When does menopause typically occur. What factors influence the timing of menopause. How long does the menopausal transition last. What are the health implications of early menopause. How can women prepare for this life stage.

Understanding the Average Age of Menopause

Menopause is a significant milestone in a woman’s life, marking the end of her reproductive years. But when does this transition typically occur? The North American Menopause Society reports that the average age of menopause is 51. However, it’s important to note that this is just an average, and the actual age can vary considerably from woman to woman.

Most women experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 58. This wide range can sometimes lead to confusion or concern, especially for those who enter menopause earlier or later than expected. It’s crucial to understand that there’s no single “right” age for menopause, and each woman’s experience is unique.

What defines menopause medically?

From a medical standpoint, menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual bleeding for a full year. This definition helps healthcare providers determine when a woman has officially entered menopause, regardless of other symptoms she may be experiencing.

Early Menopause: Causes and Implications

While the average age of menopause is 51, some women experience this transition much earlier. Early menopause can have significant health implications and is categorized into two main groups:

• Premature menopause: Occurs before age 40 and affects about 1-2% of women
• Early menopause: Occurs between ages 40-45 and affects about 5-7% of women

Early menopause can be associated with various health risks, including:

1. Increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures
2. Higher likelihood of heart disease
3. Greater risk of cognitive impairment and dementia
4. Potential for earlier mortality

Given these potential health consequences, it’s crucial for women experiencing early menopause symptoms to consult with their healthcare providers for appropriate management and preventive strategies.

Can early menopause be predicted or prevented?

While it’s not always possible to predict or prevent early menopause, certain factors may increase its likelihood. These include genetic predisposition, autoimmune disorders, and lifestyle factors such as smoking. Regular check-ups and open communication with healthcare providers can help identify and address potential risk factors.

The Length of Menopausal Transition: What to Expect

The menopausal transition, also known as perimenopause, is the period leading up to menopause. This phase can last anywhere from four to eight years, according to the North American Menopause Society. During this time, women may experience a variety of symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations.

Interestingly, research published in the journal Menopause in February 2017 suggests that the age at which a woman begins perimenopause can help predict how long the transition will last. Women who start the transition at a younger age tend to have a longer perimenopause and may experience more symptoms, such as hot flashes.

How does perimenopause compare to puberty?

Some medical organizations, including the American Osteopathic Association, refer to perimenopause as “reverse puberty” in women. This comparison stems from the fact that both puberty and perimenopause involve significant hormonal changes and can last several years. However, while puberty marks the beginning of reproductive years, perimenopause signals their end.

Genetic Factors in Menopause Timing

When it comes to predicting the timing of menopause, genetics appears to play a significant role. Many women find that their experience mirrors that of their mother or close female relatives. This genetic link can provide valuable insights for women wondering about their own menopausal timeline.

Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, emphasizes the importance of family history in predicting menopause timing. She often asks patients about their mother’s menopause experience, as it can be quite predictive. However, it’s important to remember that while genetics are influential, they’re not the only factor at play.

Does ethnicity influence menopause timing?

Research, including findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), indicates that a woman’s race or ethnicity can influence when she goes through menopause. The study found that women of color tend to begin perimenopause and menopause at earlier ages than white women. This underscores the importance of considering diverse populations in menopause research and healthcare.

Medical Conditions and Menopause Timing

While genetics and ethnicity play significant roles in determining menopause timing, certain medical conditions can also influence this transition. Autoimmune problems, thyroid issues, and lupus are among the conditions that may lead to earlier menopause.

Women with these conditions should work closely with their healthcare providers to monitor their reproductive health and prepare for potential early menopause. Early awareness and intervention can help manage symptoms and mitigate associated health risks.

How do autoimmune disorders affect menopause?

Autoimmune disorders can sometimes trigger premature ovarian failure, leading to early menopause. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the ovaries, interfering with their normal function. Regular monitoring and appropriate treatment of autoimmune conditions can help preserve ovarian function and potentially delay premature menopause.

Lifestyle Factors and Menopause Onset

While genetic and medical factors play significant roles in determining menopause timing, lifestyle choices may also have an impact. Recent research has begun to explore the potential influence of factors such as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking on the onset of menopause.

A study published online in April 2021 in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society, investigated these lifestyle factors. While it can be challenging for scientists to isolate specific influences on natural menopause timing, this growing body of research provides valuable insights.

How does smoking affect menopause timing?

Multiple studies have linked cigarette smoking to earlier menopause. The toxins in cigarette smoke are believed to have an anti-estrogenic effect, potentially leading to earlier depletion of ovarian follicles. Women who smoke may experience menopause one to two years earlier than non-smokers, on average. This provides yet another compelling reason for women to quit smoking or avoid starting in the first place.

Preparing for Menopause: Strategies for a Smooth Transition

Given the significant impact menopause can have on a woman’s health and quality of life, it’s crucial to prepare for this transition. While the exact timing of menopause may be unpredictable, there are several strategies women can employ to ensure a smoother experience:

1. Regular health check-ups: Maintaining regular visits with healthcare providers can help monitor hormonal changes and address any concerns early.
2. Healthy lifestyle: Adopting a balanced diet, regular exercise routine, and stress management techniques can help mitigate some menopause symptoms.
3. Education: Learning about the menopause transition can help women feel more prepared and in control of their experience.
4. Open communication: Discussing concerns and symptoms with healthcare providers and loved ones can provide valuable support during this transition.
5. Hormone therapy consideration: For some women, hormone therapy may be beneficial in managing menopause symptoms. This should be discussed with a healthcare provider to weigh potential benefits and risks.

What role does diet play in managing menopause symptoms?

A balanced diet can play a significant role in managing menopause symptoms. Foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as soy products, may help alleviate hot flashes. Calcium and vitamin D-rich foods are crucial for maintaining bone health, which becomes increasingly important after menopause. Limiting caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods may help reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes for some women.

The Importance of Individualized Menopause Care

While understanding average ages and typical experiences of menopause is valuable, it’s crucial to remember that every woman’s journey through this transition is unique. What’s “normal” for one woman may not be for another, and individual experiences can vary widely.

Healthcare providers play a vital role in offering personalized guidance and support throughout the menopause transition. They can help interpret symptoms, recommend appropriate interventions, and address any health concerns that arise during this time.

How can women advocate for their menopause health needs?

Women can advocate for their menopause health needs by:

• Keeping detailed records of their symptoms and menstrual changes
• Researching reputable sources to understand their options
• Asking questions and seeking second opinions when necessary
• Discussing their concerns openly with healthcare providers
• Joining support groups or seeking counseling if emotional support is needed

By taking an active role in their healthcare, women can ensure they receive the individualized care and support they need throughout their menopause journey.

Predicting the Age at Which You’ll Reach Menopause, Length of Transition

“Is this normal?” has to be one of the most common questions posed to doctors about a host of health-related signs and symptoms, from the crackling sound your knees make when you take the stairs to the number of times your sleep is interrupted each night.

And it’s often the question women pose to their ob-gyn when they begin to notice changes in their monthly period or have their first hot flash. When it comes to the menopause transition, what’s the normal age, and more importantly, why does it matter?

The average age of menopause is 51, and it does matter, in part because the timing of menopause can be predictive of other health issues, according to Stephanie S. Faubion, MD, the director of the Office of Women’s Health at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and the medical director of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Are You Headed Toward Early Menopause?

“There are many negative health consequences linked to early menopause, including a higher risk of osteoporosis and fracture, heart disease, cognitive impairment and dementia, and early death,” says Dr. Faubion.

If you have questions about when you’ll experience menopause and if you can do anything to change it, keep reading for answers.

1. At What Age Do Most Women Reach Menopause?

The medical definition of menopause is no menstrual bleeding for a year, according to Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the medical director of the Northwestern Center for Menopause and the Northwestern Center for Sexual Medicine in Chicago.

Most women experience menopause between age 40 and 58, and the average age at menopause is 51, according to the North American Menopause Society.

Many women are surprised when they go through menopause in their forties because they think they’re too young, but it’s not unusual, says Dr. Streicher.

2. What Age Is Considered Early for Menopause?

If you reach menopause before age 40, that is considered premature menopause, says Faubion. “This occurs in about 1 to 2 percent of women,” she says.

“Experiencing menopause at 40 to 45 years of age is called early menopause, and that occurs in about 5 to 7 percent of the population, so it’s safe to say that at least 7 percent of women are going to go through menopause early or prematurely,” says Faubion. Menopause at age 46 or older is considered normal, she says.

3. How Long Will Menopausal Transition Symptoms Last?

Menopause is technically one full year without bleeding, and perimenopause is the stage before the final menstrual period, also known as the menopausal transition. Puberty and perimenopause are similar in that they both involve hormonal changes, and the transitions can take place over several years. Some medical organizations, such as the American Osteopathic Association, refer to perimenopause as “reverse puberty” in women.

According to NAMS, this phase can last four to eight years, and it comes with symptoms caused by hormone fluctuations, such as mood swings, poor sleep, and hot flashes.

The age at which a woman begins perimenopause can help predict how long the transition to menopause will last, according to research published in the journal Menopause in February 2017. The authors found that perimenopause lasted longer in women who started the transition at a younger age, and the women had more symptoms, such as hot flashes.

4. Does the Age My Mother Reached Menopause Mean Anything?

Most likely your mom’s age at menopause will provide a clue. “When we look at the things that are the greatest determinants for when someone is going to go through menopause, genetics seems to be one of the most important things,” says Streicher.

A woman’s race or ethnicity can influence when she goes through menopause, too, she says. Findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) indicate that women of color tend to begin perimenopause and menopause at earlier ages than white women.

“The question I always ask women when they ask when they’re going to go through menopause is, ‘When did your mom go through menopause?’ because that is very often predictive,” says Streicher.

“There’s a lot of truth in that. You may follow what happened with your mother; if she went through menopause early or late, you may, too,” she says.

Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune problems, thyroid issues, and lupus, can make a woman go through menopause earlier, Streicher adds.

5. Could Alcohol Consumption or Cigarette Smoking Influence When Menopause Occurs?

Although it can be difficult for scientists to tease out specific factors that impact when a woman goes through natural menopause, there is a growing body of research in this area.

One such study, published online in April 2021 in Menopause, the journal of NAMS, looked at several aspects of women’s health and lifestyle, while also controlling for different variables in an attempt to zero in on what could be influencing the timing of the transition.

“They found that there are factors that do seem predictive of when a woman will approach menopause, such as higher estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, which we’ve known for a while,” says Streicher. “Irregular menstrual bleeding and hot flashes were also indicators of earlier menopause,” she adds.

One new finding concerned alcohol consumption. Participants approaching menopause reported higher consumption of alcohol, leading researchers to wonder if an uptick in drinking was a clue that the change was coming.

That makes sense, says Streicher. “This can be a time of added stress for women, and we know that any stressful situation can cause someone to drink more,” she says.

Although this study didn’t find a strong association with smoking, other research has indicated that smoking is related to early onset of menopause, says Streicher.

6. Does Menstrual Cycle Length or Menopause Symptoms Influence the Timing of Menopause?

Women with shorter menstrual cycles, defined as less than 25 days, are more likely to reach menopause early than women with normal-length cycles (26 to 34 days), according to a study of 634 women published in Menopause on August 23, 2022.

Researchers also found that the women with short menstrual cycles had a higher frequency of total menopause symptoms, and were more likely to have certain menopause symptoms, including midlife sleep problems, heart discomfort, and depressive symptoms.

More research is needed to confirm these findings, especially studies that separately evaluate women with a usual cycle length of fewer than 21 days, according to the authors.

7. Does Having More Children Delay Menopause?

Because pregnancy puts menstruation and ovulation on “pause,” it’s been theorized that a high number of pregnancies may delay menopause, but the findings of a Norwegian study published in Human Reproduction in February 2020 belie that assumption.

After analyzing data on close to 300,000 women, investigators found that women with three childbirths had the highest average age at menopause, at 51.36 years old, and that women who had never given birth had the lowest, at an average of 50. 55 years of age.

But women who had had more than three childbirths didn’t go through the menopause transition later, which is what would be expected if pregnancies truly delay menopause, according to the researchers. The authors concluded that the results “question the assumption that interrupted ovulation during pregnancy delays menopause.”

8. Is There a Link Between Trauma and the Timing of the Menopause Transition?

In a study published in March 2022 in Menopause, researchers found that a mother’s own childhood physical abuse and her child’s own sexual abuse both were associated with an earlier age of menopause: mothers who were physically abused in childhood and had a child who experienced regular sexual abuse reached menopause 8.78 years earlier than mothers without a history of personal abuse or abuse of their child.

The authors attribute this association to “allostatic load,” which refers to how stress experienced over one’s life course can accumulate and eventually exceed a person’s coping resources, says the lead author, Holly Foster, PhD, a professor of sociology at Texas A&M University in Brazos County, Texas.

It’s thought that this chronic stress buildup can impact the release of certain hormones and potentially suppress the immune system. “Over time this can lead to accrued wear and tear on one’s body, known metaphorically as the ‘weathering hypothesis.’ This finding is illustrative of how violence, both to oneself, but also to one’s children, contributes to maternal allostatic load, accelerating their reproductive aging,” says Dr. Foster.

This study is important because it investigates the cumulative impact of intergenerational violence on reproductive aging, says Faubion. “That intergenerational violence accelerates reproductive aging should come as no surprise. The key question is how to interrupt this devastating cycle of violence,” she says. Addressing the issue will require multiple sectors, including social change, policy and education, adds Faubion.

9. What Else Affects When a Woman Will Finally Stop Having Menstrual Periods?

Researchers continue to explore a number of factors that may influence the timing of menopause.

The level of education a woman has completed is one thing that seems to correlate with menopause timing, says Faubion. “Women who have more education tend to go through menopause later,” she says.

A study published in January 2020 in JAMA Network Open found that pregnancy and breastfeeding may reduce the risk of early menopause.

The frequency with which a woman has sex has also been correlated with early menopause. A study published January 15, 2020, in Royal Society Open Science found that frequent sexual activity was associated with a higher age of natural menopause.

10. I Got My First Period Early. Does That Mean I’ll Go Through Menopause Early?

“I have many patients tell me, ‘I know I’m going to go through menopause earlier because I started my period really early,’” says Streicher. “The reason women think that is because they think menopause occurs when you run out of eggs. This isn’t going to happen; we’re born with millions of eggs and many of those are never used. When you go through menopause is really about the aging of eggs and what causes them to age more quickly,” she says.

The average age of menarche (the onset of menstruation) in the United States has gotten younger for a variety of reasons, but that hasn’t made women go through menopause earlier, she says.

11. Are Women Who Aren’t Experiencing Menopausal Symptoms Still Fertile?

“No matter when you experience natural menopause, your chances of getting pregnant after the age of 40 are low,” says Faubion. But you can still become pregnant as you’re transitioning to menopause, and you still need to use birth control if you don’t want to conceive, she says.

Streicher confirms this, saying, “Fertility and menopause are not the same thing; there are plenty of women who are pumping out estrogen and menstruating and are not fertile.” If you’re sexually active, it’s important to consult with your doctor before making any decisions about birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

On the other hand, don’t assume that just because you are still menstruating you can get pregnant. Women who are concerned that they may have trouble conceiving or think they may experience menopause early and still want children should discuss options such as egg freezing with their doctor, says Streicher.

12. Will Being Super Healthy Delay Menopause?

Although maintaining good overall health is important for a variety of reasons, it won’t necessarily translate to later menopause, says Streicher. “I have women who tell me, ‘I have a healthy diet, I’m thin, I work out all the time, and I look young. I’m sure I’m not going to go through menopause early, and when I do, I won’t have hot flashes and other symptoms.’ I wish I could say that was true, but it’s not,” she says.

Body weight might matter, though. “We do know that the extremes of weight, in someone who is very obese or someone with very low body weight, may impact the onset of menopause, but for the majority of women in the middle it doesn’t seem to have a big impact,” says Streicher.

13. Predicting Natural Menopause: Why Does Age Matter?

If there’s not a lot that women can do to change when they’ll experience menopause, why does predicting it even matter?

It would be helpful for every woman to know exactly when menopause will arrive. Beyond recognizing and addressing issues such as increased cardiovascular disease risk and risks related to bone health, if a woman knows her age of menopause and how long the perimenopause transition will last, it could help her make important health decisions, says Faubion.

“If you’re bleeding like crazy it would be helpful to know,” she says.

As of now, research hasn’t uncovered a way to determine when a woman will go into menopause, but that information could be useful in making decisions such as whether to have a hysterectomy or other invasive procedures, says Faubion. “If menopause is going to be a few months or a year from now, you may choose to wait it out; if it’s going to be five years from now, you might want to go ahead and have an invasive procedure,” she says.

The ability to predict when menopause will occur could also help with managing menopause symptoms or deciding which type of birth control to use, adds Faubion.

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Early menopause at 46 was a surprise.

Now I realize it was also a gift.

I spent a chunk of this year crunching the numbers, like some kind of gynecological accountant. It boiled down to this: If I got to the end of July with no period, I had probably reached menopause. If I got to the end of August, I definitely had.

A few weeks before my 46th birthday in September, I reached the 12-month milestone, which officially made me a menopausal woman.

Menopause feels like the world is giving me nutrients back. Like both my body and my soul have been thanked for their hard work and given emeritus status and a big budget to simply explore.

I don’t feel wistful about this. With preteen children, my brain has long moved past childbearing years. But it’s surprising that my body followed, wrapping it all up far sooner than I expected. The average age for menopause is about 52, so reaching menopause between the ages of 40 and 45 is considered early menopause (younger than 40 is called premature).

But when hot flashes found me last year, I had a feeling I was on a different course than most other women my age. My periods had been erratic since my early 40s. Other things were happening, too. My sex drive was often lackluster, my moods were more noticeable and something unsettling was happening around my midsection.

My doctor first confirmed it wasn’t a problem with my thyroid. Then she tested the levels of my follicle-stimulating hormone. While not a perfect indicator, the test suggested I was well on my way through the transition.

To get through it, I made a few changes. To combat weight gain and potentially uneven moods, I cut out my daily glass of wine (it helped). I also found a renewed love for running — something I’d been doing for 25 years but came to see as extra important for dealing with stress and keeping my bones strong now that estrogen wouldn’t be around to safeguard them as much.

Hot flashes? I kept wet washcloths in the freezer and draped one around my neck when a flash came (dealing with them in the middle of the night still continues to suck). And as for romance … there was no magic fix on that one, but my husband and I worked to spend more quality time together and have more honest conversations (having published a book this year about the power of honesty, I’m generally a fan of it and how it can spark intimacy).

I found some or other life hack for every symptom. And while I wasn’t sad — I had made my peace with shutting fertility down when my husband got a vasectomy shortly after our second child was born — I struggled with the incongruity of it happening so soon to me.

According to WomensHealth.gov, “natural” early menopause (not due to a hysterectomy or other condition) affects about 5 percent of women. I would never have bet on myself to be in this 5 percent because I’ve always been a late bloomer. I didn’t start my period until the end of my first year in high school, when I was 14. I didn’t date until I was about 20, get married until I was 33, have kids until I was 34.

As a writer who specializes in writing about honesty, this experience offers a chance to speak with candor about a thing so many people don’t want to talk about.

I’ve mostly had a sense that I belong at the tail end. Not only did a September birthday mean I was usually the youngest person in my class, I’m also the youngest of seven children. My brothers and sisters were getting married and tending to teething babies when I was still losing baby teeth. My parents were older, my siblings were older and I was the young one — meandering along the scenic route, a little out of step, though not unhappy to do things on my own schedule.

So how did I wind up in the express lane? How did I go from being young with older parents to being older with young children? My 10-year-old and 12-year-old are on the cusp of puberty, with mood swings and changing voices. They’re starting the thing I’m finishing. The timing feels rushed.

All during my year of calendar-watching, menopause still felt implausible, and even as I was very happy not to have to deal with periods, I found myself whispering to my ovaries, “I think you have the wrong 5 percent.”

But several unopened boxes of tampons later, I’ve realized I don’t have a problem being in the atypical 5 percent. Because the atypical 5 percent is actually my comfort zone.

I wouldn’t know how to function outside of a big, generationally anomalous family, where I sometimes identify more with my nieces than my sisters. And I’ve loved defying expectations and going my own way — whether it’s not changing my last name, working for myself or reversing traditional gender roles when my husband became a stay-at-home dad a dozen years ago. All told, the experience of zigging where others zag has been tremendous. I’ve found my greatest joys by skirting away from the expected.

That’s why I’m now thinking early menopause may be my greatest opportunity yet.

First, as a writer who specializes in writing about honesty, this experience offers a chance to speak with candor about a thing so many people don’t want to talk about. If the prevailing wisdom is, “Shhh, don’t talk about hot flashes,” you can bet I’m going to tell everyone about them. I believe we should talk openly about the things that happen with our bodies to combat shame, embarrassment and just plain disinformation.

Dealing with menopause right now also puts me squarely in my body at a time of pandemic threat, where taking care of your health is more important than ever. No symptom is going to escape my watch, and I’ll do what I can to keep myself and loved ones safe but active.

The third thing is the most exciting though, and it came to me via an interview I got to do earlier this year with Lauren Hutton.

Hutton has continued to model into her 70s and has pushed for more media representation of vibrant older women. “If my life could stand for one thing, it would be to get women to change the way they feel about getting older,” she told me, noting the strength and wisdom that comes only with age. Something else she said stuck with me: “Women were evolved to think long-term care and taking care of the future.”

I’m not sure I fully understood it then, but I understand it now. So much of my life has felt like a series of short-term challenges, a to-do list of milestones and a great deal of maneuvering as a Gen X girl inside a giant sandwich of both caregiving, where I tend simultaneously to young children and aging parents, and generations, my own flattened between the might and size of the baby boomers and the millennials.

For me, the menopause milestone is the feeling of being lifted out of that sandwich and finally having a clear view to the question: What do I want this next part of my life to be? Something in me feels freed up to focus on generativity — or doing things to uplift the next generation.

Unlike the experience of breastfeeding, where the nutrients are literally being sucked right out of you to sustain someone else, menopause feels like the world is giving me nutrients back. Like both my body and my soul have been thanked for their hard work and given emeritus status and a big budget to simply explore.

The menopause milestone is the feeling of being lifted out of that sandwich, and finally having a clear view to the question: What do I want this next part of my life to be?

That’s meant small things, like building a Little Free Library for neighbors to contribute and borrow books; medium things, like joining a neighborhood group to have difficult conversations about race and then mobilize to create equity; and bigger things, like not being afraid to speak out anymore — whether calling out injustice or challenging the unchecked things people I work and socialize with say.

During a tumultuous year in which I’ve reckoned with both my mortality when hearing about so many people dying from the coronavirus and my white privilege when hearing about the far-reaching effects of systemic racism, I seem to have the emotional bandwidth to look beyond where I’ve been able to before. Being able to tap into this next phase of my life earlier than most feels like an unexpected and amazing gift.

So thanks, ovaries, for the express ride. I’ve got it from here.

Fomin Clinic — a network of multidisciplinary clinics

During menopause, serious changes occur in the body, about which women usually know very little. In this article, we will debunk the most popular myths, and at the same time explain what menopause is, what to expect from it, and whether it is necessary to endure the unpleasant symptoms associated with it.

Age of onset of sexual activity does not affect the rate of menopause. The timing of menopause is determined by genetics. You will most likely go through menopause around the same age as your mother.

To date, scientists know of only one external, heredity-independent factor that can bring menopause closer in otherwise healthy people – this is smoking. On average, smokers stop menstruating 2 years earlier than non-smokers.

This is not true. The menopause is a smooth physiological restructuring associated with a decrease in the level of sex hormones until the complete disappearance of menstruation. Changes in the hormonal background begin at about 40-50 years old, can last up to 8-10 years and take place in three stages.

Perimenopause . Normally, it begins at the age of 40-45 years and can last from 4 years to several months. At this time, a woman produces less and less female sex hormones – estrogens. At this time, menstruation becomes irregular, sometimes their character changes – the discharge becomes either unusually plentiful, or, conversely, scarce.

In the last year or two of perimenopause, the fall in estrogen levels accelerates. Approximately 40% of women experience menopausal symptoms for the first time at this time – due to biochemical and hormonal changes, they may become more irritable, experience hot flashes (an unexpected feeling of hotness and sweating), sleep disturbances, or even fall into depression.

Menopause . At this time, menstruation stops. However, it is possible to assert that this is menopause, and not a cycle failure, only after a woman has lived without menstruation for a whole year. At this time, menopause symptoms appear in 60-80% of women.

Postmenopausal . Comes after a year of menopause. At this time, for many women, menopausal symptoms subside. Unfortunately, at this stage, health problems associated with a lack of estrogens, such as osteoporosis, can appear.

With age, the level of sex hormones decreases in both women and men, so the term “male menopause” has the right to exist. At the same time, age-related hormonal changes in women occur differently than in men.

In women during the last period of perimenopause, the level of estrogen drops quite sharply in just 1-2 years, so that this leads to a complete cessation of menstruation, that is, menopause. Although this is a natural physiological process, due to the gradual “turning off” of the usual hormonal background, women often experience unpleasant symptoms.

In men, testosterone levels begin to decline gradually from the age of 30. After this age, testosterone levels drop by about 1-2% each year. A sharp decrease in the level of sex hormones in men does not occur, so the “male menopause” most often goes without noticeable physical symptoms.

However, there are exceptions to every rule. In about 2.1% of men, the age-related decrease in the level of sex hormones leads to changes resembling the female menopause. True, “male menopause” is not usually considered a natural part of aging. According to British doctors, the age-related decline in testosterone levels is a disease that must be treated with hormone therapy.

Not really. Although the ability to have children decreases in perimenopause, the chance still remains. In order to definitely not get pregnant, you need to use contraceptives until a “guaranteed” menopause occurs, that is, at least a year must have passed since the last menstruation.

However, condoms should not be completely abandoned even after menopause. Although it is no longer possible to become pregnant, there is still a risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease through unprotected sex with a new/non-regular partner.

Indeed, there is evidence that estrogen improves learning and memory in healthy women. But it is not a fact that the lack of estrogen is to blame for the forgetfulness of older women. Memory problems may be associated with age-related changes in the cardiovascular system. Because of this, the blood supply to the brain worsens in older people of both sexes.

As for hysteria, some menopausal women sometimes experience mood swings, may become more irritable and experience unreasonable anxiety. But sudden mood swings depend not only on hormones, so you can’t write them off solely on menopause.

The only menopausal symptom unequivocally associated with a decrease in the synthesis of sex hormones is hot flashes, which are experienced by 80% of women of different cultures. Fortunately, hot flashes that are too strong and too frequent can be managed with menopausal hormone therapy or non-hormonal treatment, which can be prescribed by your gynecologist.

Tooth decay is not associated with menopause but with the normal aging process. Unfortunately, the lack of estrogen leads to other problems, such as hair loss and dry skin, and in some people, menopause provokes muscle and joint pain. If you are faced with such manifestations, it is not necessary to endure them – you need to contact a gynecologist who will select the appropriate treatment for you.

43% of menopausal women lose interest in sex. But despite their age, more than half of women continue to do it! Another thing is that due to the lack of estrogen, sex may not be as pleasant as before.

According to a large American study, 39% of menopausal women complained of a lack of lubrication, 34% noted an inability to climax, 23% experienced no pleasure from sex, and 17% experienced pain during sex.

Fortunately, these problems can be overcome. To regain interest in sex, you can try to have it more often and do Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor – this will help increase blood flow to the vagina and strengthen the muscles involved in orgasm.

Lack of lubrication can be compensated with lubricants, and interest in sex is often restored in women who start taking menopausal hormone therapy.

True, it must be taken into account that menopausal hormone therapy is not indicated for everyone. For example, there is evidence that hormone therapy harms rather than helps women over 60 years of age. Before starting treatment, you must always consult with your doctor.

The benefits of proper menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) far outweigh the risks. MHT relieves the discomfort of hot flashes, helps prevent osteoporosis-related fractures, and generally improves quality of life.

When hormone therapy was first introduced to relieve menopausal symptoms, there was evidence that it increased the risk of breast cancer and coronary heart disease.

However, subsequent studies have shown that if MHT is started immediately after the onset of menopause, it, on the contrary, reduces the risk of death from coronary heart disease and other causes, and also relieves menopausal symptoms and reduces the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis.

However, MHT is not suitable for everyone: for example, it is not suitable for women with severe liver disease, venous thrombosis, and breast cancer. However, this does not mean that women who have contraindications to MHT are doomed to endure the symptoms of menopause. In addition to hormone therapy, the doctor can also choose non-hormonal treatments that can significantly improve the quality of life.

The benefits of plant estrogens have not been proven: it is still unknown whether phytoestrogens can “cancel” hot flashes and improve well-being. But they are quite capable of harm: some doctors believe that due to their similarity with estrogens, plant hormones can be dangerous for women suffering from breast cancer.

• Menopause is not a disease, but a natural stage in a woman’s life. It is impossible to write off all health and mood problems only on menopause.
• Not all menopausal women experience unpleasant symptoms. But if there are symptoms, it is not necessary to endure them: hot flashes, mood swings and other “companions” of menopause can and should be treated.
• Do not self-medicate with menopause. In order for the treatment to help, it must be selected individually, and this should be done by a doctor.

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Climax. What is important to know? | Blog

Climacteric syndrome (aka menopause) is a period in a woman’s life during which the work of the ovaries decreases and the amount of hormones they produce decreases. The main result of these physiological processes is the cessation of female reproductive function.

Menopause in most women occurs after 48-52 years. Its symptoms include hot flashes or sweating, as well as risks of developing serious illnesses. That is why menopause must be kept under control, visit a doctor regularly, and perform prescribed diagnostic procedures.

Stages and types of menopause

Menopause in women does not occur immediately. The climacteric period includes three main stages:

premenopause or premenopause. Menstruation does not stop, but ovarian function decreases. The stage lasts up to 2 years;

menopause. Caused by the cessation of menstruation. The beginning of the period is the absence of menstruation for 12 months. Usually occurs at 50-52 years;

postmenopausal. This stage is characterized by a further decrease in female sex hormones until the complete cessation of the functioning of the ovaries.

The duration and timing of these stages are individual and depend on various factors, including the woman’s lifestyle and health status.

Menopause is also distinguished by the severity of manifestations:

first or mild degree. It is characterized by infrequent (up to 10 times a day) hot flashes, which are the main manifestation of menopausal syndrome;

second degree or medium. Symptoms are more pronounced, and hot flashes are not the only manifestation of this condition;

severe or third degree. Signs of menopause are strongly pronounced, not limited to hot flashes, the number and frequency of which is quite large (more than 20 times a day). Working capacity decreases, the general state of health worsens significantly.

Symptoms of menopause

The preliminary stage (before menopause) often occurs without obvious signs. But it also happens vice versa, when a woman is worried about not one, but several symptoms at once. In addition, manifestations can differ significantly in different periods of time.

Early signs of climacteric syndrome include:

hot flashes, goosebumps, sweating;

rapid pulse;

headaches;

pressure surges;

sudden changes in mood;

sleep problems;

memory impairment;

decreased sexual desire.

When menopause occurs, menstruation stops in women. Other signs during this period of development of the syndrome include the following:

dry skin, as well as mucous membranes of the genital and urinary tract;

pain during sex;

urinary incontinence;

muscle and joint pain;

hair loss.

In the future, after menopause, various complications of menopause are possible:

hypertension;

atherosclerosis;

osteoporosis.

Also increases the risk of developing diabetes, hearing, vision and mental abilities are reduced.

In order to prevent these diseases and problems, during menopause, women are advised to regularly visit their doctor in Kyiv, monitor their health and adhere to the prescribed treatment.

Diagnostics of menopause

Diagnostic examinations of menopausal syndrome are carried out by gynecologists of our clinic. They examine and interview the patient, establish the relationship between menopause and various manifestations of menopause. An important diagnostic task is also the identification of concomitant diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.

During menopause, women may be prescribed various tests, including:

laboratory tests for hormones, lipid spectrum, coagulation;

cytological and microscopic: their aim is to exclude the presence of atypical cells in the cervix.

To exclude the development of complications of menopause, such types of studies as ultrasound of the pelvic organs, mammography, radiography of bone tissues, ECG are used.

Menopause treatment

Menopause is a physiological process that occurs with age in any woman. Therefore, the therapeutic effect, as a rule, is aimed at minimizing negative manifestations, that is, facilitating the course of menopause. So with a mild degree of the syndrome, special treatment may not be required at all. In the presence of minor complaints about the general state of health appoint:

hormone replacement therapy;

vitamins, especially A, C and group B;

physiotherapy, including massage, exercise therapy, etc.

A balanced diet is also recommended during menopause.

With a large number of unpleasant manifestations (moderate severity of menopause), antidepressants and medications that allow normalization of blood pressure may be indicated.

If you are concerned about menopausal syndrome, please contact our clinic in Kyiv.