Do periods get lighter before menopause?

When women are in perimenopause - the phase leading up to menopause - their periods can change dramatically. Some women notice heavier bleeding, while other women have lighter bleeding - depending on the month, a woman can experience both. Cycles can also become shorter or longer and even span intermittent durations from month-to-month. This irregularity is common in the time leading up to when menstruation eventually ceases completely.