An Introduction to Menopause for every Midlife Woman
Menopause is a natural process that signifies the end of a woman’s reproductive years. In this introduction to menopause, the 3 stages of menopause are described, each are named perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the period that leads up to menopause. The average age for the onset of perimenopause in Australia is 46 years. It can last anywhere from 7-10 years.
It is a time when the hormones, oestrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate at different rates, resulting in irregular periods that may be heavier or lighter, along with other symptoms that can affect a woman’s overall health and wellbeing, including:
- hot flushes (most reported symptom)
- night sweats
- sleep disturbance
- irritability
- tiredness
- memory issues
- changing body shape/weight gain
- aches and pains
- Plus, many more…
The perimenopausal period can last between 5-10 years, some women experience little symptoms, others experience many. Most women will experience some symptoms at some stage during this period of their lives.
Menopause
Menopause is literally one day and is signified by 12 months since the last menstrual period. This usually occurs around the age of 51 years, and most women would have experienced menopause by the age of 55 years.
Post Menopause
Post menopause is the time after menopause and a woman is then postmenopausal for the rest of her life. Some of the symptoms experienced during the perimenopausal stage can continue for some time, for some women they disappear.
During the 3 stages of menopause, there are areas of health that need to be monitored, including, breast and cervical screening, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is important to eat a diet of wholesome fresh foods, reduce stress levels, enjoy physical activity often and get a restful nights sleep.
Managing menopause can be challenging, but with close monitoring and talking to your doctor, along with supportive lifestyle habits, it can be manageable.
References
1 Australian Menopause Society, 2016, Information sheets. Available at www.menopause.org.au
2 Better Health Channel, 2018, Menopause. Available at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
3 The Royal Women’s Hospital, 2019, Health Information, Menopause. Available at www.thewomens.org.au.
4 Jean Hailes for Women, 2019, Health after menopause. Available at www.jeanhailes.org.au.
