“It happened slowly… and then all at once,” the saying goes. And just like watching a sunrise fill the sky with color in stages until it’s totally changed, you may experience the signs of menopause developing over a number of years — until one day, you find yourself having made the transition altogether.
The Stages of Menopause
Menopause is a natural part of the aging process for women. During this time, your ovaries stop producing eggs, your reproductive hormones decline, and your monthly period changes and then eventually stops altogether. From a health care perspective, there are three distinct stages of menopause.
Perimenopause
The beginning stages of menopause are called perimenopause. It can start years before you stop getting your period, usually in your mid- to late forties. Your hormones start to fluctuate, and your body adjusts in different ways with various perimenopause symptoms. It’s important to know, however, that even though your period may stop, it’s still possible to get pregnant during this stage.
Menopause
True menopause is less a stage and more a specific point in time. It happens once you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. At that point, you no longer ovulate or menstruate, and you officially mark the end of your reproductive years by crossing into the next stage.
Postmenopause
After menopause, you stay in the postmenopausal stage for the rest of your life. And although you may still experience some menopause symptoms for a few years, rest assured they do tend to lessen over time.
It’s also crucial to understand that postmenopausal women have a higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. So, during this time you’ll want to keep a close eye on healthy eating and physical activity.
The Signs of Menopause
Not all women experience menopause the same way. For some, changing hormones create many intense and uncomfortable symptoms. Others notice fewer or less bothersome symptoms.
The range of perimenopause and menopause symptoms may include:
- Body changes. Hormonal changes and general aging may affect the way your body looks and feels. You might gain weight and lose muscle or notice other differences.
- Bladder control issues. You might feel like you need to urinate more frequently or suddenly, or experience bladder leaks.
- Emotional changes. Mood swings and irritability are common. Mid-life is also a time when many women are managing many factors at once, such as caring for aging parents and growing children or making big career decisions, which adds to the potential stress load during this time.
- Hot flashes and night sweats. You might have repeated episodes of feeling flushed, hot and sweaty, followed by cold shivering. At night, it can be strong enough to wake you up in soaked pajamas.
- Irregular periods. Your period may come at a different time or be heavier or lighter than normal.
- Vaginal health changes. The vagina can feel drier after menopause, and it may be uncomfortable during sex. You may also have less interest in sex generally.
You might experience these or other menopause symptoms, but a wide range of treatments including lifestyle changes, hormone therapies and medications may help. Your doctor can talk with you about the best ways to find relief from your specific symptoms, so you can live more comfortably.
The Age Range for Menopause Symptoms
If you’re wondering exactly when menopause might happen for you, the answer is… it depends. The average age for menopause is 52, and the typical range in age is between 45-55 years old. Some women will experience the stages of menopause on different timelines because of surgeries or medical conditions.
You may have perimenopause symptoms for up to ten years before it happens. The average length of time that women feel symptoms is seven years.
Finding Support When You Need It
Even though menopause is a natural part of life, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with challenges. If you’re wondering about symptoms or worried about what you’re feeling, reach out to a health care provider to talk it through.
At AdventHealth, we’re always here to empower you with the support you need at every stage of life. If you have questions, you can learn more about women’s health care on our website, or schedule an appointment to meet with one of our providers.
