Menopause & Perimenopause
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. It happens gradually as she gets older and is usually accompanied by hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and decreased libido.
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Perimenopause is the time before menopause when periods stop but you still have ovulation and menstrual bleeding.
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Both menopause and perimenopause are caused by changes in hormones. Once you have gone through them, your body will be able to produce less estrogen and progesterone leading to the symptoms of menopause.
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Menopause can bring several health benefits including reduced risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer such as breast cancer. The symptoms of menopause vary from person to person depending on their biological make-up as well as lifestyle habits such as smoking or lack of exercise.
Menopause is a time of change—and it may be hard to know what to expect. Here are a few facts about menopause and perimenopause that might help you navigate the changes:
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The average age for menopause is 51.
Nearly 95% of women experience some symptoms of menopause by age 50, but most do not experience all of them.
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When you first start experiencing symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, they may seem sudden and severe. But symptoms tend to get worse before they get better over time.