Stages of The Menopause | The Menopause Journey

There are 3 stages of The Menopause, that together last 7 years on average in UK, (duration differs culturally)

Stage 1: Perimenopause

‘Peri’ menopause means ‘near’ menopause

This is when menopause symptoms start

Begins around age of 40

(on average 45-55 in UK)

Periods will be irregular, very light, or very heavy

Or periods will have stopped within the last 6 months

You are still fertile

This stage can last up to 10 years and is the bulk of what we call ‘The Menopause’

What’s happening in your body:

Ovaries are beginning to fluctuate the amount of oestrogen & progesterone (hormones) they produce

Testosterone (hormone) is also reducing due to age, and has been slowly reducing

since age 20

Stage 2: Menopause

Menopause literally means 'the last menstrual period’

Medically, it is when your periods have stopped for 12 months

We often refer to ‘menopause’ to mean the whole menopause journey, but literally it is just a moment in time, as the time after this is the post-menopause..

Happens around late 40s, early 50s, (on average age 51 in UK)

Menopause symptoms can improve, or persist for up to 10 years

What’s happening in your body:

Ovaries have stopped

releasing eggs

Ovaries gradually reduce production of oestrogen & progesterone to very low level

Testosterone will also still be reducing

The Menopause journey can begin earlier

Premature Menopause &

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Your periods stop before age 40

You are no longer fertile

If you still get the occasional period

it could be POI and you could still be fertile

Early Menopause

You are between ages 40 & 45.

Your periods become irregular or stop

Or, if you are a trans man on testosterone, this can happen at any age

Surgically Induced Menopause

Following surgery, where your ovaries have been removed, or you have undergone certain cancer treatments, you will be plunged into sudden menopause, skipping perimenopause

The symptoms of each can be the same as for natural Menopause, whilst perhaps even more of a shock

Stage 3: Post-Menopause

The years after menopause

Begins 12 months after periods have stopped

Oestrogen is still produced in small amounts from the ovaries

Oestrogen is also produced from the adrenal glands, and from fat cells (this is thought to be why belly fat increases)

And is why it is really impactful to lower stress & anxiety during Menopause, as the adrenal glands will prioritise producing stress hormones over oestrogen

Menopause also offers us
a journey, a rite of passage.

And with the right
support & guidance,
the opportunity of a lifetime