Menopause is when a woman stops having periods and can't get pregnant anymore. It's a normal part of a woman's life. While the age of menopause can vary, for most women, it starts in the 40s or 50s and comes with a variety of symptoms. Not all the symptoms are a breeze and can affect each woman differently. Because of this, many want to know 'how long does menopause last.'
What is Menopause?
Menopause is when a woman stops having her period for a whole year, as stated by the National Institute on Aging. For some women, leading up to that point, symptoms such as missed periods, heavy periods, and hot flashes can begin even before the official onset of menopause, which can affect how you feel physically.
Menopause can happen naturally or be caused by a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries for medical reasons. When menopause occurs naturally, without any medical intervention, it occurs in three stages.
The 3 Stages of Menopause
Hormonal changes occur throughout a woman's life, moving them through various stages of maturity, and the phases leading up to and after menopause are part of the natural cycle. The process occurs gradually over time and includes: (1)
- Premenopause: This is the stage before perimenopause, the transitional phase leading to menopause. During premenopause, estrogen levels remain stable. However, vital hormones like progesterone, thyroid, and testosterone start decreasing.
Hormone therapy aims to replenish these declining hormones, reducing discomfort. Benefits of this treatment include enhanced energy, improved mood, increased sex drive, and better weight management.
- Perimenopause / Menopause: This stage typically occurs between your 40s and 60s, with an average age of 51. During this phase, estrogen production becomes irregular, leading to erratic menstrual cycles. Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood fluctuations, sleep disturbances, reduced libido, weight gain, and vaginal dryness, all attributed to the fluctuating estrogen levels. Our customized hormone treatments target symptoms precisely, helping alleviate them and enabling you to return to being you.
- Postmenopause: This marks the point when your menstrual cycles have stopped completely, signifying the end of ovarian function. During this phase, your body's estrogen levels remain low, and many women continue to grapple with persistent menopausal symptoms. Hormone treatment offers relief from these, including issues related to energy, mood, libido, and sleep that can endure for some even decades after menopause. Furthermore, scientific research* supports the idea that hormone therapy can help delay skin aging, prompting smoother, more youthful skin.
“Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to increase epidermal hydration, skin elasticity, skin thickness (Sator et al. 2001), and also reduces skin wrinkles.â€
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2685269/
Symptoms of Menopause
Generally, the symptoms of menopause begin in the years leading up to it in perimenopause. The length and duration of the symptoms can depend on several factors, including age, family history, genetics, lifestyle, diet and overall general health. Still, the average length is about 4 years before the end of your last period. (2)
The Main Symptoms
There are 34 symptoms of menopause however, the more common ones include the following:
1. Hot flashes
The sudden feeling of heat that runs throughout your body. It can happen anytime and is one of the most common and unnerving symptoms.
2. Night sweats
Menopausal sleep disturbances can stem from temperature fluctuations. The body may overheat, triggering sweating, or cool down excessively, leading to chills and shivering. To manage this, maintain a cool sleep environment and consider breathable bedding. Lifestyle factors like exercise and diet can help regulate temperature for better sleep.
3. Emotional issues
Mood swings, depression and irritability can occur without warning or reason.
4. Irregular periods
Periods that are abnormally light or heavy for you.
5. Vaginal dryness
This is usually because of hormonal changes during menopause that can cause pain during sex. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and elasticity of vaginal tissues. When estrogen levels drop, the vaginal tissues can become thinner, drier, and less flexible.
6. Insomnia
Night sweats, emotional issues and hot flashes commonly make it harder to sleep and to stay asleep.
7. Breast tenderness
Breast tenderness, or mastalgia, is common with hormonal fluctuations. This sensitivity in the breast tissue follows menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause. Hormonal shifts can increase blood flow and fluid retention in the breasts, resulting in tenderness or discomfort.
8. Problems Losing Weight
Weight gain can become more noticeable during certain life stages, such as menopause, due to hormonal fluctuations and reduced estrogen production. These changes can contribute to a redistribution of body fat, with a tendency for excess weight to accumulate in areas like the stomach, hips, and thighs. Hormonal shifts may affect how the body stores fat, leading to changes in overall body composition.
9. Changes in sex drive
Menopausal symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings, and fatigue, along with falling testosterone levels, can contribute to a reduced interest in sex.
Hormones have a significant effect on what symptoms you may experience and the intensity of those symptoms. Some women may breeze through, while others can feel miserable.
How Long Do Symptoms of Menopause Last?
Once you're in menopause, symptoms can last for seven years on average but as long as fourteen years. (3) But many things can affect how long symptoms may last. The age of onset, whether you smoke or drink excess alcohol, how much you exercise, diet, and health history can all play a part.
The duration and severity of menopause symptoms can also depend on the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Women who opt for HRT often experience a considerable reduction in both the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms.
HRT can help balance hormonal fluctuations before, during and after menopause, making all the stages more manageable. By mitigating the impact of these hormonal changes, HRT plays a crucial role in improving the overall menopausal experience, offering relief to many women during this natural life stage.
Optimal Hormones Optimal Health
Optimal hormone management for women plays a pivotal role in achieving relief from menopausal symptoms and maintaining long-term health. By addressing hormonal imbalances, such as estrogen and progesterone levels, women can experience substantial relief from hot flashes, mood swings, and other common menopausal discomforts.
Additionally, a well-managed hormone regimen not only eases immediate symptoms but can also contribute to preserving bone density, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being in the long run, offering a comprehensive approach to women's health during and beyond menopause.
How to Manage Menopausal Symptoms
For many women, the symptoms of menopause can be highly disruptive in their life. A hot flash while giving a presentation doesn't go unnoticed, mood swings can cause issues with friends and family, and vaginal dryness can cause a rift in your intimacy. So, how do women manage their most common symptoms?
Hot flashes
There can be various things that trigger hot flashes, and if yours are severe, you should look at lifestyle factors to minimize them. They can include: (4)
- Diet: What you eat and drink can impact the severity of your hot flashes, so limiting spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine can reduce symptoms.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Overweight women can experience more frequent and intense hot flashes.
- Meditation: Mindful meditation and hypnosis have helped some women lessen their symptoms' severity.
- Hormone therapy: HRT offers a solution for every stage of menopause, ensuring women maintain optimal health during and beyond. Whether you're experiencing mild or severe symptoms, talking to an experienced healthcare provider is essential. A provider with a proactive approach will help with immediate discomfort, promoting long-term health and empowering you to navigate each phase of menopause with confidence.
Sleep issues
For many women, going through menopause symptoms is difficult. Still, other life events may sometimes make it more stressful, leading to difficulty sleeping. When you don't get the sleep you need, it affects all areas of your life.
Improving sleep isn't always easy, but there are things you can do to help. They include: (5)
- Starting a bedtime routine: Whether it's a hot shower, reading, or a sleep machine, having a routine can prepare your body and mind for sleep.
- Sleep schedule: Set a bedtime and wake time for each day, and stick with it.
- No naps: Avoid napping so you'll be sleepier when it's time for bed.
- Turn off all devices: The light from TV, computers and cell phones can disrupt sleep patterns and keep you awake.
- Keep the room cool: When dealing with night sweats that make you hot, a cooler room temperature can help minimize the effects.
- Diet: Eat a clean diet of whole foods and minimize hot and spicy foods and alcohol.
- Exercise: A fitness routine can help with sleep patterns if you don't workout too close to bedtime.
Vaginal dryness
Hormonal changes can cause vaginal dryness that can make intercourse painful, which can affect personal relationships and cause additional stress for women dealing with menopause symptoms. (6)
- Over-the-Counter Lubricant: Consider trying an over-the-counter lubricant. These products are readily available and can provide relief, making sexual intercourse more comfortable.
- Prescription lubricant: Your medical practitioner can prescribe prescription hormones such as estrogen creams or tablets.
While there are various symptoms of menopause, every woman experiences them differently, if they have them at all. To get help with specific symptoms, check with your medical professional for the best treatment options.
When to See a Medical Professional
Depending on your individual situation, women should be encouraged to start HRT even before the onset of uncomfortable menopausal symptoms. Using HRT can provide relief from immediate discomfort and contribute to long-term protection of your health.
While many women can effectively manage some initial symptoms on their own, it's essential to consult with your healthcare provider as soon as these symptoms become unbearable. They will assess your condition and develop a customized treatment plan to alleviate the severity of your symptoms and protect your long-term health.
Conclusion
All the stages of menopause can start at different times and affect each woman differently. Symptoms and severity can vary significantly from woman to woman and depend on many factors, such as medical history, hormone levels and lifestyle. They can last up to 14 years or, in some cases, much longer.
If you're experiencing menopausal symptoms, either mild or disruptive, don't hesitate to consult your healthcare provider. They can create a personalized treatment plan to help you regain control of your well-being and enjoy a more comfortable, fulfilling life.
Discover the transformative benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in enhancing your quality of life.
