Symptoms and Stages of Menopause
The tables below show the average woman’s experience of the Perimenopause leading to the Complete Menopause.
It is only a guide and each woman will commence and cease at different times in their lives and either sail through it with little or few symptoms and others will not.
| STAGE 1 |
Premenopause |
| What does it mean? |
Menstruation is regular. Hormone levels normal.
|
Action you can take
|
Read our article on preparing for the menopause |
| STAGE 2 |
Perimenopause |
| What does it mean? |
Menstruation becomes irregular. Hormone levels in decline
|
Average age it can start
|
45 ish
Can be linked to start of periods e.g. early 1st period = early menopause.
Your mother’s experience is a good indication. |
| How long does it last? |
2- 10 years |
| Common symptoms |
Hot Flushes
Mood swings
Night sweats
Weight becomes harder to shift Fat settles around the middle
Cramps
Memory loss
Lack of concentration
Reduced libido
Loss of fertility (although beware you can still get pregnant)
Difficulty sleeping
Skin gets thinner and sensitive to heat and cold
Hormone changes effect the skin.
|
Action you can take
|
Check with GP and ask for a FOC (hormone levels test)
Consider supplements to help with symptoms.
Ensure diet is good and free from junk food. See our Food Pyramid
Supplement with products formulated for this time of life
Eliminate foods, drinks that aggravate e.g. spicy foods/hot flushes – coffee late/sleeplessness
Exercise regularly |
| STAGE 3 |
Menopause |
| What does it mean? |
Menstruation stopped for 6 months
|
| How long does it last? |
2- 10 years |
| Common symptoms |
All the above symptoms of Perimenopause can still occur but less so. |
| Action you can take |
Maintain good diet
Supplement with products formulated for this time of life
Exercise with bone loading activities regularly |
| STAGE 4 |
Complete Menopause |
| What does it mean? |
Menstruation stopped for 1 year
|
| Action you can take |
Maintain good diet
Supplement with products formulated for this time of life
Exercise with bone loading activities regularly |
| STAGE 5 |
Post Menopause |
| What does it mean? |
Oestrogen levels drop significantly
|
| Common symptoms |
Possible thinning of bones. |
| Action you can take |
Maintain good diet
Supplement with products formulated for this time of life
Exercise with bone loading activities regularly |