Menopause is officially reached when you've had your last period and your menstrual cycle has stopped for a year. However, many women may not be certain they're in the menopausal stage until a year has passed since their last period, and a healthcare professional has seen rises in FSH and LH levels through blood tests.
Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for your menstrual cycle and fertility. For most women, Menopause naturally occurs around age 52. However, it can also be triggered by medical treatments like chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, or surgery to remove the ovaries.
As women approach Menopause, they often notice changes in their bodies both before (perimenopause) and after (postmenopause). These changes can vary from person to person. While some women may face significant symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt their daily lives for years, others may experience minimal issues. Understanding these variations in different phases of Menopause can help manage the transition more effectively.
Everyone's journey is different, and some changes you face might be surprising or uncomfortable. Remember, these experiences are a natural part of life. The good news is there are ways to manage or treat menopause stages and symptoms. You don't have to go through it alone—help is available.
What are the stages of Menopause?
Menopause is often marked by the end of your menstrual cycles, but it's not an immediate change. Instead, Menopause's 3 stages unfold over time: perimenopause, Menopause, and postmenopause. All the different stages of Menopause come with their own changes and symptoms, making the transition gradual.
1. Perimenopause
Menopause is often associated with signs and symptoms like hot flashes and irregular periods, but these issues begin during the first of the three stages of Menopause, called perimenopause. Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to Menopause, which is marked by your last period. Most women enter perimenopause in their mid-40s, with the average age being 47, though it can start anywhere from the early 40s to the early 50s.
Perimenopause happens when your estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate. One of the first signs is a change in your menstrual cycle. You might notice your periods becoming irregular, with longer gaps between them or bleeding for more or fewer days than usual. The blood might also change in color or have more clots. Hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms as well. As stages of perimenopause and menopause progress, your periods may continue to shift, either becoming more sporadic or closer together, and new symptoms may appear.
Perimenopause can vary from one woman to another. Some women may glide through both perimenopause and Menopause without major issues, while others might face symptoms that disrupt their lives for several years. On average, perimenopause lasts between 4 to 8 years, though it can be as short as a year or as long as a decade for some women.
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Insomnia
Mood swings
Vaginal discomfort and dryness
Decreased libido
Urinary problems
2. Menopause
Menopause is confirmed only after you've gone a full year without a period. While it might seem like you've reached Menopause after a few months without a cycle,periods can sometimes return. The official diagnosis comes after 12 consecutive months without a period. On average, this transition occurs around age 52, but it can vary widely, happening anywhere from the mid-40s to the late 50s.
3. Postmenopause
Postmenopause begins after your final period and lasts for the rest of your life, which means you might spend around a third of your life in this stage. Although menopause symptoms often lessen and become less bothersome over time, this period can bring a sense of freedom and a new chapter in life.
For many women, reaching Menopause comes with a big relief: no more periods to deal with. But that's not all. Menopause also means you no longer have to worry about pregnancy. Plus, many of the bothersome stages of Menopause and symptoms from perimenopause, like breast pain and mood swings, often disappear. As you go through the menopausal stage, your hormones stabilize at a lower level, providing a steady state compared to the ups and downs of your reproductive years.
Some symptoms of perimenopause can persist into postmenopause. Hot flashes may linger for several years, and vaginal dryness might continue or even become more severe over time. These changes are often due to reduced estrogen levels and natural aging. However, there are effective treatments and lifestyle adjustments available to manage these stages of menopause symptoms and help you stay comfortable and active.
Changes to the menstrual cycle during the menopause transition
A common early sign of perimenopause is a shift in your menstrual cycle, caused by natural changes in ovulation and hormone levels, especially estradiol, the main estrogen produced by the ovaries. These changes can disrupt your cycle, whether it was previously regular or not. For some, the changes are subtle, while for others, they are quite noticeable. You might experience periods that come more or less frequently, last longer or shorter, or become lighter or heavier than usual. It's also possible to see significant fluctuations, such as one period being light and late, followed by another that's heavy and early.
These irregularities can affect your daily life, including social activities and relationships, and in severe cases, lead to fatigue or anemia. If you're experiencing abnormal bleeding, it's important to reach out to your healthcare provider. Remember, you're not alone in this; about 90% of women will go through similar changes before their final period. While these disruptions in different phases of Menopause can last from 4 to 8 years, they typically resolve over time.
Relieve Your Menopause Symptoms with Hormone Replacement Therapy at Proactive Choice
Women in the menopausal stage can find relief by making some lifestyle changes, including adjusting their diet, incorporating regular exercise, managing stress, and adopting healthy habits like avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. Many of Dr. Collins' patients also benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which requires blood tests to determine ideal prescriptions, baseline internal gynecologic exam, digital breast mammogram and informed consent. Dr. Collins also uses natural phytoestrogens that are derived from plants, homeopathy and the integration of psychotherapy and counseling to reframe this dynamic time in a woman’s life.
Conclusion
Now that you know how many stages of Menopause are there, you must understand that Menopause is a normal phase of life, not a condition to be feared.
Wholistically this can be viewed as the stage of a life when you come into your power as a “
Wise Woman” of the community. Whether you experience a few symptoms or many, more resources are available than ever to help you navigate this change.
By consulting a knowledgeable healthcare professional and using additional tools that suit your needs, you can manage symptoms effectively and live a vibrant, healthy life through Menopause and beyond.
To find out how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be part of a holistic approach to easing your menopause stages and symptoms, speak with Dr. Collins.
Call (858) 333-5196 for a free 10 minute consultation with Dr. Collins to learn more about our options for a smooth transition through Menopause.
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About The Author: Dr. Collins
Dr. Collins is a Pacific Northwest native and University of Oregon graduate in biology and comparative religions, practicing Naturopathic Medicine. Committed to harmonizing ancient traditions with modern science, he prioritizes holistic patient care in Oregon.
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