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
