About 1.3 million women enter menopause each year.
Every woman will reach this phase at some pointusually around age 51.
You have reached menopause if it has been one year since your final menstrual period.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
What Is Menopause?
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 dropboth for men and for women.
In women particularly, menopause shows up when your ovaries stop makingestrogenand yourprogesteronelevels drop.
Without these hormones, you stop menstruating and are no longer able to become pregnant.
Menopause usually occurs around age 51, but can happen anywhere between the ages of 45 and 55.
For example, chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can sometimes make you enter menopause early and suddenly.
You have officially reached menopause when you have gone 12 months without having a period.
Your period doesn’t usually stop suddenly.
This transition is split intostages, each with specific features and symptoms.
Will it happen to me?
Menopause happens to every woman and most experience symptoms in the process.
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.
An estimated 40% of women experience hot flashes during menopause.
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.
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.
Mood changes
The hormonal shifts that occur during menopause can have a big impact on your mood.
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.
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.
In some casesespecially when menopause symptoms begin suddenly or unexpectedlyhealthcare providers may suggesthormone testingusing your blood or urine.
Menopause does not necessarily require medical treatment.
Talk to your healthcare provider about which option is right for you.
There are risks to these therapies, though.
As your body changes, you experience things like sweating, hot flashes, and insomnia.
Remember, menopause is a natural event for women, and most will experience some degree of symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
There isn’t usually a clear end to the menopause transition.
For some women, the transition can move quicklybeginning and ending around a year after their last period.
For others, symptoms of menopause can last for three years.
Most women who enter menopause naturally do so around the age of 51.
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