Menopause: Symptoms and Stages Every Woman Should Know

Every woman goes through menopause. Commonly marked by symptoms such as mood swings, discomfort and hot flashes, this natural biological occurrence can take a heavy toll on one’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

Learning the average menopause age and understanding the menopause stages can help women prepare and recognise changes in their bodies to seek timely medical guidance. This allows women to manage this critical life stage effectively while continuing to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

This article explores everything women need to know about menopause, from menopause symptoms, and when does menopause start, to its stages.

What Is Menopause and Why Does It Happen?

Menopause is a natural biological occurrence in women that occurs when a woman has not had her menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The menopause age in India is between 45 and 50 years. However, it is subject to an individual’s unique lifestyle and hormonal balance.

Menopause occurs because the ovaries cease the production of reproductive hormones. And so, when a woman attains menopause, it also marks the end of her reproductive years.

Menopause: Symptoms and Signs

While the menopause symptoms can differ with individuals, here are the common ones to look out for:

• Irregular menstrual cycle, with heavier or lighter than usual flow.
• A sudden feeling of warmth across the body, also known as hot flashes.
• Cold flashes or night sweats.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Insomnia or difficulty in sleeping.
• Emotional changes such as unexplained irritability, mood swings, or depression.
• Dry eyes, dry skin or dry mouth.
• Tenderness in breasts.
• Worse than usual premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

Apart from the above-mentioned menopause symptoms, individuals might also experience:

• Headaches.
• Fluctuating libido.
• Pain in muscles and joints.
• Racing heart.
• Temporary lapse in memory.
• Difficulty in concentrating.
• Weight gain.
• Loss or thinning of hair.

It is important to remember that some individuals can experience intense menopause symptoms while others might have mild ones. This is because menopause symptoms depend on one’s hormone levels.

What Are the Menopause Stages?

Here are the three menopause stages every woman should be aware of:

• Perimenopause: Also known as ‘menopause transition’, the first menopause stage takes place approximately eight to ten years before menopause. During this stage, the ovaries reduce the production of oestrogen gradually. One can experience perimenopause from anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on their individual lifestyle habits and hormonal balance. Some common perimenopause symptoms include hot flashes, mood swings and an irregular menstrual cycle.
• Menopause: Succeeding the perimenopause stage, the menopause stage is marked by the complete stop of menstrual periods. During menopause, the ovaries cease releasing eggs, and the body reduces oestrogen production. This menopause stage is typically confirmed when the individual has not had their menstrual cycle for 12 months consecutively.
• Postmenopause: The final menopause stage is one that continues for the individual’s entire life after they complete menopause. The typical menopause symptoms reduce in intensity during this stage. However, so does the production of oestrogen, a critical hormone that can make an individual more prone to osteoporosis and heart disease. Low oestrogen levels cause a decline in bone density and disrupt the regulation of cholesterol levels, as well as proper blood flow, among other effects. Individuals in their postmenopausal stage must consult a medical professional for guidance.

How is Menopause Diagnosed?

Menopause is usually diagnosed after a discussion about the regularity of one’s menstrual cycle. Doctors can also recommend blood tests to ascertain hormone levels.

Menopause is a natural biological occurrence. The menopause age in India is between 45 and 50 years. That said, the age at which one attains menopause depends on one’s lifestyle and hormonal balance. Women experiencing menopause symptoms and menopause stages should consult a medical professional and book a Menopausal screening panel test on the Dr Lal PathLabs website or Dr Lal PathLabs app.

FAQs

1. What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural biological occurrence that occurs when a woman has not had her menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, vaginal dryness, and urinary urgency.

2. When does menopause start?

The average menopause age fluctuates with geographies and depends on one’s lifestyle choices and hormonal balance. That said, the women in India usually experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 50 years.

3. What are the stages of menopause?

The three menopause stages are perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.