Tag: Women's health

Are you in your 40s or 50s? Have you started noticing hot flashes, mood swings, irregular periods, or other changes? If you answered yes to these questions, you might also be wondering if you’re in menopause. Changes to your body and mood may have you flashing back to puberty: Is this normal? What comes next? Do I need to do something?

Menopause is a biological process that every woman experiences when her reproductive years end. But when it happens and the symptoms it brings can vary widely from woman to woman, and it’s not always easy to know if you’ve reached menopause.

Of course, knowing where you might be in your menopause journey can help you know what to expect and better manage your symptoms, whenever they show up. Being in the know can also help you tell what’s normal and when it might make sense to talk with a women’s health specialist. And we’re here to help.

Your experience with menopause will be unique – from when it starts to the types of menopause symptoms you’ll feel as you age. But there are usually some signs to tell you where you may be at in the process.

The stages of menopause: Perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.

What is perimenopause? It’s when menopause symptoms begin.

Perimenopause – or pre-menopause – is a word that means “around menopause.” Perimenopause describes what happens to your body leading up to menopause. This stage typically starts about four to eight years before menopause.

When you enter perimenopause you’ll probably start to notice some early menopause symptoms like changes to your period or mood shifts. These changes happen because your body’s estrogen and progesterone levels are starting to naturally decline. As your ovaries produce lower amounts of these hormones, your body adapts. It’s basically the reverse of what happened to your hormones as a teenager.

What is menopause? It’s a moment in time.

Menopause is a specific point in time. Menopause occurs when periods stop and you’ve gone 12 consecutive months since having your last period. Once you’ve hit that moment, you enter post-menopause.

Reaching menopause means that you’re no longer able to bear children. Every woman – except for those who’ve had their ovaries removed before puberty – will go through menopause.

When does menopause start?

The average menopause age is around 51. But some women experience menopause in their 40s – with a small percentage experiencing menopause even younger. Some women may not reach menopause until their 60s.

There’s no way to know your exact menopause age until it happens, but genetics seem to play a strong role. You may get a general idea of when to expect menopause based on when your family members went through it, particularly your mother.

Genetics aren’t the only thing that can impact when menopause starts. Medical factors can also influence menopause timing. When the ovaries are removed, symptoms will begin to show immediately.

Certain medical conditions like autoimmune diseases have also been associated with early menopause. Women who’ve undergone treatments like radiation therapy or chemotherapy are also more likely to show symptoms earlier.

What is post-menopause? It’s the after.

Post-menopause simply means “after menopause”. During this time, you’ll continue to experience menopause symptoms for a time. How long exactly? Typically, menopause symptoms last two to seven years post-menopause, but they can last longer for some women.

Signs of perimenopause

Perimenopause is the period of time before menopause officially begins, but your most fertile years are behind you. In perimenopause, your estrogen levels (and your fertility) naturally begin to decline.

As hormone levels begin to fluctuate, you begin to notice symptoms characteristic of menopause. These signs commonly include:

• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Low libido
• Vaginal dryness

Many women enter perimenopause while in their 40s. It lasts about four years on average, but ranges anywhere from a few months to 10 years. The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are very similar, but there’s one key difference: if you’re in perimenopause, you still get your period, even if it’s irregular.

Adjusting to life in menopause

The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause may not be permanent, but they can significantly impact your quality of life. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise, have been proven to help manage menopausal changes.

Some women find that their symptoms are mild or short-lived, but for others, lifestyle changes aren’t enough to manage their more intense symptoms. If your daily life is disrupted by symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, medical intervention could help.

Our team at ExC Pharmacy partners with women to help them navigate menopause. We offer a range of product solutions, to minimize symptoms. Visit our website www.excpharmacy.com to order for products.

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