Menopause is a natural transition that most women go through between the ages of 45 and 55. The key sign that menopause has started is when your menstrual periods stop permanently. This usually occurs around age 51 on average. However, the transition to menopause, which is called perimenopause, can begin years before your periods actually stop.
Signs and symptoms of perimenopause & early menopause:
- Irregular periods: Periods may become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, and the time between them may increase.
- Hot flashes: Sudden feelings of body heat, flushing skin, and sweating often beginning on the face/neck area.
- Night sweats: Episodes of drenching sweats at nighttime.
- Vaginal dryness: Decreased estrogen can cause vaginal lining to thin and lose elasticity.
- Insomnia: The hormonal changes may interfere with sleep.
- Emotional changes: Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and depression may occur.
- Urinary changes: Need to urinate urgently or more frequently.
- Body changes: Weight gain, slowed metabolism, thinning hair/skin.
Determining if menopause has begun:
- Tracking periods: Marking start and end dates on a calendar to watch for irregularities. If periods are very erratic for multiple months and it has been at least a year since last period, menopause is likely underway.
At Renew Medical HRT Clinic, our doctors specialize in the management of perimenopause and menopause. We provide comprehensive lab testing, hormonal assessments, treatment plans, and ongoing care to help women navigate the changes smoothly and alleviate discomfort. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation!
- Blood tests: Levels of hormones like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol can be measured to assess ovarian function.
- FSH levels above 40 mIU/mL are generally indicative of menopause transition.
- Age: Women typically reach menopause between the ages of 45-55 years old. Age can help determine where a woman is in the progression.
- Severity of symptoms: Worsening severity of symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness often indicate getting closer to complete menopause.
- Time since last period: After one year without a period, menopause is considered to have occurred. But the fluctuating symptoms still persist through postmenopause.
What happens after menopause sets in:
Once a woman has gone 12 straight months without a menstrual cycle, she has reached full menopause. At this point:
- Ovaries stop releasing eggs
- Ovaries produce less estrogen/progesterone
- Menstruation stops completely
- Fertility ends
Many women experience menopausal symptoms for years (or decades) after their final period. The timeline varies greatly. Finding the right treatment and coping methods can help manage ongoing symptoms into older age.
The medical professionals at Renew Medical HRT Clinic provide long-term treatment plans focused on lifestyle changes, complimentary therapies, bioidentical hormones, and other options to help women manage menopause and postmenopause symptoms for an improved quality of life. Contact us to learn more!
In summary,
menopause brings many changes, but there are also effective ways to track its onset and manage ongoing symptoms with the help of caring providers. Connecting with experts and resources to navigate this transition can make a big difference.
