I’m not asking for medical advice. I’m looking for a physiological explanation. I think what I’m experiencing is entirely within the realm of normal.
I’m 51, so I’ve been expecting some perimenopausal symptoms. However, my menstrual periods have been regular as clockwork (heavy enough to require feminine hygiene products rated “Exxon Valdez,” but thus it has been for many, many years).
I had a normal cycle this month. My period arrived and departed as expected. Then, after about a two-day break, I began bleeding again – minimal, but heavy enough to require a light-weight pad. This has been going on for about a week.
I understand how the rise and fall of various hormones work in the menstrual cycle. But once the lining has been shed…isn’t it all gone? Where is this residual dribbling coming from?
My wild guess is that your hormone levels don’t just stop at menopause. Some smaller ups and downs maybe happening. My periods have tapered off to about one every 3-4 months, some times almost nothing, some times ExxonValdez. YMMV
I’ve been working for a gynocologist for just a few weeks, so I don’t know that much yet, but I have learned enough to know that any bleeding outside of your period could be any number of things, including cancer. You will probably need to see a doctor and get a workup. Bleeding for an extended amount of time can cause anemia and all sorts of problems, so hurry up about it.
My wife went through menopause at age 40, brought on by some medications. She had been regular as sunrise, but once partway into the process her cycles got all messed up. Do the normal bleed, stop for 4 days, start again weakly for 3 days, quit, skip 6 weeks, do the normal week-long thing but extra heavy, wait 2 weeks, then 2 days moderate, then …
No pattern whatsoever. This lasted over a year, with the off-agains slowly getting bigger and the on-agains getting smaller. Eventually she was having a little dribble every 3 months or so. Then it quit for good. The whole process took about 5 years. The only thing you could predict was that you couldn’t predict anything.
I agree you should ask your Dr. since this occurrence is not something you’ve seen before. But meanwhile don’t assume you’re dying.
Your fluctuating hormone levels aren’t high enough to keep you from bleeding.
Did you ever take birth control pills? You take the pills for 3 weeks, stop and get your period. It’s the drop in those hormone levels that sets off your period.
And I don’t think your uterine lining ever completely sheds, it thins and thickens in response to your cycles but it is always there.
I’m not a doctor and I may have the technicalities wrong. But I’ve been menopausing for years and this is one of the symptoms that my doctors described as within the normal range.
Why are we assuming the bleeding is caused by perimenopause, anyway? It’s only one possibility, and not that likely from what I know. Please call your doctor, freckafree, instead of taking medical advice from laypeople on a message board.
As for the actual question of where that extra blood comes from, I really have no idea.
My gyno explained to me that hormones don’t just drop during perimenopause, they will go up and down. So even though you might think you would have less periods you can actually have extra or heavier periods. She didn’t tell me where the extra blood and tissue comes from though. I had one of those double periods last year and it hasn’t happened again. I had an extra heavy week long period (mine normally are about 4 days) then I stopped for 2 days and then started again for about 3 days. I saw the doctor after this wacky period and she said it could just be normal perimenopausal craziness. She also tested my thyroid (which was normal) because she said that can play a part in irregular periods. Then I went back to being regular for a while. This year I skipped a month, I’ve been a little late a few times but am mostly back to being regular.
As for the “see a doctor” thing, I’m guessing the OP sees a doctor regularly and didn’t think this was that big an issue to rush in for an exam. Certainly if it continues she would want to consult a doctor, but it’s possible it is just a whacked out period.
Actually “extra” periods are quite common during perimenopause. It sure took me by suprise, I was equating “irregular” with “skipping periods or not having them as often”…not getting one every two and a half to 3 weeks.
According to my gyno, it has to do with something called “follicular selection”. In total oversimplified layman’s terms… ( although the actual process is more complex and involves varying levels or varying hormones and stuff) …you don’t have as many eggs as you once did so it doesn’t take your body as long to pick one. This can substantially shorten the cycle.
In practice, just be sure to ALWAYS carry some protection.
All I know is that when I started perimenopause (I’m 52 and haven’t had a period in more than a year, so I’m in regular menopause now), I bled and bled and bled, basically for five straight months. I finally went on the pill to regulate it. TMI, probably, but don’t be surprised at irregular bleeding.