Menopause Timeline: When Does Menopause Begin?

Menopause is the natural stage o life where women are no longer able to become pregnant naturally. For most women, the menopause begins between the ages of 45-55 with 51 being the average age for women to reach menopause in the UK. Some women may start the menopause earlier or later than this.

One of the first signs of the menopause is menstruation becoming less frequent. This can happen over a period of months or years or your periods may stop suddenly. In addition to more erratic periods, it is not uncommon for many women to experience several other symptoms that can impact their daily life.

What is Menopause?

Before diving into the stages, it’s important to understand what menopause actually is. Menopause is defined as the point in a woman’s life when she has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. This marks the end of her reproductive years. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though it can happen earlier or later for some women.

Symptoms of Menopause

The duration and severity of menopausal symptoms will vary from woman to woman, but on average symptoms last for around 4 years once menstruation has stopped occurring. Some women may experience little to no symptoms while others can have intense symptoms that last for years. 1 in 10 women may even experience up to 10-12 years of symptoms.

Common symptoms of menopause include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Brain fog
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Vaginal dryness
• Hair loss
• Loss of libido

Causes of Menopause

The menopause is a natural part of growing older and is the result of a woman’s childbearing years coming to an end. As the body adjusts to this phase, the balance of the body’s sex hormones shift because the ovaries stop producing as much of the female sex hormone, oestrogen. These hormonal changes and shifts are what cause the symptoms of menopause.

Stages of Menopause

Menopause is not a single event but a process that occurs in three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause. Each stage brings its own challenges and experiences, but with the right knowledge and support, you can manage them effectively.

1. Perimenopause: The Transition Begins

What to Expect: Perimenopause, also known as the "menopausal transition," usually begins several years before menopause. For many women, it starts in their 40s, but it can begin as early as the mid-30s. During this stage, the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen, leading to irregular menstrual cycles.

Symptoms:

• Irregular periods: Your menstrual cycle may become shorter or longer, and you may skip periods altogether.
• Hot flushes and night sweats: These sudden feelings of heat and sweating are common as your body adjusts to changing hormone levels.
• Mood changes: Fluctuating hormones can lead to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
• Sleep disturbances: Many women experience difficulty sleeping during perimenopause due to night sweats or insomnia.
• Vaginal dryness: Reduced oestrogen levels can cause vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse.

How to Manage: Perimenopause is a good time to start discussing your symptoms with a healthcare provider. They may suggest lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, or treatments like Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to help manage symptoms.

2. Menopause: The Milestone

What to Expect: Menopause is officially diagnosed when a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. This stage marks the end of the menstrual cycle and the reproductive years. The average age of menopause is around 51 in the UK, but it can vary widely.

Symptoms: While the symptoms of menopause are similar to those of perimenopause, they may intensify for some women:

• Hot flushes and night sweats: These may become more frequent or severe during menopause.
• Sleep issues: Difficulty sleeping might persist or worsen.
• Mood changes: Depression and anxiety are common, and some women may feel a sense of loss or sadness about the end of their reproductive years.
• Physical changes: Weight gain, thinning hair, and dry skin are also common as your body adjusts to lower hormone levels.
• Sexual health: Vaginal dryness, reduced libido, and discomfort during intercourse may continue or worsen.

How to Manage: It’s crucial to seek support during menopause, both from healthcare providers and from loved ones. Treatments such as HRT, vaginal lubricants, and non-hormonal therapies like Veoza can help manage symptoms. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management techniques like yoga or meditation can also improve your quality of life during this time.

3. Post-menopause: Life After Menopause

What to Expect: Post-menopause is the stage that follows menopause and lasts for the rest of your life. The most significant hormonal changes have already occurred, but postmenopausal women need to be aware of long-term health risks associated with lower oestrogen levels.

Symptoms:

• Ongoing symptoms: Some symptoms, such as hot flushes, may gradually diminish, but others like vaginal dryness can persist.
• Increased health risks: Postmenopausal women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and urinary tract infections due to lower oestrogen levels.
• Changes in metabolism: You might notice a slower metabolism, making it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it.

How to Manage: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial during post menopause. Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider can help monitor your bone density and heart health. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, along with weight-bearing exercise, can help protect your bones. You may also continue to use treatments like HRT under your clinician’s guidance if they are appropriate for your situation.

How to Cope With Menopause

If your symptoms are mild enough, you may be able to get on with your day without much trouble. For the rest of menopausal women, taking hormone replacement therapy is the most popular treatment choice. Hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT, provides women with synthetic versions of the hormones that start to fall during menopause.

By balancing hormone levels, the symptoms of the menopause like hot flashes and brain fog should be greatly reduced. HRT can also help prevent bone density loss that menopausal women experience, making them less susceptible to osteoporosis.

HRT can be taken as tablets, patches, implants, or as a topical gel that is rubbed into the skin. Because of their ease of use, many women opt for tablets and patches. Estradot Patches, Evorel Patches, and Femoston Tablets are available to buy online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet. One of the leading online pharmacies in the UK, Pharmacy Planet can have all of your medications conveniently shipped to your home, making getting your medicines hassle free.