After this, they will no longer be able to become pregnant without assistance. Sex and gender exist on a spectrum. The changes that lead to menopause happen gradually. Estrogen levels start to fluctuate in the years before menopause. In time, there will be disruption in the menstrual cycle, and other changes may follow.
Periods may continue for several years before menopause begins. This time is known as perimenopause. Some people call it premenopause, but perimenopause is the standard term within the medical community. Undergoing chemotherapy, having surgery to remove the ovaries, and other factors can all cause hormone levels to fall rapidly or suddenly. People sometimes use the terms premenopause and perimenopause interchangeably, but premenopause is not a scientifically accepted term. They do not use premenopause.
The two stages of menopause are perimenopause and postmenopause. Menopause is the point at which a female moves from one stage to the next.
It is not possible to pinpoint when perimenopause starts. For most females, it will be sometime around their mid-to-late 40s. During this time, the ovaries start reducing the amount of estrogen they produce. The menstrual cycle will become variable and eventually stop completely. When no periods have occurred for 12 months, a healthcare professional will confirm menopause. In the United States, the average age at menopause is 52 years.
However, the age range for this can vary widely. A female may know that they are starting perimenopause if their menstrual cycle varies by 7 days or more but they still have at least one period in 3 months. During perimenopause, a female may start to experience :. These symptoms may become more noticeable as menopause approaches, though they will not affect everyone.
Is it a hot flash? Learn more about this symptom here. Menopause occurs when there have been no periods for 12 months. It is a moment of transition rather than a stage.
At this point, the ovaries no longer release eggs, and estrogen production in the ovaries has fallen significantly. The transition from perimenopause to postmenopause happens when a female stops ovulating. However, experts point out that there is no clearly identifiable moment when this happens. They can only say that it occurs at some point during that transition. And lasts until the complete cessation of her period. This stage is known as menopause. In general, during perimenopause, women still have periods, although the period may come irregularly.
The period may change to being a very heavy period or an unusually light period. Estrogen levels and progesterone levels are gradually declining, and symptoms may occur. Pregnancy is still possible during the peri-menopausal time frame. For additional information about the difference between perimenopause and menopause, please call our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with board-certified gynecologist Dr.
Melinda Hall. Tresa Lombardi, MD , an obstetrician and gynecologist OB-GYN with Scripps Clinic says the menopausal transition is a spectrum; the years before and after period cessation share many of the same symptoms. Although not all perimenopausal or menopausal women will require treatment, there are tips for women experiencing the symptoms that often accompany declining hormone levels.
Lose weight Exercise Switch to a plant-based diet Increase your calcium and vitamin D intake Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and other dietary triggers Practice mindfulness Try cognitive behavioral training.
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