There might be more than one thing going on with you. The irregular bleeding is certainly typical of menopause. However, it is a good idea to discuss your bleeding pattern with your doctor. He or she might want to sample the lining by taking an endometrial biopsy and see that the cells appear normal. They might also want to do an ultrasound of the uterus to see how thick the lining is.
Your hips could be due to something other than menopause. If they are locking, it could be useful to talk with an orthopedic doctor to see if there is a problem with your hip joint. There could also be a problem in your back.
So while the bleeding might be normal. It is best to check it out with your doctor to be certain. Hips that lock are not normal and should be checked.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD