Menstrual Cycle Changes as Women Approach the Final Menses: What Matters?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review describing STRAW+10 bleeding criteria without systematic search or meta-analytic data.
PubMed 30401545 · doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.003
What was done
This review examined menstrual cycle alterations occurring during the approach to the final menstrual period. It describes the application of the STRAW+10 bleeding criteria for identifying the onset of the early and late menopausal transition, variations in individual bleeding experiences, and patterns of ovulatory function and bleeding abnormalities.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or specific numerical estimates. It reports that cycle length variability and long cycles increase as menopause nears, episodes of excessive and prolonged bleeding carry a high probability, and ovulation continues to occur as women approach the final menstrual period.
Why it matters
It outlines the clinical bleeding markers of the menopausal transition according to established staging frameworks (STRAW+10), highlighting that both heavy bleeding episodes and ovulation remain common before final menses.
Limits
As a narrative review, it does not detail systematic search methods, study quality ratings, or meta-analytic data. No specific sample sizes, demographic details, or exact statistical frequencies are reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Early perimenopause often features a shortening of the menstrual cycle, whereas late perimenopause is characterized by lengthened cycles and frequent anovulatory cycles.