What Are The Symptoms Of Perimenopause?

I have never had "normal" menstrual cycles; however this one is more odd than usual. I started my period last Sunday, then nothing for two days. Then on Tuesday I started again with quite bad cramping (which is usual for me). Then Saturday I was done so my bf and I had sex, which resulted in no showing of blood. After we had intercourse, he used his fingers to pleasure me. He ended up with his hand in blood and since then I have had quite bad cramping and bright red blood discharge. This seems to be only when I use toilet paper and not necessarily on the pad I am wearing. There are some small clots (which I usually pass large ones throughout my cycle) and this is now the second night since I began what seems to be another period...? I'm 42 and have been menstruating since I was 11. There is no possibility that I am pregnant as my bf had a vasectomy years ago and we have been together for nearly 2 years now and neither of us have multiple partners. Could this be a cyst, the beginning of menopause or something more serious?