Addressing the perimenopause: what’s blood got to do with it?

Summary

Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding during the menopausal transition is significantly associated with increased fatigue symptoms in midlife women, highlighting the need for greater clinical awareness and support (Cutts et al., 2025).

FemTalkAsia Takeaways

• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding during the menopausal transition is strongly associated with increased reports of fatigue among midlife women.
• Women experiencing frequent heavy bleeding or bleeding lasting more than 10 days were significantly more likely to report feeling tired, worn out, or lacking energy.
• The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing menstrual changes as potential contributors to physical and emotional symptoms, especially fatigue.
• Fatigue related to heavy or prolonged bleeding can negatively impact quality of life and may be misattributed to other causes, delaying proper diagnosis and support.
• These findings underscore the need for better clinical screening, education, and treatment options for women navigating the menopausal transition with abnormal uterine bleeding.