Types of bleeding episodes experienced from menarche to menopause
| Age range | ‘Normal’ amount of blood | ‘Normal’ length of time | Definition/symptoms | |
| Cervical cancer | Any age, median age is 49 | Menstruation can be heavy, irregular, painful or spotting | Continues until treated, bleeding likely to occur during MP; varies | Cancer in the cells of the cervix linked to the human papilloma virus; bleeding is often not related to menses |
| Endometriosis | Most cases diagnosed between 25 and 35 years of age | Menstruation can be heavy, irregular, painful or spotting | Continues until treated, bleeding likely to occur during MP; varies | A condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus; heavy MP, irregular MP, painful MP or spotting, abdominal cramping, constipation or nausea |
| Menarche | Usually between 8 and 16 years | Can vary but usually lighter spotting | 2–7 days is normal; cycles are often irregular for 1–2 years | First menstrual cycle, can be accompanied by cramps, irritability/heightened emotions, tender breasts |
| Menorrhagia | From age of menarche to menopause (ages ~8–60) | 60–90 ml or more | Can be over 7 days | Abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding; MP lasts longer than 7 days or is too frequent (less than 21 days between periods), spotting or bleeding between MPs or during pregnancy |
| Menstrual bleeding | From age of menarche to menopause (ages ~8–60) | Average blood lost is 30–40 ml, with 90% of women <80 ml | 2–7 days is normal | Process of discharging blood and other materials from uterine lining monthly, can be accompanied by cramps, irritability/heightened emotions, tender breasts |
| Miscarriage | From age of menarche to menopause (ages ~8–60) | Spotting can occur after miscarriage | Can spot for up to 2 weeks after miscarriage; can result in haemorrhage | Expulsion of a fetus from the womb before childbirth; irregular uterine bleeding, pain (abdomen, lower back, pelvis), vaginal discharge, uterine contractions, nausea |
| Perimenopause/menopause | Usually mid-40s to early 60s; average age 51–52 | Spotting or heavy | Average length is 4 years. Ends when 12 months without MP | Time before and during the end of menstruation in the life cycle; absence of MP, spotting, heavy or irregular MP, hot flashes/night sweats, vaginal dryness |
| Postpartum haemorrhage | Menarche to menopause (ages ~8–60) | Excessive vaginal bleeding (<90 ml) | Up to 6 weeks postpartum | Excessive bleeding after childbirth; vaginal bleeding, fast heart rate or low blood pressure |
| Sexually transmitted infections | Any age if sexually active | Heavy, spotting | Continues until treated | Diseases passed on through sexual contact (ie, chlamydia, gonorrhoea); pelvic inflammatory disease, menorrhagia, bleeding after intercourse, spotting between periods |
| Uterine fibroids | Can occur by age 20, usually between 35 and 54 | Menstruation can be heavy, irregular, painful or spotting | Continues until treated, bleeding likely during MP; varies | Non-cancerous growths in uterus that can develop during childrearing years; heavy MP, prolonged MP, pelvic pressure/pain, frequent/difficult urination |
| Uterine polyps | Rare before 20, can occur after menopause | Menstruation can be heavy or irregular | Continues until treated | Usually non-cancerous growths attached to inner wall of uterus; irregular or excessive bleeding and bleeding after menopause can occur |
MP, menstrual period.