms. She has had an off and on menstrual cycle for a month. What is the usual prescription for these types of symptoms? She is going to see her ob/gyn within the next two days. What is going on here?

Concerned Hubby

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Answer:

Well, it’s great that you’re concerned, but the irregular cycle you’ve described doesn’t trigger any alarm bells. The trip to the doctor is worthwhile, however; your wife should have a checkup now that she’s experiencing perimenopause.

Heavy menstrual flow

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:49:00 GMT

Question:

I am 46. I have not had any hot flashes, but I do have mood swings. The last six months or so, my periods have been real heavy. This last month’s period was just as heavy, but 16 days later, I still have a light blood discharge. Is this normal?

Name withheld

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Answer:

It doesn’t sound particularly worrisome. But given that you are experiencing perimenopause, you should go for a checkup with your doctor to discuss steps you can take to ensure your continued health after menopause.

Multiple periods every month!

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:47:00 GMT

Question:

Can you have more than one menstrual period a month?

Name withheld

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Answer:

Yes, your cycles can be irregular, particularly when you’re approaching menopause.

Can I get pregnant if I have no period?

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:33:00 GMT

Question:

I was wondering if a woman in her mid to late 40s could actually get pregnant while going through menopause if she no longer has a period. What are the chances of this happening? I have not had a period for about two months, and before that it was five or six months. I do not use birth control because I have not had an easy time getting pregnant when I did want to conceive before. I have started menopause but don't have hot flashes yet.

Laurie

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Answer:

You should consider yourself fertile until you’ve gone 12 months in a row without a period. Obviously, it sounds unlikely that you will conceive. But an unexpected pregnancy could have big ramifications, so you should seriously consider birth control precautions.

Ovulation during menopause

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:26:00 GMT

Question:

My question pertains to the ovaries and the actual menstrual period. When you go through menopause and your period stops, is it possible for your ovaries to continue to function? And, if they are still functioning, does this mean that you can still become pregnant? Or that you haven't completed the menopausal phase? My mother is 67 years of age and her one ovary is still functioning; the doctor is talking about removing it.

Robbie

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Answer:

We’ve never heard of a person being “through” menopause while having a functioning ovary – the two should be a contradiction. But we’re not physicians. If you have questions, you really should speak with your mother’s doctor.

Do symptoms cease after perimenopause is over?

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:08:00 GMT

Question:

Once you reach menopause, do you still experience symptoms? I have been told that peri-menopuse is when you experience the symptoms and, after you stop having periods, the symptoms cease. How long do you have symptoms once you have not had a period for two years? Is depression a symptom?

Cecilia

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Answer:

Generally, the symptoms end within a year of reaching menopause. Your depression may be related to menopause, but probably not. You should see your physician – clinical depression is treatable. If it’s determined that your depression isn’t clinical, lifestyle changes and/or counseling could be the answer.

Reoccuring period in menopause

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:03:00 GMT

Question:

I am 51. In the last year I have had my period stop for approximately two months – once in the spring and then again in early fall. In the spring, I did experience hot flashes and the odd incident since. They seem to be mostly at night. Luckily, they are not unbearable. I just finished a period four days ago. Now it looks as if I am getting another period. Is this normal and need I be concerned?

Karen

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Answer:

It definitely sounds like perimenopause. Irregular periods are a normal part of the process, so your letter isn’t sending up red flags. That said, it would be worthwhile meeting with your doctor to talk about treatment options, as well as the changes you will undergo when you reach menopause and beyond.

How long will my menopause last?

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:48:00 GMT

Question:

Hopefully you can answer some questions that I cannot find answers for. How long does menopause usually last? I am 46, and I’ve been having night sweats for about two years, off and on. I have only one ovary; the other was taken out 18 years ago. My cycle was punctual – 28 to 29 days for about three to five days – until about four months ago. Now I bleed for two to three weeks, have a break of a day or two, and then bleed for another two to three weeks, and so on. The first week usually is a normal flow – sometimes heavy, sometimes light – but the second week is heavy and extremely clotty. I'm really getting tired of this. Can you help me with some solutions – ASAP?

Debby

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Answer:

This could continue for a while. Perimenopause can last six or more years, and irregular periods – including spotting, or atypically heavy or light flow – can be symptoms of it. That said, it sounds like your period is lasting most of the month, which sounds a little unusual. It would be worth asking a doctor to check into it.

Is the end of my period the start of menopause?

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:38:00 GMT

Question:

I didn't have a period for seven months in a row. Now I’m having one. Could this still be the end, or do I start counting from month one again? I am 47.

Name withheld

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Answer:

You start counting from month one again and, for birth control purposes, you should assume you are still fertile.

Abnormal menstrual flow

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:32:00 GMT

Question:

I'm 51. I had my period in December but not in January. In February, I had a normal flow, and two weeks after I started spotting for about four days; then three days before the end of the month, I spotted for three days. Is this normal? I spoke to my gynecologist and he said this was not normal. I recently had a pap smear and was told that endometrial cells were found. My doctor wants to do a D&C and I'm very scared. Should I be?

Name withheld

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Answer:

It’s far too early to be expending emotional energy on fear. You’ll know a lot more after the D & C. Even if it ended up that you had endometrial cancer – which is not a foregone conclusion (one study found that three-quarters of women with endometrial cells did not have a malignant cancer) – patients with beginning stages of the disease have a very good five-year prognosis.