The causes of menstrual complaints during menopause and what to do about it

Menstrual symptoms and a changing cycle are often among the first signs that your body is entering menopause. This is because the supply of eggs in your ovaries is slowly depleting. Your body is transforming, and you're moving from a fertile to an infertile period in your life.

Although menstrual symptoms are normal during this phase, they can be annoying and sometimes quite painful.

In this blog I share some tips that can help you naturally and alleviate the symptoms of menopausal complaints around menstruation.

Menopause usually begins with irregular periods. This means the length and intensity of your cycle can vary. Sometimes your period comes earlier or later than expected.

Over time, the intervals between periods become longer, until they eventually stop altogether. When you haven't had a period for a year, you've officially reached menopause.

All of this is a result of hormonal fluctuations. Your body adapts, which leads to these changes.

But what exactly happens in your body that leads to irregular periods during menopause?

The cause can best be explained as a process consisting of several steps:

1. Egg supply is running out - As a woman, you are born with a fixed number of eggs. As you age and enter menopause, that supply slowly depletes.
2. Less active follicles - Follicles are small sacs that contain eggs. They are involved in hormone production. During menopause, these follicles become less active.
3. Ovarian function decline - The ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone due to decreased activity of the follicles.
4. Irregular Menstruation - Fluctuating hormone levels cause irregular periods, with longer or shorter intervals between cycles.
5. Changes in Estrogen - The decrease in estrogen can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and dry skin.
6. Progesterone Decrease - Lower progesterone production often leads to shorter and less intense periods.
7. End of Menstruation - Eventually, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, resulting in menopause (the end of menstruation).

This process can take several years and varies from person to person.

The symptoms of menopausal menstruation vary from woman to woman, just like menstruation during your childbearing years.

As you may know, your cycle is never constant. This can make it difficult to determine whether changes in your period indicate menopause.

Some women experience minimal discomfort, while others experience unpleasant symptoms. Common menstrual complaints during menopause include:

• Irregular periods
• Heavier or lighter periods
• Longer or shorter menstrual cycles
• Cramps and abdominal pain
• (More) blood clots
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Headache
• Sore breasts
• Intermittent bleeding

Many women experience menstrual clots, whether you are in menopause or not.

A clot is a lump of blood that can form during your menstruation and consists of uterine lining, blood and tissue.

They occur when blood in the uterus accumulates and has too much time to clot. This can happen if you have a heavy period.

Clots are usually dark red or brown and can come in a variety of sizes, from small as a pea to large as a euro coin.

It is normal to have small clots occasionally, but if they are larger than 2.5 cm or if they are causing you a lot of discomfort, it is a good idea to see a doctor.

During menopause, clots can become larger and more frequent due to fluctuations in hormone levels. During this period, the uterine lining becomes thicker than in a "normal" cycle, which can lead to heavier bleeding and an increased risk of clots.

This is often accompanied by changes in menstrual patterns, such as longer or irregular cycles.

You usually don't need to worry about small clots that occur during your period, especially if they occur sporadically and don't cause any other symptoms.

However, if you notice menstrual clots that are the size of a coin or larger , it is wise to discuss this with your doctor.

In addition to the size of the clots, there are a number of other signs you should be aware of when experiencing menstrual complaints during menopause.

Contact your doctor in the following cases:

• Bleeding after a year of no period - If you have not had a period for a year and now bleeding has returned, you should have it checked out immediately.
• Heavy bleeding - If your period is extremely heavy and you need to change a pad or tampon more than three times an hour, it's wise to see your doctor. Heavy bleeding increases your risk of anemia.
• Persistent pain - If severe pain or cramping doesn't improve with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, the pain may have another cause.

Heavy periods, but also the associated pain, can be a significant hindrance to your daily life.

You can initially try to reduce your symptoms naturally. If that doesn't work sufficiently, I recommend seeing your doctor to discuss your options.

1. Make sure you get enough B12

Vitamin B12 is important for the production of red blood cells. Therefore, it is very important to have sufficient B12 available during (heavy) blood loss.

I recommend taking extra B12 (in active form) if you're vegetarian or vegan. To be sure, have your B12 tested by your doctor, as people who eat meat can also have a deficiency.

2. Make sure you get enough iron

Iron is the most important mineral for properly functioning red blood cells. Your body uses it to produce hemoglobin (the oxygen carrier).

The most readily absorbable form of iron is found primarily in red meat (heme iron). Iron from plant foods (green leafy vegetables, legumes) isn't absorbed as well, so you need much more of it.

If you do not get enough iron through diet, you can supplement this with an iron supplement.

3. Try Menopause Premium (with Monk's Pepper, among other things)

Menopause Premium is a natural formula formulated to support menopausal symptoms.

It contains herbal extracts such as chasteberry, black cohosh, and Dong Quai, and is supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals for improved mood and mental balance. This product supports women going through menopause safely and effectively.