From myths to misunderstandings to late night comedy routines, everyone thinks they know all about menopause. Unfortunately, all the “build up” about it can just add to the anxiety of menopause as you approach it.
Of course, the age you begin menopause is different for the majority of women. It’s an inevitable part of life that arrives on its own timetable. The good news is that we now know a lot about this important time.
The average age at which women reach menopause is 51. As you’d expect, this timing varies greatly and can be influenced by genetics and life habits. During her 40's, a woman can expect to experience hormonal changes. It is much less common for women to experience symptoms in the late 30's or the 60's.
Perimenopause
Literally meaning “around menopause”, perimenopause is the physical stage that many people mistakenly call menopause. Women can begin perimenopause as early as 35, however, the average age is 47.5 years and on average it lasts 4 years. These are averages. The fact is the perimenopausal stage varies from woman to woman. Women are likely to start this phase of life at approximately the same age as their mothers and sisters. Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, occasional sleeplessness, lack of libido, irregular periods, and poor concentration are some symptoms of perimenopause. However, if you are having normal, regular periods, you are not likely to be going through perimenopause.
Menopause
This is the end stage of a natural transition in a woman's reproductive life. Menopause is the point at which estrogen and progesterone production decrease dramatically. The ovaries stop producing eggs, a woman stops menstruation and she is no longer able to have children naturally. A woman is generally considered to be in menopause when she does not have a period for 12 months.
Post Menopause
Post menopause is considered the time when most of the symptoms of the menopausal changes have faded. Hot flashes may seem milder or less frequent, emotional swings and energy levels have become more stable. With this renewed vitality many woman find more time for themselves and focus on issues and causes they feel are important.
Being healthy begins each morning
Practice healthy habits every day. Eating a nutritious diet containing calcium-rich foods, participating in weight-bearing exercise, getting regular medical checkups and seeking the best in natural answers for menopausal symptoms is a smart strategy.