Menopause

Key facts • Menopause is one point in a continuum of life stages for women and marks the end of their reproductive years. After menopause, a woman cannot become pregnant, except in rare cases when specialized fertility treatments are used. • Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 years as a natural part of biological ageing. • Menopause is caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and a decline in circulating blood oestrogen levels. • The menopausal transition can be gradual, usually beginning with changes in the menstrual cycle. ‘Perimenopause’ refers to the period from when these signs are first observed and ends one year after the final menstrual period. • Perimenopause can last several years and can affect physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. • A variety of non-hormonal and hormonal interventions can help alleviate perimenopausal symptoms. • Menopause can be a consequence of surgical or medical procedures. How menopause occurs For most women, menopause is marked by the end of monthly menstruation (also known as a menstrual period or ‘period’) due to loss of ovarian follicular function. This means that the ovaries stop releasing eggs for fertilisation. The regularity and length of the menstrual cycle varies across a woman’s reproductive life span, but the age at which natural menopause occurs is generally between 45 and 55 years for women worldwide. Natural menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months with...

The 34 symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, irregular periods, mood changes, and more. Menopause refers to the stage of a female’s life during which their period stops. It typically occurs around the age of The years leading up to menopause are called the menopausal transition, or perimenopause. This stage can also come with symptoms, which may last for several years — sometimes up to 14 years. This article will look at the 34 symptoms of menopause and what may help. Share on Pinterest valentinrussanov/Getty Images Menopause and perimenopause can cause a range of symptoms, including the following. 1. Hot flashes Hot flashes are among the 2. Night sweats Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Scientists are not sure why they occur, but it appears that falling estrogen levels 3. Irregular periods Throughout the menopausal transition, it is normal to have irregular or missed periods. Eventually, a female will stop having periods entirely. 4. Mood changes Mood changes are unpredictable shifts in mood that are not related to life events. They can cause someone to feel suddenly sad, weepy, or angry. Mood changes 5. Breast soreness Breast tenderness is another 6. Decreased libido Menopause also However, it can also be a secondary result of the other symptoms of menopause, such as mood changes, or a side effect of a medication. 7. Vaginal dryness As female sex hormones ensure that there is a good circulation of blood around the vagina, a lack of them 8. Headaches ...

Menopause is the process a woman goes through that causes her monthly periods to end. This condition is a normal part of the aging process that women undergo, but its associated symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman. As hormones change to accommodate normal menopausal changes, women may experience a wide range of complications, from hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, insomnia, and changes in sex desire. In the United States, the average age for menopause is 51 for non-smokers and 49 for smokers, with a typical age range somewhere between 47 and 55 years. Some women experience menopause sooner — before age 45 is considered early menopause, and before age 40 is considered premature menopause. Women who undergo hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) with removal of the ovaries may experience menopause sooner than they would have naturally.Regardless, any woman who is approaching the middle of life can expect hormonal changes to kick in soon and for the menopause process to start. If symptoms are especially difficult or hard to handle, it can be helpful to seek support from health care professionals. Endocrine Connection As women approach mid-life, estrogen levels start to fluctuate and then drop. Most women notice that their periods stop being predictable. They may become shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter than usual, and the spacing between periods may change, until a woman starts to skip her periods altogether. Eventually, they will cea...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. How foods impact symptoms Having a well-balanced diet is crucial during any stage of life, but during menopause, your body needs some extra patience and care. From changes in metabolism to At the same time, Dr. Pattimakiel stresses that it’s important not to push your body too hard with any extreme diets. Instead, find something that fits your lifestyle and includes what you enjoy eating. “We want to be realistic about what is sustainable long term,” says Dr. Pattimakiel. “So, we want to make changes that you can make now and continue going forward.” Foods to eat Here are some foods to incorporate into your diet and how they can help: Calcium-rich foods While you’re dealing with hot flashes and night sweats, your bones are going through changes of their own throughout menopause. This may not be something you feel right away, but bone loss becomes more prevalent during this time and can even lead to conditions like “Your body is building bone up until age 30. After that, you start to lose bone,” explains Dr. Pattimakiel. “Since you’re losing that estrogen around menopause, there’s an accelerated decline of that bone.” That’s why Dr. Pattimakiel stresses the importance of looking for more calcium-rich foods to help keep your bones strong and healthy. Try foods with high sources of calcium like: • Skim milk. ...

Menopause is the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and fertility. It happens when: • Your ovaries no longer make • Your periods have stopped for 1 year. Menopause happens naturally with age. But it can also stem from surgery, treatment of a disease, or an illness. In these cases it can be called induced menopause, surgical menopause, or primary ovarian insufficiency, depending on the cause. When Does It Start? Menopause starts on average around age 51 when it happens naturally. But it can happen before you turn 40. This is called premature menopause. The age at which yours will start is mostly determined by your genes. What Are the Symptoms? When it starts naturally, the first sign should be an irregular menstrual cycle. Once it gets off-schedule, it should stop completely within about 4 years. You might also notice these vasomotor symptoms (VMS) such as • Mood swings • Lower sex drive • Sweating • Racing heart • • • • Trouble sleeping Some symptoms can last for years and affect your quality of life. What Are the Stages? The process happens slowly over three stages: Menopause. This is when you’ll have your final menstrual period. You won’t know for sure it’s happened until you’ve gone a year without one. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and other symptoms are common in this stage. Are There Any Tests for Menopause? The most accurate way to tell if it's happening to you is to watch your menstrual cycles for 12 months in a row. It helps to keep track of your peri...

Menopause typically begins between ages 40-65 and can be affected by genetics, health, and lifestyle. Symptoms may include missed periods, hot flashes, and weight gain. As people age, hormone levels start to change. For instance, as individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) become older adults, they start transitioning into menopause, which can include hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms. Even though people experience menopause differently, certain trends in the age of onset and symptoms can provide some guidance on what you can expect as you get older. As you get older, your ovaries produce less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Without these hormones, periods become erratic for a time, and then eventually stop. Once you’ve been without a period for The physical changes that usher in menopause can begin as early as age 40 or may not start until your late 50s. The transition stage, or perimenopause, can last Smoking, along with age of onset, race, and ethnicity, can all affect how long perimenopause symptoms last. Similarly, certain factors, such as smoking, can affect when menopause starts. A Here’s a look at menopause through the ages, and what types of symptoms to possibly expect as you reach each milestone. It’s important to keep in mind that early menopause, perimenopause, and menopause symptoms are not linear or fully defined by age. You may find yourself experiencing some when you’re younger and others as menopause is underway. No matter how it p...