Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life. It’s not a disease or a disorder but simply a transition accompanied by physical changes. Some women have tolerable menopausal symptoms and can go with their everyday routine.
Others experience a combination of symptoms and need certain medications. Depending on your current health condition and risk factors, your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy to address various symptoms.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is when you don’t have a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months. The years leading to this period are called “perimenopause”, where women usually start getting symptoms such as irregular periods and hot flashes.
Why Menopause Happens
Menopause is the natural cessation of the menstrual cycle for 12 months. Note that specific surgical procedures and medical conditions can cause an extended absence of menstruation. You must consult a healthcare provider to have an accurate diagnosis.
Menopause happens because your reproductive system slows down with age. As this stage nears, the production of reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone) declines—triggering several mental and physical changes.
What Are the Stages of Menopause
There are three stages of menopause, and the intensity, frequency, and duration of symptoms may vary in each stage.
Perimenopause: It covers the transition to menopause and can last for 8 to 10 years. During this period, your hormonal activity becomes erratic, causing various symptoms. The estrogen levels may drop faster during the last two years of perimenopause, which can lead to more frequent or more intense symptoms. However, you can still get pregnant during this stage because your ovaries still release eggs. Learn more about pregnancy during perimenopause, here.
Menopause: Your healthcare provider can diagnose menopause when you don’t get menstruation for 12 consecutive months. At this point, your ovaries don’t produce eggs anymore—ending your reproductive phase. The average menopausal age in the United Kingdom is 51.
Estrogen levels will continue to drop during menopause, but the pace is more consistent this time. Consequently, some symptoms may become less intense or less frequent.
Post-menopause: This is the period after your 12th month without a menstrual cycle, and you will stay on it for the rest of your life. The symptoms begin to get around this time. However, these may persist for several years to a decade after menopause for some women.
The risks of osteoporosis and heart problems are also higher in this stage because the estrogen levels are much lower. Any of the best 6 menopause supplements can help protect you from these risks.
Why Is the Menopause Duration Not the Same for All Women?
The duration for each stage of menopause is not the same because it depends on several factors. These include race, lifestyle, and medical history.
Studies have also shown that body mass index, educational level, and socio-economic status also affect the onset of menopause. According to a clinical professor at Yale Medical School, family history is also a strong predictor. That if most women in the family reached menopause in their 40s, it’s most likely you would go through the same.
The age of menarche can also help predict the onset of perimenopause. According to a study published in Human Reproduction, women who started getting periods at 11 years old or younger had a higher chance of reaching menopause before the age of 40 than those who had their first period at 12 or 13 years old.
Women experience menopausal transition in unique ways. Some may get more intense headaches and mood swings, while others suffer more frequent hot flashes and night sweats.
How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last?
As mentioned earlier, menopause-related symptoms can persist years after your last menstrual cycle.
Two symptoms that usually continue during post-menopause are hot flashes and vaginal dryness. These symptoms often stop within seven years after a woman’s last menstrual cycle. However, a report stated that around 30% of women continued to suffer moderate to severe symptoms for over a decade.
The decline in estrogen production also causes vaginal dryness and itchiness (to the point of a burning sensation). Unlike other symptoms, it tends to get worse as women age. Fortunately, some products can effectively relieve dryness.
Other symptoms that may start during menopause and persist throughout post-menopause include joint pain, sleep problems, and cognitive changes. It’s difficult to categorize these symptoms exclusively to menopause because of the timing. These may be due to estrogen deficiency or the natural ageing process.
How Can You Manage Menopause Symptoms?
Managing menopause symptoms can help you maintain your quality of life.
Hot Flashes: Remember what you consumed before the hot flashes came. Is it something caffeinated, alcoholic, or spicy? Stress and humidity can also trigger this symptom. Write down the possible triggers so you can avoid them next time. Here’s how diet affects your symptoms.
Night Sweats: Another cardinal menopause symptom, heavy sweating at night can prevent you from getting quality sleep. You can prevent this from happening by using light clothing and blankets. Use a bedside fan or open the windows (if it’s safe) to improve ventilation.
Sleep Problems: Research shows that yoga, meditation, and cardio exercises can help you sleep better. Even a moderate-intensity workout a few hours before bedtime can make a difference. Skip coffee, alcohol, or any sweetened drink because these can keep you up.
Vaginal Dryness: Low estrogen levels can decrease vaginal lubrication, which can cause discomfort. Fortunately, there are non-prescription and prescription products that can solve this issue.
Mood Swings: Women may experience overpowering emotions due to significant hormonal shifts. For this reason, women going through menopause are encouraged to discuss the situation with their loved ones. This way, they’ll know how to support you. Yoga and meditation may help. Your doctor may prescribe low-dose birth control pills and anti-depressants to lessen mood swings.
Migraines: Hormonal fluctuations can worsen migraines. Scientific reviews suggest that women with a migraine history are more sensitive to variations in estradiol (primary form of estrogen) levels. Some women may also start to get migraines during menopause. These can also stem from other symptoms, such as lack of sleep. Keeping track of potential triggers can help you prevent headaches. If these are frequent and severe, speak to your doctor.
Hair Loss: Hair can shed faster or grow slower (and thinner) around the menopausal stage. This is because estrogen extends the growth phase of hair follicles. So, once estrogen levels drop, hair reaches the degeneration phase faster. Stress management, a balanced diet, and gentle hair care products may help you improve hair thickness and reduce hair loss.
Androgen levels increase as estrogen production declines. As a result, you may start growing hair on your cheeks and chin. Waxing, shaving, or laser treatment can get rid of unwanted strands.
Acne: Acne can still annoy you even if you’re already in your 40s. The increase in androgen stimulates the follicles that produce sebum (oil). Make sure to wash your face in the morning and before bedtime to eliminate excess oil, dirt, and microbes. Use gentle skincare products labeled as “non-comedogenic”. A dermatologist may prescribe low-dose hormonal treatment or isotretinoin for challenging cases. Check out these 13 skin care tips after menopause.
Brain Fog: Estrogen interacts with different regions in the brain. Meaning it’s not unusual to experience brain fog during menopause. Add to that the physical stress from suffering various symptoms. Getting enough rest, connecting with others, and staying active can benefit your brain health. At the same time, keep your brain active by learning a new hobby or playing mind games.
Seek Support: The menopausal years can be challenging. The physical and emotional changes can disrupt your relationships and career. Research shows that 10% of women leave their jobs because of menopausal symptoms.
It’s important to know that you’re not alone. There are organizations dedicated to helping women understand menopause and providing them with knowledge and tools to manage the symptoms.
For employed women, consider discussing your situation with your employer and see if certain adjustments can be made for you. You can find more information about menopause and the workplace Fortunately, various professional bodies offer education and training for employers in promoting a more inclusive workforce including women of menopausal age.
Bottomline
There are two things we’re sure about menopause:
- The experience varies extensively from one woman to another.
- It can affect different aspects of their life.
So, why is it important to know the duration of menopause?
The timing of menopause is a marker of health. This phase increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, bone fracture, osteoporosis, etc. Generally, it affects your life expectancy. Understanding each stage of menopause will help you adjust accordingly.
