Natural menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months without menstruation for which there is no other obvious physiological or pathological cause and in the absence of clinical intervention. Some women experience menopause earlier (before 40 years of age).
The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. It usually lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity.
Yes. Although it's normal for periods to change as you near menopause, you should still talk with your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) about bleeding changes. Abnormal bleeding sometimes can be a sign of health problems. It's especially important to tell your ob-gyn if you have bleeding after menopause.
Many common perimenopause symptoms are similar to menopause signs. For example, hot flashes may occur — when your body feels very hot for brief periods of time, and night sweats. Some people experience mood changes, anxiety, problems sleeping, vaginal dryness, and less interest in sex.
A period that is heavier or lighter than usual may be the last period, but it can be difficult to tell. Perimenopause is the stage that precedes menopause. Doctors consider a person to be in the later stages of perimenopause when their periods are more than 60 days apart .
Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle. There may be sudden surges in estrogen.
Menopause is the time in life when you stop having monthly periods. This marks the natural end of the reproductive stage of your life, when your ovaries no longer have eggs to release. Most Australian women experience menopause between 45 and 60 years of age. The average age of menopause is 51 years.
“They found that there are factors that do seem predictive of when a woman will approach menopause, such as higher estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, which we've known for a while," says Streicher. “Irregular menstrual bleeding and hot flashes were also indicators of earlier menopause,” she adds.
At-home menopause test kits measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your urine. Levels of this hormone increase temporarily each month to stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. When you enter menopause and your ovaries stop making estrogen and progesterone, your FSH levels also increase.
Menopause can happen when a person is in their 20s, 30s or 40s. Premature menopause describes menopause that occurs any time before age 40. It's rare for menopause to happen before age 30.
Home tests can detect FSH levels about 9 out of 10 times , but they do not determine whether a person is experiencing menopause. As females grow older, their FSH levels may increase and decrease during menstruation. The North American Menopause Society notes that saliva tests are not accurate and tend to be expensive.
As your estrogen levels decrease, your metabolism slows down. This makes you gain weight — even if you haven't changed a thing about the way you eat or move — and makes it harder to lose weight.
What causes menopause weight gain? The decrease in estrogen and progesterone, along with aging in general, triggers metabolic changes in the body. One change is a decrease in muscle mass, resulting in fewer calories being burned. If fewer calories are being burned, fat accumulates.
Menopause is divided into three basic stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to atrophy which causes a decline in the production of the hormones that stimulate the menstrual cycle; estrogen and progesterone.
The first sign of perimenopause typically a disruption of your menstrual cycle. For many women, your period starts earlier or later than normal. For example, if your menstrual cycle has always been 28 days, during perimenopause, your period could come as early as 21 or as late as 35 days.
The timing of menopause is different for all women. If you've reached your late 50s or early 60s and are still having a period, you may feel concerned. If this is the case, talk with your healthcare provider. Together, you can discuss the possible reasons for the delay and your provider can order tests if needed.
Exercise. Exercise is key in getting to and staying at a weight that supports your health at any age. During menopause, it can help you lose belly fat. Doing “targeted" abdominal exercises to get rid of belly fat sounds like it would help, but you can't tell your body exactly where to shed pounds.
“I named the extra fat that collects around your middle the 'menopot,'” says Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, author of Body for Life for Women. Before, during, and after menopause, your estrogen levels begin to wane and your metabolism slows, making it more difficult for you to lose weight, particularly around your middle.
Performing regular exercises is an excellent way to lose menopause belly fat and improve your overall physical health. Women can start with moderate to vigorous activities and might consider including aerobic exercises such as cycling, running, jogging, swimming, walking, and resistance or strength training.
Weight loss after menopause 5 surprise foods to limit or avoid are alcohol, ultra processed food, added sugar, caffeine, and fatty products. Menopausal diet for weight loss should include fruits and vegetables, food rich in fiber and protein, fat from fish and nuts, and legumes.
Move more. Physical activity, including aerobic exercise and strength training, may help you lose extra pounds and stay at a healthy weight. As you gain muscle, your body burns calories better, which makes it easier to control your weight.
B Vitamins
Riboflavin – found in milk, eggs, mushrooms, and fortified cereals – daily recommended intake of 1.1mg for women. Niacin – found in meat, fish, eggs, and wheat flour – daily recommended intake of 13.2mg for women. Pantothenic acid – found in chicken, beef, eggs, mushrooms, and avocados.