Dans

[Adns]

I have a question when a woman starts menopause do they always have irregular periods in the months before and then they stop or do they have normal periods and then just all the sudden stop?

[evewisewoman]

Hi Adns,

Just read your post. I think it's very individual. I'm in menopause. Two years ago I still had my periods. I only have my experience to go by. I definitely
had irregular periods, but my doctor had cautioned me that this would probably be the case. I became menopausal at age 54. I was actually really relieved as some of my periods were extremely painful. You probably know
that to be in menopause, you haven't had any periods for a year.
Hope this helps. Take care, Evewisewoman ( Eve)

[Adns]

Yes, I know it's after you've not had a period for a year that you are considered in menopause. But thank you.

[thatquietgirl]

My mom experienced crazy heavy, random periods for a few years.  Sometimes she'd not have one for months at a time and think they'd finally stopped altogether but then one would rear its ugly head.  Once you've reached a year without one, I believe is what she said the last time we talked about it, you're considered in menopause.  A blood test can determine if you're pre-menopausal or if something else is causing the irregular periods.