When you hit the milestone of 40, it’s natural to become concerned about the shifts happening in your body. Often, it’s a perplexing experience, not knowing what’s occurring or why. So, I started looking into some symptoms and found out about the stages of menopause. Now, I’m here to share what I’ve learned after digging deep into the topic, including how to know if you’re entering menopause.
Life sure is a rollercoaster, and one twist we all face is menopause—a stage packed with physical and emotional changes. As you may already know, women’s bodies experience two major stages throughout their lives.
The first stage is menstruation, a fertile period during which cycles occur every 28-35 days, beginning with menarche. The second stage is menopause, a phase that many women approach with mixed feelings, as it signifies a new and different chapter in life.
Phases of Menopause that you should know
As we mentioned, menopause is a stage of life that every woman will experience, though the timing can vary based on lifestyle and individual health. It’s marked by the end of menstruation and the fertile period and is often seen as a step toward the later stages of life.
Menopause typically occurs between 45 and 55, but the exact timing can vary for each woman due to different factors. Why does menopause happen? Simply put, the ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone, which leads to the cessation of their bodily functions. Menopause can be broken down into several stages, which are as follows:
Premenopause
Premenopause is the stage where you experience no symptoms of perimenopause or menopause. You’re still having periods, whether they’re regular or irregular, and are considered to be in your reproductive years. While some hormonal changes may be happening, there are no noticeable changes in your body.
Perimenopause
Pinpointing the exact start of perimenopause isn’t always possible. For most women, it typically begins sometime in their mid-to-late 40s. It usually lasts for around 4 years. During this phase, the ovaries gradually decrease the amount of estrogen they produce.
Menopause
This marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It typically occurs around the age of 51, but it can vary. Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. During menopause, symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes may occur.
Postmenopause
This phase begins after menopause and lasts for the rest of a woman’s life. It’s characterized by the absence of menstrual periods and a decrease in symptoms experienced during perimenopause and menopause.
Symptoms
There are many signs and symptoms that signal the arrival of this significant phase in a woman’s life. But how do you know if you’re entering menopause? It’s totally normal to have some doubts, but staying calm and tuning into your body’s messages is key. Curious to learn more?
1. Pay Attention to Your Period
One of the first signs that you might be entering menopause is changes in your menstrual cycle. Watch for irregular periods, shorter or longer cycles, or changes in flow.
If your periods start becoming more sporadic or stop altogether for several months, it could be a sign that menopause is approaching.
2. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Those dreaded hot flashes! If you suddenly feel like you’re burning up, especially in your upper body and face, and start sweating, you might be experiencing a classic menopause symptom.
Night sweats, where you wake up drenched in sweat, are also common during menopause.
3. Sleep issue
As mentioned earlier, those night sweats can be so intense that they disrupt your sleep, possibly leading to insomnia. You may find yourself getting less sleep than before, especially as you adjust to this new phase of life, feeling more tired and worn out. This change is because of the decrease in melatonin.
Additionally, you might start waking up much earlier in the morning than you’re used to. But hey, on the bright side, you can make the most of your day, right?
4. Mood Swings and Emotional Changes
Sudden hormonal fluctuations can mess with your mood. Whether it’s during premenopause or around menopause, you might find yourself feeling irritable, anxious, stressed, or downright cranky. Maybe you’re a bit more on edge than usual. Don’t worry; it’s all part of the process!
These mood swings are completely normal as your body gears up for the next chapter of life, which can be just as joyful as the ones before. But hey, adjusting to them might take some time. Once again, it’s those pesky hormonal changes at work.
5. Changes in the Vagina
When your body experiences a significant drop in collagen, it can lead to vaginal dryness and dryness all over your body. You might notice your skin feeling drier, your nails breaking more easily, and your vagina being less stretchy than usual. This could be seen, especially when you have sexual relations.
Another symptom that often shows up is urine loss because of urinary incontinence. It’s pretty common to have trouble controlling your bladder during this new stage of life, but don’t fret! There are solutions available, and your doctor can indeed find the best remedy for you.
6. Bone weakness
Female hormones support our bones, but they might weaken as they decrease or change. This could result in bone discomfort or weakness, possibly leading to osteoporosis. But don’t worry—there’s a solution! Calcium and vitamin D can do wonders for strengthening your bones and aiding in the healing process. It’s also a good idea to get regular bone check-ups to address any issues that may arise.
Natural remedies
Here are some natural remedy suggestions that doctors often recommend for managing these phases:
- Balanced Diet: Incorporate foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as soy, flaxseeds, and legumes.
- Regular Exercise: Engage in moderate aerobic activities like walking or swimming.
- Stress Management: Practice mindfulness techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
- Prioritize Sleep: Establish a consistent sleep schedule and relaxing bedtime routine.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to combat dryness.
- Vitamin D: Get sunlight exposure and consider vitamin D supplements.
- Bone-Nourishing Foods: Include calcium-rich foods such as leafy greens and almonds.
- Mind-Body Practices: Try yoga for both physical flexibility and emotional well-being.
Wrap up
And there you have it – a small guide to everything about menopause!
While dealing with all these changes might feel overwhelming sometimes, remember you’re not alone. Lean on your support system, stay informed, and don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor or Gynecologist if you have any queries. Most importantly, embrace this new phase of life with open arms and adapt to your needs.
Also, keep in mind that menopause can happen earlier than expected due to factors like smoking, lack of exercise, stress, or family history.
Share this post with all the women who need to know about these stages, and don’t forget to include your male friends too! It’s important for everyone to understand and support their partners and friends going through these changes and mood swings.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended for medical purposes. Please consult a doctor for any medical advice or concerns.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Growing with Nemit.
Every woman who menstruates has to go through menopause at some point of life, so knowing what to expect and understanding the process can keep one prepared. As a doctor, my only word of advice is that in this age of increasing incidence of cancer, please do not wait for more than three months to visit a doctor if you do not get your period or if you get heavy bleeding during menses or bleed after sex.
Thank you for your advice dear. I hope this adds value to this post 😊
That was so insightful. Every 40+ women needs to be aware of these facts. Thanks for highlighting them through your post.
Wow, a comprehensive write-up about this most crucial but often overlooked stage of a woman’s life! For me, mood swings and cramps were the biggest pains, the former far more than the latter. My poor husband bore the brunt of these mood swings, and rightly so, I might add.
This is a really helpful guide for those who are experiencing this situation. Your knowledgeable guide may help them think in different ways and act on the situation with care. This is a very informative article.
I don’t think my periods are ever going to end. I do have gained weight around my waist and have mood swings, but the monthly cycle doesn’t stop. I am just waiting to come out of this phase.
This is a comprehensive guide on Menopause. You have given such a detailed description of each stage and how to handle it. The hot flushes and the incontinence is very difficult to go through. I took homeo medicines and my menopause was quite easy, thankfully.
Thanks for sharing. I am in my late 30s and found it insightful as well as good for me to monitor my own health. I think some of these were signs I wasn’t aware of like bone weakness and so i will be more mindful in listening to what my body is saying
Menopause…. A permanent pause to the reality of being fertile.
For many its a relief but can be a pain for many to accept this phase of life.
I still wonder how to accept this when it will arrive in my life.
Thanks dearie for educating me to welcome it with grace in this life.
My doctor diagnosed me as Perimenopause. It was actually endometrial cancer. Better to consult and take two opinions if your symptoms and body physiology does throw something off-balance. I am ever grateful to that one doctor who felt that the bleeding should not be ignored without biopsy. This was in 2014
This is such a precise and simple story on the how’s and what’s of menopause. I wasn’t aware of some of these. Thanks for sharing Anjali. Though I’m at least ten years away from Menopause it’s good to have the knowledge from now on and what one can expect from this bodily/hormonal change
Wow, this is a complete guide to menopause. Quite relevant, it should reach the maximum number of women. Regular exercise, a nutritious diet and a stress-free lifestyle can change the parameters for the better.
Thanks for sharing those tips on menopause! While I’m not quite at that stage yet, it’s good to have this knowledge for the future. I’ll keep an eye out for those signs as I get older. I remember watching Drew Barrymore experiencing hot flashes on live TV during Jennifer Aniston Interview! That was the first time I understood what hot flashes look like.
A very informative and necessary post. I went through menopause a long time ago. I agree with you. Diet and exercise affect it a lot.
That was a handy set of information many are looking forward to. In my case, I have had a smooth landing into the stage of menopause, not going through any ailment such as hot flashes, night sweats, or mood swings, and without any medication other than the intake of a regular diet.
With lifestyle changes on the unhealthy side, menopause is showing earlier than before. I keep counselling my patients in the peri phase. Informative post.
Very informative post Anjali. Sad but true… we all have to go through it at one point or the other. But it’s really good to be aware… thanks to you for making it easy for us. I too had/have a whole lot of questions, you have answered some of them… thank you for that too.
That was so insightful. Every 40+ women needs to be aware of these facts. Thanks for highlighting them through your post.
This is a helpful article. As you have rightly said, once a woman crosses 40, she wonders when this phase will begin and end, and she can get on with life without the mood swings and hot flashes!
Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive article. Ditto on sharing this with men because they need to be aware of it too. I am going through perimenopause right now. Genes and a healthy lifestyle have made it manageable.
I have not reached the age of menopause but I have heard the stories from my mother and my step mother and phew…it is not something I am looking forward to. I commend us women because our body goes through soo many changes and stages within our life. Men are lucky in some sense!
I’m in my early 40s and this information is very helpful for me. Many of these symptoms happen with me due to extensive workouts and have scared me before. I think qe must keep our gynaecologist in the loop so that any changes can be identified and dealt with in time.
Very informative post. I appreciate the way you have articulated the necessary points that a woman should know about menopause. At times when a woman is having irregular periods she should definitely seek a medical help instead of home remedies.
Thank you for sharing such valuable information! Menopause can be a daunting topic, but your clear and empathetic explanation makes it much easier to understand. This will surely help many women like my mum going through this phase.
The way you discussed menopause in detail is truly informative and useful.
That’s a very comprehensive post about an important phase in a woman’s life. Thanks for sharing!