Understanding Menopause
menopause
Understanding Menopause
Menopause is a natural stage of life, but every woman experiences it differently. Some women have very few symptoms, while others notice changes that affect their sleep, mood, physical health, work, relationships and everyday life.
Although we often use the word menopause to describe the whole transition, menopause refers to your final menstrual period. You are considered to have reached menopause once you have gone 12 months without a period, with no other medical reason for your periods to have stopped.
The age at which women experience menopause may differ; however, most women experience (natural) menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around 51. Many of the changes that take place may begin years before your final period.
menopause
The Stages of Menopause
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. During this stage, the ovaries begin to change the way they produce hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone.
Hormone levels can fluctuate considerably during perimenopause. Oestrogen doesn’t simply fall at a steady rate; it can rise and fall from month to month. This is why symptoms may come and go or feel more noticeable at certain times.
Changes to your periods are often one of the first signs. Your periods may become:
- Closer together or further apart
- Heavier or lighter
- Longer or shorter
- Less predictable
You may also begin to experience symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, changes in sleep, mood changes or brain fog, even if you are still having regular periods.
Perimenopause commonly begins during your 40s, although it can start earlier, and may continue for several years.
Menopause
Menopause is your final menstrual period. You will only know that it was your final period once 12 months have passed without another one.
Menopause itself is therefore a point in time rather than a stage that lasts for several years. Once you have reached menopause, you enter the postmenopausal stage.
Postmenopause
Post menopause is the stage after menopause and continues for the rest of your life.
Some symptoms may improve or settle during this time, while others may continue. The effects of lower oestrogen levels on areas such as your bones, muscles, heart, vulva, vagina and bladder can also become more noticeable over time.
menopause
The Stages of Menopause
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. During this stage, the ovaries begin to change the way they produce hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone.
Hormone levels can fluctuate considerably during perimenopause. Oestrogen doesn’t simply fall at a steady rate; it can rise and fall from month to month. This is why symptoms may come and go or feel more noticeable at certain times.
Changes to your periods are often one of the first signs. Your periods may become:
- Closer together or further apart
- Heavier or lighter
- Longer or shorter
- Less predictable
You may also begin to experience symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, changes in sleep, mood changes or brain fog, even if you are still having regular periods.
Perimenopause commonly begins during your 40s, although it can start earlier, and may continue for several years.
Menopause
Menopause is your final menstrual period. You will only know that it was your final period once 12 months have passed without another one.
Menopause itself is therefore a point in time rather than a stage that lasts for several years. Once you have reached menopause, you enter the postmenopausal stage.
Postmenopause
Post menopause is the stage after menopause and continues for the rest of your life.
Some symptoms may improve or settle during this time, while others may continue. The effects of lower oestrogen levels on areas such as your bones, muscles, heart, vulva, vagina and bladder can also become more noticeable over time.
Different Types of Menopause
Natural menopause
Natural menopause happens as part of the usual ageing process. The ovaries gradually produce less of the hormones involved in reproduction; periods become less predictable and eventually stop. Because these hormonal changes usually happen over several years, symptoms may gradually develop and change throughout the transition.
Early menopause
Early menopause is when menopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 45. It may happen naturally or because of surgery, medical treatment or certain health conditions. Experiencing menopause earlier can have implications for your long-term bone and heart health, so it is important to discuss this with your doctor and receive appropriate ongoing care.
Premature menopause
Premature menopause occurs before the age of 40. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a related condition where the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40. Unlike natural menopause, ovarian function can sometimes be unpredictable, which means occasional periods or ovulation may still occur. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause before the age of 40, it is important to speak with your doctor for further assessment and advice.
Surgical menopause
Surgical menopause occurs when both ovaries are removed before natural menopause. Because hormone levels fall suddenly rather than gradually, menopausal symptoms can begin very quickly and may sometimes be more noticeable or intense. Having your uterus removed but keeping your ovaries does not automatically cause menopause. However, some women may experience menopause earlier following a hysterectomy.
Medically induced menopause
Some medical treatments can temporarily or permanently affect how the ovaries work. These can include chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the pelvic area and some medications that suppress ovarian hormone production. Symptoms can sometimes begin more suddenly than they do with natural menopause. Your experience will depend on the type of treatment, your age and whether your ovaries begin functioning again. If you experience menopause because of surgery or medical treatment, individual advice about symptom management, pelvic health, bone health and heart health may be particularly important.
How Hormonal Changes Can Affect Your Body
Oestrogen does much more than regulate periods and reproduction. It has an important role in many areas of the body, including the brain, bones, muscles, heart and blood vessels, skin, vulva, vagina, bladder and urethra.
During perimenopause, changing hormone levels can cause symptoms that come and go. After menopause, lower oestrogen levels can contribute to longer-term changes in different parts of the body.