What Causes Menopause?
Menopause sign and symptoms occurs when declining levels of estrogen cause changes in your periods. During menopause, ovulation (egg production) stops, causing periods to become less frequent, and eventually stopping altogether. For many women, this process begins silently somewhere around age 40. Declining estrogen levels during menopause may lead to poor vaginal and uterine health. Estrogen also helps women maintain strong bones and good cholesterol levels.
What can I Expect?
Perimenopause - gradually declining hormone levels (mid-to-late 30's to mid 40's)
The transition to menopause is a time period known as perimenopause, a process that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause and marks the beginning of declining hormone production by the ovaries. In the final one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates and many women begin to experience menopausal discomfort such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and lack of energy.
Menopause - cessation of menstrual periods (late 40's to mid 50's)
At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. It's during this time women can expect to experience the bulk of menopausal discomforts. Once a woman has gone 1 full year without a menstrual period, she has made it through menopause and at this point is considered postmenopausal.
Postmenopause - increased health risks (late 50's and beyond) These are the years following menopause. During this stage, menopausal discomforts, such as hot flashes, ease for most women. However, at this time the health risks associated with the loss of estrogen (such as loss of normal bone and heart health) begin to increase.
