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.
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.
- 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
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