For most women, menopause is a natural biological process that occurs in their 40s or 50s. The average age of menopause for women in the United States is 51 years old, but the transition usually begins much earlier. Keep reading to learn more about what menopause is, including its cause, stages, symptoms, and treatment options.
What Causes Menopause?
Menopause marks the official end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It is caused by the natural decline in reproductive hormones as a woman ages. While most women experience menopause in their 40s or 50s, the decline in hormones often begins in their late 30s. At this time, the ovaries start making less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate fertility and menstruation. Though menopause is usually a gradual process that occurs naturally for most aging women, it can also occur prematurely due to medical procedures like hysterectomy or health conditions.
Stages of Menopause
Menopause most often occurs as a natural, gradual process for aging women. This process occurs in three stages:
- Perimenopause - Also called the menopause transition, perimenopause can start 8 to 10 years before menopause. It typically begins in your late 30s or 40s as your ovaries start to produce less estrogen. During this stage, you will likely notice changes to your menstrual cycle, such as periods that are shorter, longer, lighter, or heavier than normal. You may also start to experience menopause symptoms. Keep in mind that as long as you’re still having periods, you can still get pregnant during perimenopause.
- Menopause - Menopause is the point at which your ovaries stop releasing eggs and you stop having menstrual periods. Your ovaries have also stopped most of their estrogen production as well. A healthcare provider will diagnose menopause after you have gone 12 consecutive months without having a menstrual period. When you reach this stage, you can no longer get pregnant.
- Postmenopause - The final stage of menopause defines the rest of your life after you stop having periods. During this stage, your menopause symptoms may get better. However, some women continue to experience symptoms for a decade or more after menopause. Because your estrogen levels have significantly decreased, you are now at a higher risk of health conditions such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause symptoms can begin as short as a few months or as long as a decade before menopause and may continue into the years following. There are a number of possible symptoms you could experience as you go through the stages of menopause. These may include but are not limited to:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Mood changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Sleep disturbances
- Weight gain
- Dry skin
- Thinning hair
- Loss of breast fullness
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Urinary urgency
- Changes in libido
- Muscle and joint aches
- Memory trouble
- Difficulty concentrating
- Heart palpitations
- Chills
- Bone loss
Treating Menopause
Because menopause is a natural biological process, there is no cure to stop it. However, there are a number of options available to help treat menopause symptoms that disrupt everyday life. Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most effective treatments for menopause symptoms because it helps restore the hormones your body is no longer producing. Vaginal estrogen creams and other medications like antidepressants can also be prescribed to treat unpleasant symptoms. In addition to medications and therapies, you can also make diet and lifestyle changes to help minimize symptoms. Try limiting caffeine and spicy foods, as these can worsen hot flashes. Eat foods that contain plant estrogen, such as soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, and flaxseeds. Regular exercise can also help relieve a number of symptoms and make it easier to sleep through the night.
Not every woman experiences menopause the same way. You may start to experience symptoms earlier or later than others, and your symptoms may be more or less severe. If your menopause symptoms are affecting your quality of life, we’re here to help. Here at Midtown Express Pharmacy, we offer various forms of hormone replacement therapy to replace the estrogen that your body is missing so you can live a happier, healthier life during and after your transition. To learn more and get started, reach out to us today!
