Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Menopause?Side Effects and SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Menopause?
Side Effects and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
About 1.3 million women enter menopause each year. Every woman will reach this phase at some point—usually around age 51.
You have reached menopause if it has been one year since your final menstrual period. The hormonal shifts that take place around this time cause a variety of symptoms, with hot flashes, night sweats, and difficulty sleeping ranking among the most common.
This article will explore the stages of menopause, and what side effects to expect as you move through this natural process.
Menopauseis the natural process that occurs in the body as a woman reaches the end of her reproductive years. As we age, all sorts of hormone levels begin to drop—both for men and for women.
In women particularly, menopause occurs when your ovaries stop makingestrogenand yourprogesteronelevels drop. Without these hormones, you stop menstruating and are no longer able to become pregnant.
You have officially reached menopause when you have gone 12 months without having a period. Your period doesn’t usually stop suddenly. You will notice gradual changes in your body as hormone production slows, so there are several stages of menopause.
Stages of MenopauseIt can take years for your body to transition from a reproductive to a menopausal state. This transition is split intostages, each with specific features and symptoms.Perimenopause:This is usually a three- to five-year period before menopause when your estrogen and other hormone levels begin to drop. You canstill get pregnantduring this period, and you may experience irregular periods or other symptoms of menopause.Early menopause:This is the name given to the sudden or early menopause some women may face. This stage can occur at any age and is usually the result of medication, procedures like the removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) or ovaries (oophorectomy), or a condition called premature ovarian failure.Menopause: This is the period that begins 12 months after your last menstrual period. As your body adjusts to the lack of reproductive hormones, you can experience a variety of symptoms. This process usually begins around age 51, and can take one to three years.Postmenopause:This is the period generally a year or more after your last period, typically once you have adjusted to the drop in reproductive hormones.
Stages of Menopause
It can take years for your body to transition from a reproductive to a menopausal state. This transition is split intostages, each with specific features and symptoms.Perimenopause:This is usually a three- to five-year period before menopause when your estrogen and other hormone levels begin to drop. You canstill get pregnantduring this period, and you may experience irregular periods or other symptoms of menopause.Early menopause:This is the name given to the sudden or early menopause some women may face. This stage can occur at any age and is usually the result of medication, procedures like the removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) or ovaries (oophorectomy), or a condition called premature ovarian failure.Menopause: This is the period that begins 12 months after your last menstrual period. As your body adjusts to the lack of reproductive hormones, you can experience a variety of symptoms. This process usually begins around age 51, and can take one to three years.Postmenopause:This is the period generally a year or more after your last period, typically once you have adjusted to the drop in reproductive hormones.
It can take years for your body to transition from a reproductive to a menopausal state. This transition is split intostages, each with specific features and symptoms.
What Is the Average Age for Menopause to Start?
Will it happen to me?Menopause happens to every woman and most experience symptoms in the process. On average, between 50% and 82% of women who enter menopause naturally report at least some symptoms of menopause.
Will it happen to me?
Menopause happens to every woman and most experience symptoms in the process. On average, between 50% and 82% of women who enter menopause naturally report at least some symptoms of menopause.
Vasomotor symptomsare most common, and these happen when your blood vessels change in diameter. Below is a list of the most common symptoms reported during menopause and what to expect from each.
Irregular Periods
Hormones control the timing and function of your reproductive cycle. As these hormone levels naturally drop, changes in your menstrual cycle may be one of the first things you notice.
Some changes you may notice to your monthly period include:
No Period Because of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
Vaginal Dryness
During menopause, the lining of your vagina may become thinner, dryer, and less stretchy. This can lead to uncomfortablevaginal dryness, painful sex, and even an increase in the risk of sexually transmitted infections due to small tears in the vaginal wall.About 13% of women experience this symptom during menopause.
Hot Flashes
Dropping estrogen levels are likely to blame forhot flashes—one of the most common and notorious symptoms of menopause. An estimated 40% of women experience hot flashes during menopause.
This symptom appears as a sudden feeling of heat, either in the upper body or all over your body. You may also notice red blotches on your skin, heavy sweating, or even shivering during a hot flash. Hot flashes usually last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes and can happen as little as once a week, or as often as a few times each hour.
Night Sweats and insomnia
Night sweatsactually fall into the category of hot flashes. These hot flashes can be mild and you may only notice them when you wake up sweaty. They can also be severe, waking you from your sleep.
Night sweats aren’t the only thing to disrupt your sleep during menopause. Many women report sleep problems during menopause, such as having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking during the night, or staying awake.Roughly 16% of women report some form of sleep disruption during menopause.
Menopause and Insomnia Medications
Weight Gain
Weight gaincan happen during menopause for a variety of reasons. Aging can slow your activity levels, and other mood and sleep changes from menopause don’t help.
Hormones also play a role in your metabolism and activity levels, making weight gain easier. Additionally, your waist may change shape, your bones can lose density and become weaker, and you may begin to lose muscle.About 12% of women report weight gain as a symptom of menopause.
Mood changes
The hormonal shifts that occur during menopause can have a big impact on your mood. This can be in part due to the stress and frustration of dealing with symptoms like insomnia or hot flashes. Roughly 12% of women report mood changes during menopause, and the risk is usually higher among women with a history of depression or other mental health problems.
You may also notice changes in your sexual desire or performance. Some women report anincrease in sexual desire, but others may find less interest or pleasure in sex. Lubricants, extra time for arousal, and even masturbation may help, as these increase lubrication and circulation in vaginal tissues creating a protective effect.
Best Ways to Support a Partner During Menopause
Headaches
Hormonal shifts are a common cause ofheadachesbefore, during, and after menopause. Estrogen is usually blamed for headaches during menopause, but not everyone experiences increased headaches during this period. One study found that 24.4% of women reported an improvement in their headaches during menopause, while 35.7% reported worse headaches.
How Does Taking Birth Control Pills Affect Menopause?
Menopause is usually diagnosed with just a review of your symptoms, and your personal and family health history. In some cases—especially when menopause symptoms begin suddenly or unexpectedly—healthcare providers may suggesthormone testingusing your blood or urine.
Diagnosing Menopause: 5 Signs Your Body Is Entering the Transition
There are many ways to tackle the symptoms of menopause, from homeopathic or natural remedies to prescription medications and hormone therapy. Menopause does not necessarily require medical treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about which option is right for you.
Medication
Most of themedications used to treat menopauseare hormone therapies that artificially replace the activity of estrogen and progesterone. There are risks to these therapies, though. Risks and side effects of hormonal therapy can include:
Other options include medications like:
Home Remedies
There are a number of natural, homeopathic, herbal, and home remedies that are used to manage the symptoms of menopause, but clinical guidelines usually stress that there is a lack of data to support these therapies.
Still, some options for home or herbal remedies of menopause symptoms may include things like:
8 Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes
Lifestyle Changes
As with other periods in life, lifestyle changes can go a long way toward helping you deal with the symptoms of menopause. This can include changes like:
Menopause Treatment
A Word From Verywell
Menopause can be a challenging time, both emotionally and physically. As your body changes, you experience things like sweating, hot flashes, and insomnia. Alongside this, you are dealing with the other realities of getting older, like decreased energy level and sexual desire, as well as coping with the loss of your fertility.
You don’t have to treat menopause medically, but your doctor can help you find ways to ease your symptoms and cope with the emotions that come with this transition. Remember, menopause is a natural event for women, and most will experience some degree of symptoms.
Living With Menopause
Menopause can begin at any age as the result of certain medications or procedures. Natural menopause usually begins between the age of 45 and 55, or at 51 for most women. However, if a woman has menopause anytime after the age of 40, it is still considered normal.Learn MoreWhat Is Early Menopause?
Menopause can begin at any age as the result of certain medications or procedures. Natural menopause usually begins between the age of 45 and 55, or at 51 for most women. However, if a woman has menopause anytime after the age of 40, it is still considered normal.
Learn MoreWhat Is Early Menopause?
Learn MoreWhen Does Menopause Start?
Weight gain isn’t usually a direct result of menopause, but a culmination of several factors like muscle loss, decreased activity, changes in fat distribution, changes in metabolism, and bone loss.Learn MoreHow to Stop Menopause Weight Gain
Weight gain isn’t usually a direct result of menopause, but a culmination of several factors like muscle loss, decreased activity, changes in fat distribution, changes in metabolism, and bone loss.
Learn MoreHow to Stop Menopause Weight Gain
There are several other health conditions and medications that can lead to hot flashes. Caffeine, thyroid imbalances, steroids, anxiety, and infections are just a few other possible causes.Learn MoreWhat Causes Hot Flashes Other Than Menopause?
There are several other health conditions and medications that can lead to hot flashes. Caffeine, thyroid imbalances, steroids, anxiety, and infections are just a few other possible causes.
Learn MoreWhat Causes Hot Flashes Other Than Menopause?
There isn’t usually a clear end to the menopause transition. For some women, the transition can move quickly—beginning and ending around a year after their last period. For others, symptoms of menopause can last for three years.Learn Morehttps://www.verywellhealth.com/postmenopause-overview-and-more-5187204
There isn’t usually a clear end to the menopause transition. For some women, the transition can move quickly—beginning and ending around a year after their last period. For others, symptoms of menopause can last for three years.
Learn Morehttps://www.verywellhealth.com/postmenopause-overview-and-more-5187204
Most women who enter menopause naturally do so around the age of 51.Learn MoreWhat Is the Average Age for Menopause to Start?
Most women who enter menopause naturally do so around the age of 51.
Learn MoreWhat Is the Average Age for Menopause to Start?
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Peacock K, Ketvertis KM.Menopause.StatPearls.Sussman M, Trocio J, Best C, et al.Prevalence of menopausal symptoms among mid-life women: findings from electronic medical records.BMC Womens Health. August 2015;15:58. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0217-y.Planned Parenthood.Menopause.Women’s Health Research Institute/Northwestern University.Stages of menopause.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Management of menopausal symptoms.National Institutes of Health.What is menopause?Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of menopause.Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause, diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.March 2018;20(7). doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7.The North American Menopause Society.How do I know when I’m in menopause?Stuenkel CA, et al.Treatment of the symptoms of menopause guideline resources.JCEM. November 2015;11(1):3975-4011. doi:10.1210/jc.2015-2236.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Menopause treatment.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for menopause.The North American Menopause Society.Are we there yet? Navigate now with our guided menopause tour.The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Peacock K, Ketvertis KM.Menopause.StatPearls.Sussman M, Trocio J, Best C, et al.Prevalence of menopausal symptoms among mid-life women: findings from electronic medical records.BMC Womens Health. August 2015;15:58. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0217-y.Planned Parenthood.Menopause.Women’s Health Research Institute/Northwestern University.Stages of menopause.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Management of menopausal symptoms.National Institutes of Health.What is menopause?Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of menopause.Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause, diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.March 2018;20(7). doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7.The North American Menopause Society.How do I know when I’m in menopause?Stuenkel CA, et al.Treatment of the symptoms of menopause guideline resources.JCEM. November 2015;11(1):3975-4011. doi:10.1210/jc.2015-2236.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Menopause treatment.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for menopause.The North American Menopause Society.Are we there yet? Navigate now with our guided menopause tour.The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Peacock K, Ketvertis KM.Menopause.StatPearls.Sussman M, Trocio J, Best C, et al.Prevalence of menopausal symptoms among mid-life women: findings from electronic medical records.BMC Womens Health. August 2015;15:58. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0217-y.Planned Parenthood.Menopause.Women’s Health Research Institute/Northwestern University.Stages of menopause.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Management of menopausal symptoms.National Institutes of Health.What is menopause?Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of menopause.Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause, diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.March 2018;20(7). doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7.The North American Menopause Society.How do I know when I’m in menopause?Stuenkel CA, et al.Treatment of the symptoms of menopause guideline resources.JCEM. November 2015;11(1):3975-4011. doi:10.1210/jc.2015-2236.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Menopause treatment.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for menopause.The North American Menopause Society.Are we there yet? Navigate now with our guided menopause tour.The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.
Peacock K, Ketvertis KM.Menopause.StatPearls.
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Planned Parenthood.Menopause.
Women’s Health Research Institute/Northwestern University.Stages of menopause.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Management of menopausal symptoms.
National Institutes of Health.What is menopause?
Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of menopause.
Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause, diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.March 2018;20(7). doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7.
The North American Menopause Society.How do I know when I’m in menopause?
Stuenkel CA, et al.Treatment of the symptoms of menopause guideline resources.JCEM. November 2015;11(1):3975-4011. doi:10.1210/jc.2015-2236.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Menopause treatment.
NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for menopause.
The North American Menopause Society.Are we there yet? Navigate now with our guided menopause tour.
The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.
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