The journey to menopause takes time.

Am I in Menopause?

Menopause occurs differently with each woman. There are four stages as hormones decline: Pre Menopause, Peri-Menopause, Menopause, and Post Menopause. As women age, the symptoms changes. You may have physical, emotional, and mental symptoms. Some are very subtle and you may not realize that it is due to menopause.

Pre Menopause

At this stage, your body is functioning with a regular menstrual cycle with ovulation and menses. You may experience symptoms.

Peri Menopause

This stage usually begins about 15 years before menopause, when your hormones start to gradually decline. Your ovaries make less estrogen and progesterone. This stage lasts until your ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last couple of years of perimenopause, estrogen accelerates the decline. This stage many women experience mild to severe symptoms.

Menopause

This is the next stage right after peri-menopause. Your ovaries stop producing eggs, your period has stopped, and this is the end of a woman’s fertility. This is when you have gone 12 months without a menstrual period. This occurs between 40 and 50 years old.

Post Menopause

Post menopause is after menopause. This is the first year or longer without a period. Although you may still experience symptoms, some decrease. Women are at a higher risk of health conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis.

Women are born with a finite number of eggs in their ovaries. It is part of a woman’s reproductive system. The ovaries are responsible to make hormones estrogen and progesterone that control menstruation and ovulation. The hormones communicate with the ovaries to control menstruation and ovulation.

Menopause occurs when a woman ages and their ovaries stop releasing an egg every month, which stops menstruation.

What Causes Menopause?

Women are born with a finite number of eggs in their ovaries. It is part of a women’s reproductive system. The ovaries are responsible to make hormones estrogen and progesterone that control menstruation and ovulation. The hormones communicate with the ovaries to control menstruation and ovulation.

Menopause occurs when a woman ages and their ovaries stop releasing an egg every month, which stops menstruation.

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a time when women stop having periods. The average age for menopause is 51 years old. It means you have not had a period for 12 straight months. If you have a period during the 12 months, then you are not in menopause. You must go through another 12 months straight. Your doctor can do a blood test to tell you and if you are in menopause or what stage you are in if you still get your periods and it has changed. It is a natural part of aging.

Menopause is a natural and normal part of aging.  Because each woman is different, some can even experience menopause earlier in life. Premature menopause can occur due to a hysterectomy, or chemotherapy.

When does menopause start?

A woman’s hormones start to decline at the of age 35. This decline is from 35 to 51 years old. That is when physical and emotional changes in your body and period occur. This stage is called peri-menopause. Each woman experiences menopause differently. Some women have surgical menopause with a hysterectomy. This peri-menopause stage has hormones fluctuating as the body prepares to enter menopause. The peri-menopause stage can last from 7 to 15 years.

What are the common symptoms of menopause?

Not all women experience symptoms the same. There are over 200 symptoms women may have.

Physical Symptoms of Menopause

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweat
  • Menstrual periods stop 
  • Heart palpitations
  • Itching skin
  • Sagging breasts
  • Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
  • Menstrual periods stop 
  • Vaginal dryness or itching
  • Bone loss
  • Varicose veins
  • Muscular weakness
  • Sagging breasts
  • Dry skin and wrinkles
  • Hair loss or thinning.
  • Facial hair
  • Migraine headaches
  • Varicose veins
  • Weight gain

 Emotional And Mental Symptoms of Menopause

  • Mood swings.
  • Decreased sex drive.
  • Forgetfulness (I almost didn’t remember this one!)
  • Foggy thinking

Since 1995, we have worked to improve and inspire the quality of life for women of all ages.