background
home > health > menopause > questions and answers > are irregular periods start of menopause?
Read all Questions & Answers

I have had irregular periods for past 12 months or so. I was always a 30 day cycle and now it is anything between a 22 to 28 day cycle. For the past week I have had a dark red discharge, like towards the end of a period. I had 2 periods last month and was due yesterday. Is this the start of the menopause, and will this dark discharge turn into a normal period? I am 49 years old.

This is a common scenario as you approach the menopause and you are in the usual age range (45-55), best thing to do is see your doctor and they can test your hormone levels and that will give you a better idea as to what is happening.

At this stage the periods often change in consistency/colour as well.

Eileen Durward


Do you have questions? Please feel free to ask.

Ask Eileen

How helpful was this answer?

Rate this page
back top print

UK 5-day pollen forecast

Stay up to date with the latest pollen information by finding your local pollen forecast from over 30,000 locations across the UK.