Menopause Now

Menopausal Transition

20-40

Premenopause

Premenopause covers the principle reproductive years in a woman’s life.

Symptoms: None

40-50

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the beginning of the menopausal transition.

Symptoms: Intense

Menopause

Menopause is a point in time when a woman has missed her period for 12 months in a row.

Symptoms: Mild to intense

52 +

Postmenopause

Postmenopause is the years after menopause when a woman’s fertility has ended.

Symptoms: None to mild

Menopause overview

Menopause Basics

Menopause is an inevitable phase in every woman’s life as her reproductive years come to an end.
It is defined as the time when a woman has gone without a period for 12 months in a row.
It occurs due to a gradual decline in reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, because of natural aging.
Menopause can also be induced through surgery, like hysterectomy, or certain medications.
The average age of menopause is 51.
Perimenopause, which can last from 2 to 10 years, is when most intense menopause symptoms occur, including irregular periods, hot flashes, and night sweats.
A year after the last period, a woman is referred to as postmenopausal.
Postmenopausal women should be cautious of complications such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

Women are generally encouraged to approach entering the menopausal transition the most natural and least invasive way.

Menopause Topics

Causes of Menopause

Menopause happens as a result of a decline of hormones due to natural aging. As women age, the supply of their ovarian eggs, which are the main producers of key reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, gradually decreases until it reaches total depletion. With no eggs being released, no hormonal production, and no periods occurring for 12 consecutive months, a woman is said to have entered natural menopause.

Estrogen levels through reproductive stages

Menopause Symptoms

Symptoms of Menopause

The symptoms typically lessen in postmenopause; however, consistently low hormone levels put women at a higher risk of developing heart problems, vaginal athrophy, or osteoporosis.

Finding Relief & Treatment

Healthy Lifestyle

Women are generally encouraged to approach entering the menopausal transition the most natural and least invasive way.

Healthy lifestyle practices that have shown beneficial in relieving the symptoms of menopause include:

Medications

Because of serious health risks involved with menopause medications, their use is typically reserved for the most severe symptoms.

Medications for alleviating menopause symptoms include:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Oral contraceptives
Other medications

Natural Remedies

Various phytoestrogenic and hormone-balancing herbs have been found to effectively reduce the severity of menopause symptoms.

Considered one of the safest and most effective ways to balance hormone levels naturally, they include:

Herbs for menopause
Natural supplements
Vitamins for menopause

The best way to find treatment for menopause symptoms is to first start with the most natural and non-invasive approaches.

Treatments for menopause

Latest Articles

Study: Saliva Tests Can Help Diagnose Oral Changes during Menopause

11/18/2021

Besides the hallmark symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and mood swings, women may also suffer from oral discomforts, including dry and burning mouth. Unfortunately, these ailments continue to be poorly understood, adding to their distress. Indian researchers conducted a study to assess the effects of menopause on women's oral health.

Study: Women Propose a Walking Program for Menopause Symptom Relief

11/09/2021

Although most middle-aged women know exercising could help them relieve symptoms, many find exercising on a regular basis particularly difficult. To create a solution tailored to their needs, Canadian researchers assessed the characteristics of a walking program to alleviate menopause symptoms. Read on to learn more!

Study: Stressful Life Events Associated with Midlife Depression Risk

11/02/2021

While hormonal shifts are the main culprit of menopausal depression, there might be other factors in middle-aged women's lives that may play a role. This trial assessed possible association between stressful life events and depression risk in menopausal women. Read on to learn more!

Study: Researchers Evaluate Factors Affecting Quality of Life after Menopause

10/28/2021

While it is known that women's quality of life during perimenopause is affected by numerous discomforts, much less is known about their life after menopause. To shed some light on the subject, South Korean researchers evaluated the factors that affect postmenopausal women's quality of life. Read on to learn more!

All About Menopause