hi wendyrs ive been told by my doctor that even though im menopause i can still take a period and then have a break for another six months...if i don,t take one for a full yr then my cycle has run its course..
I suppose we all vary as a friend who is borderline has never stopped bleeding for weeks and been told once it starts reducing and in between longer periods of no bleeding then things shall settle..
i shall stick to my hot flushes and sweats... i feel so sorry for the women who get it hard during this cycle of womanhood.

Thanks Ioka...I guess everyone is different. I'm going to see the doctor on Thursday so hopefully i'll get some answers. Between the cramps and lack of energy today I can't get anything done, so I'm just going to veg today.

It can go on for a few years. I started menopause at 35, and didn't finish until 45, and my periods were all over the place. Sometimes twice a month, then skipped for months at a time. It's a real picnic! You never know what to expect so be prepared for this part of the fun!

Thank you Raven. You really started young. I'm only 44 and my sister started at this age too. She's now 49 and completely finished. I only get my period for one - two days so it's not too bad. I just have no energy to do anything those days and want it to be over with. I feel so drained and guilty that I can't do anything.

Don't feel guilty! It's the best excuse not to do anything other than being pregnant! Your sister was lucky to be totally done in 5 years. I have a twin sister that finished later than I did, and still spotted from time to time for years after! I think that the periods were the worst part of menopause for me. The rest was pretty much a cake-walk. Then again, my periods were so horrible every month that I guess Mother Nature figured I deserved a break with this stage of my life!

Hello, I'm 44 and was always regular in regards to my monthly periods. Spot the first day, heavy the 2nd day, light the 3rd and spot 4th finished usually by day 5. However this month things changed. I had my regular monthly period and then 2 weeks later started again, however, very different this time. I guess you'd call it spotting, 1 day I had cramps, mainly dark brown clots, usually only shows up when I wipe after urinating. It's been a week and a day so far. I started exercising daily about 6 weeks prior to this. Any input would be appreciated.