Saying Goodbye to Monthly Cycles: Understanding Menstruation in Menopause

Do you remember the first day you got your period?

Perhaps you were at home, at school, or with friends. For many of us, this marked a moment we’ll never forget: our official welcome into ‘womanhood’, and the beginning of many more changes to come.

Over the years, our relationship with our menstrual periods can range in complexity and nuance. Sometimes, we long to see it arrive. Other times, we’re disappointed. They can get in the way of personal relationships and deserved vacations. Some of us also navigate fluctuating and irregular periods throughout our fertile years, which can bring complexities into planning and necessary accommodations. Whether or not you’ve had a positive or negative relationship with your period, there’s one certainty we share: when menopause comes knocking, that relationship is about to change again.

Why our periods begin to fluctuate

The beginning of the end for our monthly cycles is often marked by irregular periods. You may begin to notice either more or less frequent periods, different levels of bleeding, or different symptoms than you’ve been used to. For women nearing menopause life stages, these changes can often be the first indicator that menopause has indeed arrived to begin its whirlwind of changes.

Menopause isn’t a single event, however, and is marked by three distinct stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Perimenopause generally begins in either a woman’s late 40s or her early 50s, and is the beginning of fluctuating hormones that mean the end of menstruation is on its way. Menopause itself occurs when 12 consecutive months have been completed without a period, after which point, women are in their postmenopausal years. 

These changes to our periods are the result of complex changes to our natural hormone production levels. This is why it can be difficult to know exactly what kind of menopausal experience we each may be preparing for since no two experiences are the same. 

The bright side of fluctuating periods

Sure, another change to managing your menstrual cycles may not be at the top of your priority list – but there’s a bright side to what they can tell us.

Since recognising the signs of perimenopause can be difficult, changes to our periods can be the signifiers we need to recognise that menopause is on its way. It’s important to track any changes in your menstrual cycle in order to provide yourself and your healthcare provider with valuable insight into what’s taking place. It’s time to be vigilant about including any irregularities – this information can help to build an understanding of where you’re at in your menopausal journey and what’s still to come.

Unsure what’s going on with your periods, why, and what support may be available? Our expert team is ready to support you through every change you’re experiencing, as well as those yet to come. Contact us today to learn more.

When you know how you’re progressing, you can also strategically build out your menopausal toolkit. It’s important to draw on different forms of support that are tailored to meet your specific needs. This may look like building a greater level of emotional support through your family and friends, engaging with new healthcare providers, or proactively seeking out assistance for your mental health during this time of fluctuating change. By paying attention to what your changing period is telling you, you’ll be able to prepare for what’s ahead with more awareness, more understanding, and more resources.

Prioritising your health is a non-negotiable

If you were making sacrifices in how you prioritised your health before, changes to your period mean it’s time to put a stop to that for good. Now’s the moment to give yourself the benefit of the best health and wellness practices possible. 

This can come in the form of assessing your diet, revisiting your exercise routine, or finding new ways to support a healthy, regular sleep schedule. It’s also important to keep your stress levels to a minimum, with chronic stress often exacerbating menopausal symptoms. 

More than just physical changes

Not only do changes to your period mark significant moments of transition for your physical needs, but also for your mental and emotional needs. The end of menstruation is a major moment for a woman: it’s been with you through all kinds of seasons, and now, it’s the end of an era. 

As you say goodbye to your periods, however, there’s also an opportunity to reflect on what you can be welcoming instead. What is it you want to cultivate? What do you want to explore? What are you eager to discover? 

By viewing this moment as one that’s less about just an ending, but also about a beginning, you may find yourself embracing a newfound sense of self-connection, reflection, and appreciation. 

If you’re not sure how to enter into this moment, consider:

• What passions, hobbies, or dreams have you often wanted to explore, but haven’t prioritised?
• What are you grateful for in your life experiences to date? 
• What new opportunities are still open to you that you could look to prioritise?
• Who in your life do you want to cultivate a deeper connection to?
• What opportunities for mental and emotional growth could you pursue throughout this transitional season?

These questions may feel abstract, but by sitting with them over time, you’ll likely be surprised by what comes to the surface. Once your menstruating years are behind you, it’s time to explore the woman you are, and the woman you’re still growing into. 

Conclusion

Saying goodbye to your periods may bring up unexpected feelings – but this doesn’t need to be a negative experience. By understanding what’s going on in your body, prioritising your health, and creating space to support the ongoing cultivation of your inner world, you can equip yourself for these inevitable changes with grace, resilience, and curiosity. At the Australian Menopause Centre, we support women throughout every stage of these transitions – contact us today to learn how we can walk with you through the experiences yet to come. Your periods may be on their way out, but we’re not going anywhere!