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Menstrual patterns leading to the final menstrual period
John R Taffe1, Lorraine Dennerstein
1Office for Gender and Health, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Charles Connibere Building, 6th Floor, Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia. tjaffe@bigpond.net.au
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|January 16, 2002
Summary
Menstrual cycle length becomes more irregular and longer as menopause approaches. A rise in cycle length variability to 42 days signals the final menstrual period (FMP) is near.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Menopause research
Background:
- Menstrual cycle regularity is a key indicator of reproductive health in premenopausal women.
- Understanding changes in menstrual cyclicity is crucial for identifying the menopausal transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize normal premenopausal menstrual cycle regularity.
- To identify patterns of menstrual cycle divergence as the final menstrual period (FMP) approaches.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of individual cycle length sequences from a longitudinal population-based study.
- Used regression slopes to assess trends in cycle length.
- Employed a 'running range' measure to quantify cycle length variability.
Main Results:
- Early premenopausal cycles typically ranged from 21-35 days with no significant trend.
- As FMP approached, cycles became more variable and longer, averaging over 35 days in the last 10 cycles.
- Cycle variability, measured by running range, increased above 42 days in the 20 cycles preceding FMP.
Conclusions:
- Increased menstrual cycle variability is the primary change preceding the FMP.
- A consistent trend towards longer cycles (over 35 days) underlies this increased variability.
- A running range of 42 days serves as an indicator for the approaching final menstrual period.