Everything You Should Know About Menopause

And it can still be years before your last menstrual period. Some common,

normal signs include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep

disturbances, and mood swings—all results of unevenly changing levels of

ovarian hormones (estrogen) in your .

body. Read more about how you'll know you're near menopause.

Menopause can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes and weight

gain. For most women, medical treatment isn’t needed for menopause.

Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in 12 consecutive months

and can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins between the ages

of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after this age range.

Read on to learn what you need to know about menopause.

When does menopause begin and how long does it last?



A small number of women experience menopause symptoms for up to a decade

before menopause actually occurs, and 1 in 10 women experience menopausal

symptoms for 12 years following their last period.

Most women first begin developing menopause symptoms about four years

before their last period. Symptoms often continue until about four years after a

woman’s last period.

The median age for menopause is 51, though it may occur on average up to two

 years earlier for African-American and Latina women. More studies are needed

to understand the onset of menopause for non-Caucasian women.

There are many factors that help determine when you’ll begin menopause,

including genetics and ovary health. Perimenopause occurs before menopause.

Perimenopause is a time when your hormones begin to change in preparation for

menopause.

It can last anywhere from a few months to several years. Many women begin

perimenopause some point after their mid-40s. Other women skip

perimenopause and enter menopause suddenly.

About 1 percent of women begin menopause before the age of 40, which is

called premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency. About 5 percent

of women undergo menopause between the ages of 40 and 45. This is referred to

as early menopause.

During perimenopause, menstrual periods become irregular. Your periods may

be late, or you may completely skip one or more periods. Menstrual flow may also

 become heavier or lighter.

Menopause is defined as a lack of menstruation for one full year.

Postmenopause refers to the years after menopause has occurred.

What are the symptoms of menopause?


Every woman’s menopause experience is unique. Symptoms are usually more

severe when menopause occurs suddenly or over a shorter period of time.


Conditions that impact the health of the ovary, like cancer or hysterectomy, or

certain lifestyle choices, like smoking, tend to increase the severity and duration

of symptoms.

Aside from menstruation changes, the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause,

 and postmenopause are generally the same. The most common early signs of

perimenopause are:

less frequent menstruation

heavier or lighter periods than you normally experience

vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and flushing

An estimated 75 percent of women experience hot flashes with menopause.

Other common symptoms of menopause include:

- insomnia

- vaginal dryness

- weight gain

- depression

- anxiety

- difficulty concentrating

- memory problems

- reduced libido, or sex drive

- dry skin, mouth, and eyes

- increased urination

sore or tender breasts

- headaches

- racing heart

- urinary tract infections (UTIs)

- reduced muscle mass

- painful or stiff joints

- reduced bone mass

- less full breasts

- hair thinning or loss

- increased hair growth on other areas of the body, such as the face, neck, chest,

and upper back