Understanding Menopause 

Menopause is a common part of life, yet so few resources are readily available to help women journey through this time with confidence. In this article, we pull back the curtain on the mystery of menopause so that you know what to expect.

There are many seasons of a woman’s life that are full of mystery and the unknown. The first changes of puberty bring about sudden changes that can shock most young women - a sudden surge in hormones that lead to the development of breasts and the start of their period. Childbirth brings about a rollercoaster of changes - bodily, mentally, and emotionally. Finally, menopause arrives in late-middle age and brings an end to a menstruation cycle that women have become used to. A woman’s ability to adapt and evolve through these incredible changes are a testament to their unique design and strength. 

The smallest changes in our hormones can deliver a wild ride of bodily changes. With menopause, the sudden drop in hormones can lead to a variety of physical and emotional changes. Many women dread these times, fearful of what they may hold and how others will respond as they journey through the season. However, menopause is a normal time of life, and just like puberty and childbirth, you have the strength to journey confidently with a history of women who have gone before you.

To give you an idea as to what you can expect with menopause, let’s break this season of life down to gain a better perspective.

What Is Menopause Anyway?

The stage of life commonly referred to as menopause is marked most vividly by a drop in your hormones and the ceasing of your monthly period. Typically occurring in the late 40s to early 50s, most healthcare professionals will officially mark the beginning of menopause when a woman goes an entire year without natural menstrual bleeding.

As a woman ages, their reproductive system - which has been chugging along since puberty - begins to slow down. As the levels of the hormone estrogen begin to drop, your period may become irregular and then stop completely. Once menopause occurs, the ovaries will cease producing eggs for fertilization.

There are three stages of the menopausal process, each with their own physical and emotional symptoms. Understanding these different phases of menopause can help you know why you may be experiencing certain symptoms, and what they can expect in the days ahead.

For some women, menopause may occur earlier than expected due to non-natural reasons such as surgical treatments like the removal of the ovaries or damage from chemotherapy.

Menopausal Expectations

The three phases of menopause - perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause - deliver a variety of experiences. While common experiences accompany each phase, each menopausal journey is as unique as the women who go through them.

Perimenopause

Also known as "menopause transition", perimenopause is the first stage of menopause. Typically beginning around 8 to 10 years prior to menopause, perimenopause is marked by the gradual decrease of estrogen being produced in the body. 

Often beginning in late 30s or early 40s, women may experience symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and trouble sleeping. In some cases, difficulties in perimenopause can lead to experiences of anxiety of depression. The symptoms of perimenopause may include:

• Irregular periods
• Vaginal dryness
• Hot flashes
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Sleep problems
• Mood changes
• Weight gain and slowed metabolism
• Thinning hair and dry skin
• Loss of breast fullness

While the estrogen drop begins slowly, it will accelerate as women get closer to menopause, and the accompanying symptoms may worsen as well. Though women will begin to experience menopausal symptoms, pregnancy is still possible as long as they are having normal menstrual cycles. 

Menopause

The arrival of menopause is marked by a full year of a lack of natural menstruation and bleeding. Once a woman enters into menopause, their ovaries will stop releasing eggs due to the ceasing of estrogen being produced in their bodies. 

While pop culture often refers to the symptoms of menopause being hot flashes, night sweats, chills, and more, these symptoms are actually part of the perimenopause transition process. Once a woman hits menopause, their symptoms will begin to fade. To know if you have officially hit menopause, you can work with a healthcare provider to test for estrogen levels and ovarian health.

Postmenopause

The phase after menopause is often referred to postmenopause. Some women may continue to experience menopausal symptoms during postmenopause, but typically they are lessened in severity or cease completely. 

Once the estrogen levels have dropped, some women may be at a higher risk for developing other health issues such as osteoporosis and heart disease. If you are concerned that you may be at a higher risk for dangerous illness, or have a family history of health issues in postmenopause, speak with your healthcare provider. Medicine and lifestyle changes may be able to help you manage these problems.

You Aren’t Alone: Finding Help & Hope

The season of menopause marks an important season in a woman’s life. With the changes that your body experiences and the range of emotions due hormonal fluctuations, your experience can vary widely. For some, menopause comes like a gentle summer breeze. For others, their experience can leave them feeling lost in a hurricane. 

You aren’t alone in your experience with menopause. Those in your life will also journey though this season with you - so a holistic and family-focused approach can be beneficial to helping you move through menopause with help and hope. You can’t cure menopause - but it doesn’t have to ruin your life!

No matter your experience, one truth remains: you are never alone in your menopausal journey. At Wembley Women's Health, our team of licensed health professionals work hard to provide women across access the resources and help they need to journey through menopause with confidence. 

‍