The Stages of Menopause

Menopause is a natural stage in a womans life. The menopausal process occurs in four stages: pre-menopause, perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.

Pre-menopause refers to a womans fertile life, which ranges from her first menstrual period to her last menstrual period. However, the term is often misused to describe the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause) and also to describe premature menopause.

Perimenopause encompasses the years preceding menopause. It describes the length of time when your periods are becoming lighter or heavier. When discussing menopause, most women refer to perimenopause because its during this stage that the hormone levels change and levels of estrogen decline. As ovarian production decreases, the follicle stimulating hormone (or FSH) increases, triggering symptoms like hot flashes, headaches, memory problems, acne and mood swings. Perimenopause typically takes place between 45- and 60-years-of-age and can span a 2- to 6-year period of time. Early signs of perimenopause usually occur in a womans mid 40s. Women who experience early menopause typically follow their mothers pattern.

Menopause is the permanent termination of menstruation and fertility. This stage begins when a woman has her last period. Menopause can be defined by more than 6 consecutive period-free months. At this stage, ovaries no longer produce eggs as hormone production stops, and common changes become noticeable - including vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive.

Finally, post menopause is determined after a womans menstrual period hasnt reoccurred within a period of 12-months. Most symptoms will fade. Hot flashes might seem milder or much less frequent and energy and emotional levels might seem to stabilize. However, postmenopause can bring up new health issues due to the decreasing female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). The two most serious health concerns in post-menopausal women are heart disease and osteoporosis.