Written by Michael Brown - January 21, 2023
Menopause is a natural process that all women eventually go through. As a woman ages, her ovaries produce fewer hormones and her menstrual cycle gradually changes. One sign that menopause may be approaching is when a woman's menstrual cycles become shorter and more unpredictable.
The average age of menopause onset is 51 years old, however, many women begin to experience the symptoms in their 40s. It can take up to 10 years for all the signs of menopause to occur, during which time the length of your menstrual cycle may vary greatly.
Menstrual cycles typically occur every 28 days, but this number can vary significantly during premenopausal and perimenopausal stages. Abrupt changes in cycle length are not uncommon, and include:
It’s important to remember that these changes do not always mean you’re entering into menopausal stages; if you experience any type of irregular cycles or spotting between periods, it’s important to check with your doctor who can advise based on medical history and blood tests. These changes could also indicate underlying health issues such as ovarian cysts or fibroids.
In addition to the physical changes associated with premenopausal and perimenopausal stages, many women experience emotional changes characterized by anxiety and depression due to hormonal fluctuations. During this transition period it is important seek counseling or therapy if you feel overwhelmed as well as take advantage of supportive resources from your doctor or local clinics such as Hormone Treatment Center which specialize in providing customizable treatment plans for individual needs related to hormonal imbalance.
Overall, an irregular menstruation pattern including shorter cycles does not necessarily mean you’ve started menopausal stages yet; other factors should be taken into account before reaching a conclusion about any potential hormone imbalances occurring within your body. If you notice any irregularities with your monthly cycles or other symptoms related to menopause it is important to talk with your doctor about potential next steps of action tailored specifically for you.