The transition, or menopause, is the period during which your ovaries gradually stop producing oestrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones. This leads to various changes in your body, and it doesn’t always happen seamlessly. It’s entirely natural, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure it in silence. On the contrary, there’s plenty you can do to manage it.
Menopause is a natural phase experienced by nearly half of the world’s population. With the right support, we can alleviate symptoms.
Menopause encompasses the years surrounding your final menstrual period. These are the years during which your body transitions from being fertile to infertile. Although this process differs for every woman and begins at varying times for each individual, it is possible to outline the general phases of menopause, what occurs in your body, and the (typical) symptoms it may bring.
Menopause consists of three phases:
Before entering perimenopause, you are in the premenopause phase. This includes the years from your first menstrual period until changes occur, marking the beginning of perimenopause.
Premenopause is the phase before menopause and spans the years from your first menstrual period to the onset of menopause (perimenopause). In the later years of this phase (around your mid-30s to early 40s), your menstrual cycle remains regular, but you may begin to experience hormonal symptoms. While you are still in the fertile phase of your life, hormonal fluctuations may already cause subtle or vague symptoms, such as mood swings.
Perimenopause marks the start of menopause. Officially, this phase begins when you notice changes in your menstrual cycle, but experts suggest that hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness are also strong indicators that menopause has begun—even if you haven’t noticed any changes in your menstrual cycle yet.
Menopause literally refers to the moment when your menstrual periods stop. This moment can only be determined retrospectively: if you haven’t had a period for a year, you’ve reached menopause. Officially, menopause is not a phase but the day of your last menstrual period.
On average, women reach menopause at the age of 51, but this varies for everyone. An interesting detail: research shows that the age at which your mother experienced menopause can be a predictor of the age at which you will have your final menstrual period.
Postmenopause is the final phase of menopause. It follows perimenopause and menopause. Once you’ve reached postmenopause, you remain in this phase for the rest of your life. This means your hormone levels stay at a constant (low) level. Menopausal symptoms don’t suddenly disappear in this phase, but they often gradually diminish.
I was initially hesitant to start treatment, but I’m glad I decided to go through with it.
What you experience during menopause varies from person to person. Some women hardly notice any symptoms, while others experience a wide range of issues. Eighty per cent of women going through menopause experience symptoms.
The most common symptoms are:
Often, it’s not just one symptom; most women experience an average of three (or more) menopausal symptoms.
For one-third of women, these symptoms interfere with their work or daily life. You have significant influence over your health and, consequently, how you feel. SeeMe-nopause is here to help you with that.