By: Liz Berland, LPC, SEP

I have noticed that most people, including women and doctors don’t discuss this common process. When I noticed that my body started changing I found that I had to research information about this essential transformation myself. 

I knew that menopause was a natural process. This information was passed down from my mother and it occurs when your ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones. It’s a normal part of aging. The other side of beginning your adolescence with puberty and getting your monthly menstruation.

I didn’t understand that there were stages to this process. Here is some information that I found from The Cleveland Clinic’s website:

(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause)

There are three stages to Menopause.

Perimenopause or “menopause transition:” Perimenopause can begin eight to 10 years before menopause when your ovaries gradually produce less and less estrogen. It usually starts when you’re in your 40s. You can be in perimenopause for several months or several years. Many people begin feeling symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes and mood swings in perimenopause.

Menopause: Menopause is the point when you no longer have menstrual periods. At this stage, your ovaries don’t release eggs, and your body doesn’t produce much estrogen. You go without a period for 12 consecutive months. Unlike the other stages, menopause itself is a defined moment, so you don’t stay in this stage.

Postmenopause: This is the time after menopause. You stay in postmenopause for the rest of your life. While most symptoms of menopause ease up in postmenopause, you can continue to have mild menopausal symptoms for several years in postmenopause. People in the postmenopausal phase are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease due to low estrogen levels.

Menopause, when it occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, is considered “natural” and is a normal part of aging. Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 is called early menopause. Menopause that occurs at 40 or younger is considered premature menopause. When there’s no medical or surgical cause for premature menopause, it’s called primary ovarian insufficiency.

You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:

• Irregular period or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.
• Hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over your body).
• Night sweats and/or cold flashes.
• Vaginal dryness that causes discomfort during sex.
• Urinary urgency (a pressing need to pee more frequently).
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
• Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings or depression).
• Dry skin, dry eyes or dry mouth.
• Worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Breast tenderness.

Some people might also experience:

• Racing heart.
• Headaches.
• Joint and muscle aches and pains.
• Changes in libido.
• Difficulty concentrating or memory lapses (often temporary).
• Weight gain.
• Hair loss or thinning.

Changes in your hormone levels cause these symptoms. Some people have intense symptoms of menopause, while others have mild symptoms. Not everyone will have the same symptoms as they transition to menopause.

I was surprised to learn that you can have symptoms of menopause for up to 10 years before it officially occurs. In retrospect I wish I had more information because I knew my body was changing but didn’t realize that you could experience symptoms far in advance.

Let’s continue  the conversation about this important issue. As women, we all go through it. We need not only the information but the emotional support. We educate our daughters about menstruation and most schools use a part of health class to inform their students. Now we need to cultivate the teaching of menopause.