Menopause, a significant part of every woman’s life journey, marks the end of their reproductive years. However, it also opens new doors of strength, self-discovery, and self-pampering. Understanding the signs and symptoms of menopause is crucial, as it empowers women to manage their long-term health.
Life transitions require significant changes. That’s why understanding your body and long-term health, along with the importance of lifestyle and medical support, can help you adapt as you get older.
If you’re about to hit menopause and curious about how your next life chapter will unfold, we’ve got you covered. As trusted Gold Coast menopause doctors with extensive knowledge of women’s health, we can guide you through this challenging and exciting journey.
This blog will delve deeper into the primary stages of menopause and its symptoms, empowering Australian women to take charge of their health and enjoy a high quality of life in their golden years and beyond.
The Three Stages of Menopause
Each menopause stage affects the body differently. Please remember that the durations and symptoms vary among individuals. Understanding the menstrual cycle, sleep, and mood patterns can help women understand the stage they’re in.
1. Perimenopause
Perimenopause precedes menopause, the stage when the regular reproductive cycle begins to fade. Women usually enter the former stage when they turn 45 years old. Their estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels (hormones that affect mood, sleep, and menstrual cycles) change when they hit perimenopause.
Perimenopause usually lasts four to eight years. However, some women remain in this stage for only two years, while others stay for up to ten years. Critical factors that determine the duration of perimenopause include your genetics, health, and lifestyle.
Hormonal changes unfold slowly over time. You will notice symptoms manifesting themselves during these two perimenopausal stages:
- Early perimenopause: You may experience menstrual cycle changes during this stage. Depending on your genetics, health, and lifestyle, they may be shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter. Ovulation becomes less frequent, with some women experiencing sleeping issues, hot flashes, or mood swings.
- Late perimenopause: Shifting hormonal levels can intensify perimenopausal symptoms, including amenorrhoea (skipping periods for several months), hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and anxiety.
Perimenopausal Symptoms
Although women experience different perimenopausal symptoms, the prevalent ones include the following:
- Irregular menstrual cycles.
- Hot flashes and night sweats.
- Mood swings.
- Sleeping issues.
- Weight gain.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Low libido.
2. Menopause
You’ve officially entered menopause after your doctor declares the end of your menstrual cycle when you don’t experience your monthly period for one year. At this point, ovulation has ceased because your ovaries don’t produce eggs anymore, diminishing estrogen and progesterone levels.
Although most women enter menopause when they’re 51 years old, some women reach it earlier or later. This stage is a natural part of ageing and a byproduct of the body’s shift away from the reproductive cycle you were accustomed to when you were younger.
Menopausal Symptoms
Many Australian women have already experienced full-blown menopausal symptoms before their doctor’s diagnosis. Depleted oestrogen and progesterone levels trigger these symptoms, which vary in intensity among individuals. While some women experience mild menopausal symptoms, others deal with more significant ones that can disrupt their daily routines.
Prevalent menopausal symptoms include the following:
- Conclusion of monthly periods.
- Regular hot flashes.
- Night sweats.
- Sleeping issues.
- Mood swings ranging from irritability to sorrow.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
3. Postmenopause
Postmenopause usually begins at age 52 and continues from that point onward. Your ovaries have stopped producing eggs, and your oestrogen and progesterone levels have diminished considerably. Although menopausal symptoms may linger for some women, they eventually fade over time.
The conclusion of your menstrual cycle marks the beginning of several ageing and long-term health challenges, particularly in bone, cardiovascular, and sexual function. We recommend exercising regularly, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and good fats, and sleeping seven to eight hours nightly to help offset these changes. Visiting your trusted women’s health doctor also offers long-term peace of mind and reassurance, allowing you to take charge of your menopausal years.
Postmenopausal Symptoms
In this stage, depleted oestrogen and progesterone levels can lead to physical and emotional health challenges, which may affect your daily routine and increase the likelihood of specific health issues.
Postmenopausal symptoms include the following:
- Hot flashes and night sweats: You may still experience these symptoms in your fifties. However, their frequency and intensity have diminished by this time.
- Vaginal dryness and lower urinary tract discomfort: Lower estrogen levels can lead to thinner and drier vaginas. Consequently, you may experience pain, itching, or discomfort during sex. Some women may also lose control over bladder or bowel function (incontinence).
- Low libido: Lower hormonal levels can lower libido and minimise vaginal lubrication. If postmenopause has drastically affected your intimacy with your partner, consider consulting a general practitioner, who can assess your overall health, review your medical history, and refer you to the appropriate specialist.
- Bone loss and osteoporosis: Women going through postmenopause may experience osteoporosis, a condition where the bones become weak, brittle, and prone to fractures.
- Skin integrity and hair quality changes: Hormonal changes, reduced collagen, and decreased hydration cause postmenopausal women’s skin elasticity to decline. Their hair may also become thinner or drier.
- Cognitive and emotional shifts: Postmenopausal women may experience forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and sudden mood swings.
- Sleep issues: Some postmenopausal women have issues falling or staying asleep. Night sweats and stress may exacerbate their sleeping issues.
Although postmenopause doesn’t have as many abrupt changes as perimenopause, it is a critical factor in optimum long-term health and your quality of life. We recommend regular doctor’s appointments, bone density tests, cardiovascular screenings, hormone therapy consultations, and lifestyle changes to reap these benefits.
Conclusion
Menopause can be a journey into the unknown for many Australian women. However, there’s no need to worry because understanding the three primary stages of menopause empowers you to take charge of your health in your golden years and beyond. Although each stage has its own challenges, the knowledge and support of a trusted, highly experienced general practitioner can help you navigate them successfully.
Her Medical is the Gold Coast’s trusted provider of general practitioner and menopause services. We are committed to uplifting Australian women’s healthcare and promoting a better quality of life for our patients.
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment, receive a personalised, upfront quote, and discover premium, cost-effective women’s healthcare solutions that deliver lasting results.