How long does menopause last? By one measure, the rest of your life
Is menopause a day, a time of life, or a new era? It can depend on the person.
Menopause is a complex topic, with various interpretations and durations. One definition of menopause is a single day, occurring 12 months after a woman's final menstrual period. This is the point when the ovaries stop producing hormones and ovulation ceases. The average age of menopause in Australia is 51 years, but it generally occurs between 45 and 55 years.
However, menopause is not solely defined by this single day. Perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, occurs before the last period and is marked by hormonal fluctuations and associated symptoms such as night sweats, mood changes, and new aches and pains. Women in perimenopause can experience these symptoms for several years before entering post-menopause.
The years following menopause are referred to as post-menopause. During this stage, when oestrogen levels are much lower, women face a higher risk of conditions such as dementia, osteoporosis, and heart disease. These risks may be even greater for those who experience premature or early menopause (before the ages of 40 and 45, respectively).
Menopausal symptoms can last for an average of seven years but vary greatly from person to person. Some women may start noticing changes in their menstrual cycle and new symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats in their early forties, while others may experience symptoms very close to their last period or even years later. Symptoms often include hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, mood disturbances, and sleep disturbances, affecting up to 95% of women.
Certain factors can exacerbate symptoms, including smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, and genetic factors. For instance, variations in oestrogen receptor genes can influence the intensity of hot flushes and night sweats. Some symptoms, such as bone density loss, are not visible until a woman undergoes a scan. Healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, improving sleep hygiene, and engaging in regular exercise, including strength training, can significantly impact post-menopausal health and wellbeing.
If experiencing severe symptoms, it is advised to consult a GP for personalized advice on managing these changes.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
