Stages of Menopause
Stages of the Menopause
Menopause is a natural life transition that begins between the ages of 35 to 55.
Peri-Menopause
This is the phase before menopause when your estrogen and hormone levels begin to drop. You typically enter into peri-menopause in your mid to late 40's, although some women can enter this phase sooner. You could begin to experience irregular menstrual cycles and the symptoms of menopause.
There is still a chance that you can get pregnant during this time. Your GP may suggest a form of birth control until one year after your last period. A form of progestin therapy may also be an option to control menstrual bleeding and address vasomotor symptoms. Lifestyle changes are often recommended to help relieve other unpleasant symptoms..
Early Menopause
Certain events other than natural aging can result in an earlier menopause:
- Hysterectomy (uterus removed) symptoms appear gradually
- Oophorectomy (ovaries removed) symptoms appear immediately
- Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) underactive or inactive ovaries due to genetics, surgery, or cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- POF can also be due to ovarian dysfunction or insufficient follicles, which mature into eggs.
Menopause
On average, most women are about
51 to 52 when they enter menopause. Technically, you are in menopause when you've missed your periods for
12 consecutive months (without experiencing other causes, such as illness, medication, pregnancy or breastfeeding). The transition from
peri-menopause through menopause to post menopause can take 1 to 3 years.
It's important to remember that every woman is unique and will experience menopause differently. Some women experience few, if any symptoms, and for those who do, the symptoms can vary widely.
Post Menopause
Post menopause starts after one year has passed since your last menstrual cycle. Other symptoms that might have started in perimenopause can continue through menopause and postmenopause.
Additionally, due to the decrease in estrogen, there is now an increased risk of heart disease, osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Typical Symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disturbances-insomnia
- Night sweats
- Elevated heart rate
- Mood changes—irritability, depression, anxiety
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Urinary issues
During menopause your ovaries reduce in size and production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone that control the menstrual cycle slows down and almost ceases, your eggs become depleted and fertility declines. Eventually, you are no longer able to become pregnant.
Every woman will experience menopause differently. You might have symptoms that are barely noticeable, while your friends could experience almost all of them.
Management of the Menopause
Diet, nutrition, lifestyle and exercise are the foundation to support your body going forward before, during and after menopause. If you are experiencing symptoms and want guidance, we can help you.
Alternative
Certain herbs, nutrients and plant supplements can offer relief and improvement in the symptoms of menopause. There have been many studies on the benefits of taking phytoestrogens (naturally occurring compounds in soy, berries, wine, grains, and nuts that are similar to human estrogen) to help relieve the symptoms early in menopause. Listed below are some of the most popular supplements:
Black cohosh
Red clover
Evening primrose
Vitamin E
Ginseng
Phyto-estrogens
Wild yam
Flaxseed
Dong quai
St. John's wort
Vitamin B6
Lifestyle
The average life expectancy for a woman today is 80 years. The 30-40 years after menopause can be an exciting time of growth and exploration. But in order to live longer and live stronger, you must continue to take care of your physical health, mental health and sexual health.
Keep on Moving
Whether it's due to menopause or just a natural part of aging, you begin to notice some physical changes happening in your late 40's, 50's and beyond. In addition to needing reading glasses to see restaurant menus, your metabolism starts to slow down and gravity takes its toll. Now, more than ever, it's important for both your overall physical health and mental well being to stay as active as possible. Explore new, fun ways to exercise you've never tried—Tai Chi, interval training, Pilates, Zumba, ballroom dancing, yoga, water aerobics, spin classes and the thousands of workout videos available. Or grab some girlfriends and plan a half-hour walk three times a week. It doesn't matter how you move—just keep moving.
Bio-Indentical Hormone Therapy
Hormones play a big part in our health and wellbeing.
The term bioidentical hormone therapy is used to describe hormones that are identical to the molecular structure of hormones produced naturally by your body. Technically, your body cannot tell bioidentical hormones from the ones your ovaries produce. Bioidentical hormones come from plants like soy or yams, but still need to be chemically processed and altered in a lab to become bioidenticals.
Changes and Challenges
In addition to the physical changes of menopause, it is also a time in your life that can bring many emotional challenges. Your children may be grown and you're now living in an "Empty Nest." Or your children may return home due to the tough economy, unable to find work. You and your partner might be discussing continuing to work or planning for retirement—where to go and how to live. Your parents might become ill and you're suddenly in the role of caregiver. Or your parents die, and you become more aware of your own mortality. This is a time in your life that can open up new horizons—a time to evaluate what changes you want to make and what's important to you.
Discover a New You
Menopause and your 50's are the time to explore life questions. Who am I now? Who do I want to become? What do I want to do for the next 30-40 years? Who do I want in my life? What do I want to learn? Where do I want to visit? How can I balance my life?
Now is the time to think about starting a different career path, returning to hobbies you've given up, taking lessons in a sport you've always wanted to try, or enjoying the thrill of being a new grandmother. If you're recently divorced or widowed, now is the time to start dating again and enjoy the sexual freedom that menopause brings. Fifty is no longer the "end" of anything, but the beginning of a new chapter in your life filled with optimism and hope.
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