As soon as women are in the menopause, the hormonal balance gets really messed up. The result is cycle fluctuations, which also include bleeding between periods. We explain how these manifest themselves and when there is cause for concern.
From the mid-40s, women on average enter menopause, which ends with the last menstrual period in the early 50s. During this time, the woman’s fertility decreases because the ovaries produce fewer sex hormones. During menopause, ovulation and therefore periods become more irregular. It can be stronger or weaker, longer or shorter. Intermenstrual bleeding can also occur as a result of menstrual cycle disorders and hormonal imbalance. This spotting is typical of the perimenopause, the time in the middle of the menopause. The bleeding is usually brownish in color and tends to be weaker.
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Intermenstrual bleeding during menopause: when to see a doctor?
Many women going through menopause wonder if cycle fluctuations are normal or if they are a cause for concern. There is no general answer to this, since every woman goes through the menopause individually. You should therefore seek advice from your gynecologist. You should seek medical advice in particular if your bleeding is particularly long-lasting or if you have other symptoms such as a general feeling of illness, fever or severe abdominal pain. There may be diseases such as inflammation of the uterus or fallopian tubes. In addition, long and heavy bleeding can lead to iron deficiency and fatigue.
Take bleeding after menopause seriously!
However, if the bleeding occurs after your menopause, caution is advised. Intermenstrual bleeding can be the first sign of a benign or malignant tumor in the uterus. Therefore, have the cause clarified by your doctor as soon as possible.
The three phases of menopause
Menopause can be divided into three phases :
- The first part of the menopause is the premenopause , which is characterized by shorter cycles of around 21 days and heavier bleeding.
- In the second phase, the perimenopause , ovulations become less and less frequent and bleeding can become more irregular and sometimes heavy and longer.
- If a woman has not had her menses for twelve months, she is in menopause .
