3 Stages of Menopause

Menopause begins when a lady’s menstruation comes to an end. It happens for most women sometime between the ages of 40 to 60, although it varies from one lady to the next. As the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, a lady may start to feel the symptoms of pre-menopause (also known as perimenopause. Menopause Symptoms is usually a gradual process that stretches over several years. The menopause process is defined into three phases: pre-menopause or perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.

Perimenopause can begin as much as 3 - 5 years before your final menstrual cycle. There are a few resources that say perimenopause is the 15 years before your final period. The signs of menopause may start slowly during this time. If there is one thing that is for sure about premenopause is that the one consistent thing about perimenopause is that its inconsistent. You may notice that your menstrual cycles are not as regular, ovulation is inconsistent, your cycles may last longer, and you could have sexual mood swings. PMS symptoms can get worse.

Menopause begins once you’ve had your last menstrual cycle. Your premenopause may continue for awhile, including weight gain. Your hormone levels are decreasing, and your body is making its final adjustments to no longer being fertile. During this second stage of menopuase, your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, and estrogen production has dropped.

The final stage of menopause (also known as post-menopause begins when you have not had a menstrual cycle for a year. Nearly all of the menopausal experiences you had been having have eased, or will continue to ease up as time passes. Pregnancy is no longer a possibility. With the low amounts of estrogen, however, other health problems may need to be addressed like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Something that is not very comforting is that for a woman, her risks of cardiovascular disease are equal to that of a man.

Menopause symptoms may be uncomfortable and distressing, but remember they are temporary. More than any other time in a woman’s life, she needs to work with a doctor she trusts. They may be able to provide some remedies to help you get through many of the changes. You might want to consider going down the path that many women are going down right now, and that is to try natural therapies or to find alternative methods to deal with the three stages of menopause.