Menopause is a natural transition that most women go through between the ages of 45-55. It marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles and fertility. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, when hormone levels become irregular but a woman can still get pregnant.
Symptoms of menopause can start years before periods actually stop. They include:
These occur because estrogen levels drop off. Estrogen is the main female reproductive hormone. It plays many roles beyond the reproductive system like maintaining bone strength, heart health, skin elasticity, and more. As the ovaries slow down estrogen production, tissues that rely on it start to be impacted.
The average age for menopause is 51. But it can happen from 40-58 years old. Premature menopause before age 40 affects about 1% of women.
You are officially in menopause when you have gone 12 months without a menstrual period. At this point, ovulation and natural pregnancy ends.
Perimenopause is the 2-10 years leading up to this one-year mark. The menstrual cycle becomes very irregular - some light, some heavy, and cycles length varies a lot. You may skip months entirely. This erratic hormone fluctuation causes the bulk of menopausal symptoms.
Blood tests can help confirm you've reached menopause by measuring follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen levels.
Lifestyle changes can provide relief:
For more bothersome symptoms, low-dose prescription creams, pills or skin patches can supply estrogen and ease this transition. The experts at HormoneHealth Clinic provide customized hormone therapy to help women stay healthy and active through perimenopause and beyond. I highly recommend scheduling a consultation if you have concerns about menopausal changes.
Once estrogen levels drop after menopause, some risks go up over time:
With a healthy lifestyle and monitoring from your doctor, these long term effects can be prevented or managed. Menopause marks a transition to a new phase of life. Working with medical experts like those at HormoneHealth Clinic and making proactive choices allows women to age gracefully and thrive through midlife and beyond!