Any woman still experiencing a menstrual cycle in her late 50s and 60s should see a doctor. However, it's important to note that each woman's reproductive system is different. Just as each young woman starts menstruating at a different age, menopause comes at a different age for each woman.
Bleeding can occur in women over 50 after they experience menopause as well. Studies show that this postmenopausal bleeding is usually caused by conditions like uterine fibroids or polyps. It can also be a sign of endometrial cancer, which affects 2 to 3% of women and is most common among postmenopausal women.
Most women experience menopause between age 40 and 58, and the average age at menopause is 51, according to the North American Menopause Society. Many women are surprised when they go through menopause in their forties because they think they're too young, but it's not unusual, says Dr. Streicher.
You may start having either unusually light or heavy periods. The frequency of periods may also be affected. They may occur every two or three weeks, or they might not occur for months at a time. Eventually, periods will stop altogether, although for some women other menopause symptoms may continue.
Postmenopausal bleeding is vaginal bleeding that occurs a year or more after your last menstrual period. It can be a symptom of vaginal dryness, polyps (noncancerous growths) or other changes in your reproductive system. In about 10% of women, bleeding after menopause is a sign of uterine cancer.
When your estrogen levels are low, your uterine lining is thinner. Bleeding, as a result, may be lighter and last fewer days. Short cycles are more common in the earlier stages of perimenopause. For example, you may have a period that's 2 or 3 days shorter than normal.
Any woman still experiencing a menstrual cycle in her late 50s and 60s should see a doctor. However, it's important to note that each woman's reproductive system is different. Just as each young woman starts menstruating at a different age, menopause comes at a different age for each woman.
Conclusions: Age-adjusted mortality is reduced 2% with each increasing year of age at menopause. In particular, ischemic heart disease mortality is 2% lower. Although the risk of death from uterine or ovarian cancer is increased by 5%, the net effect of a later menopause is an increased lifespan.
Towards the end of your cycle, PMS symptoms and common menstrual cycle side effects such as cramping, bloating, and insomnia should decline. As your cycle ends, estrogen starts rising again while your uterus rebuilds its lining, and the egg is maturing in its follicle in preparation for ovulation.
Bleeding after menopause is not normal, so take it seriously. Go directly to your ob-gyn. Polyps also can cause vaginal bleeding. If your ob-gyn discovers these benign (noncancerous) growths in your uterus or on your cervix, you might need surgery to remove them.
From your early 40s and into your 50s, during perimenopause, you may find that your periods change and become erratic as your ovaries slow down and oestrogen levels start to fluctuate. It can be very common for your cycle to become highly unpredictable and periods to be heavier and longer.
Underlying health conditions that can cause long periods include uterine fibroids, endometrial (uterine) polyps, adenomyosis, or more rarely, a precancerous or cancerous lesion of the uterus. A long period can also result from hormonal imbalances (like hypothyroidism) or a bleeding disorder.
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. You may have one every two or three weeks, or you may not have one for months at a time.
Brown blood is usually present toward the end of your cycle. As your body sheds the uterine lining in the first few days of your cycle, the blood is normally red. However, near the end of your cycle, the discharged blood is older and can be discolored.
If you have a persistent change of seven days or more in the length of your menstrual cycle, you may be in early perimenopause. If you have a space of 60 days or more between periods, you're likely in late perimenopause.
Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason.
Understanding the menopausal transition
The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. It usually lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity.
In most cases, postmenopausal bleeding is caused by issues such as endometrial atrophy (a thinning of the uterine lining), vaginal atrophy, fibroids, or endometrial polyps. The bleeding could also be a sign of endometrial cancer—a malignancy of the uterine lining, but only in a small number of cases.
Brown spotting after menopause is typically a sign of blood mixing into the discharge. While fresh blood is red, it turns brown or black as it oxidizes and leaves the vagina. The color may be lighter or mixed with other colors if the woman has an infection, such as a yeast infection.
Missed Periods
Enter the “flash period.” This is when you've missed several months of periods, and suddenly your menstrual cycle makes an appearance. This may take you completely by surprise and be unwelcome if you're completely unprepared.
The SELFCheck menopause test is ideal for those who suspect they may be experiencing menopause and would like confirmation in the comfort of their own home. This reliable test detects levels of follicle-stimulate hormone (FSH) in your body. FSH causes your ovaries to produce oestrogen.
A change in menstrual patterns and the appearance of hot flashes are usually the first signs. Although blood tests are not required, healthcare providers can run blood or urine tests to determine levels of the hormones estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Early menopause can happen naturally if a woman's ovaries stop making normal levels of certain hormones, particularly the hormone oestrogen. This is sometimes called premature ovarian failure, or primary ovarian insufficiency.
Most people notice spotting as a few drops of blood on their underwear or toilet paper when wiping. In most cases, spotting should not cause concern. Often, hormonal changes due to birth control, pregnancy, or menopause can trigger it.