These Are the Age Ranges and Top Symptoms Of Menopause
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nicole Avena

One of the biggest physiological changes in a woman’s body is often referred to as the menopausal transition.

This period occurs over months or years during which reproductive hormone levels – estrogen and progesterone – fluctuate and then drop, and the ovaries stop releasing eggs. A number of mental and physical symptoms can occur due to these hormonal changes.

Here’s a general guide for menopause age ranges and symptoms, potential impacts on health, and what you can do to thrive while undergoing “the change.”

Guide for Menopause 2

What Is Menopause?

Menopause happens gradually over time as a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and female hormone production of estrogen and progesterone declines. (Menopause can also occur if a woman’s ovaries are damaged by certain illnesses or treatments, or if they’re surgically removed.)

Natural menopause doesn’t happen quickly. It begins with the first signs and symptoms that the menopause transition has started (also called perimenopause).

Perimenopause can begin months or years before a woman’s last menstrual period, and it has its own unique set of symptoms. Once a woman goes a full year without menstruation, she’s in menopause. From that moment on, she’s considered postmenopausal. With the increase of life expectancy, a woman may now live one-third of her life after menopause.

When Does Menopause Happen?

The International Menopause Society reports that the menopausal transition occurs between ages 45 and 55 for most women with the average age of menopause being 51.

But plenty of women do enter menopause earlier and later, so don’t worry if you do. Early menopause occurs between 40 and 45 and late menopause between 55 and 60. There’s a small percentage of women (1-2%) who develop premature menopause before 40.

Perimenopause, the transition period before menopause from when symptoms first appear, typically lasts 4 to 8 years.

Symptoms gradually clear up after menopause occurs for most women, but not all. Unfortunately, some women may continue to experience symptoms for many years after menopause.

What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?

The first symptoms of menopause occur when estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate. Also called early perimenopause, a woman will typically see changes in her menstrual flow and in the length of her cycle. If you’re in your 40s, keep an eye out for these types of changes.

As perimenopause progresses and estrogen and progesterone levels begin to decline, more symptoms can appear. During late perimenopause, a woman may start missing periods until they finally stop altogether.

Estrogen levels also plummet, usually about 6 months before menopause. That’s when a woman will commonly experience some of the classic symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and more. It sounds awful, and it can be. Know that there are real solutions for countering these symptoms.

Here are the most common symptoms a woman may experience at any time during the menopausal transition:

  • Sleep problems
  • Irregular periods
  • Mood changes
  • Low libido
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Night sweats
  • Hot flashes
  • Mental fog
  • Fatigue
  • Breast soreness
  • Dry skin/acne
  • Hair loss
  • Joint pain and muscle tension

Here Are Some of the Top Health Concerns of Menopause 

Profound health changes may occur when a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and when their body gradually decreases the production of estrogen and progesterone. However, these concerns can be managed with lifestyle changes.

Brain Health

The loss of estrogen during the menopause transition can cause changes in your brain. Among the areas of the brain most affected are the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala. These areas of the brain are involved with sleep regulation, learning, memory, and temperature regulation. This helps to explain symptoms such as increased worry, poor sleep, mental fog, memory lapses, and hot flashes.

Heart Health

Estrogen helps provide a protective effect against heart health issues in women. When estrogen levels decline dramatically during the menopausal transition, heart health concerns may increase among women. Severe vasomotor symptoms (such as night sweats and hot flashes) are also associated with increased risk of heart health problems, research shows.

It’s recommended that perimenopausal women should have their cardiovascular health checked.

Visceral Fat and Weight

Related to heart health concerns, estrogen loss during menopause may cause weight gain. Greater visceral fat deposits and weight gain can cause inflammation in the body as well as increase the potential for health issues related to blood sugar, cellular health, and heart health.

Mood

Estrogen fluctuations can affect serotonin and GABA levels in the brain, making women more vulnerable to low mood and feelings of anxiousness.

Bone Health

Bone loss worsens as we age, and menopause may increase the rate at which bone loss occurs. It’s estimated that 20% of a woman’s bone loss may come during the menopausal transition. Roughly 1 in 10 women have bone loss issues worldwide.

Vaginal and Urinary Tract Infections

With declining estrogen, the pH balance can shift in and around the vagina and urinary tract, making infections more common.

Loss of Libido

As estrogen decreases, the vagina not only becomes dry, but the tissue becomes thinner and less elastic. This can make sex painful and less desirable. Other symptoms, such as low mood and weight gain, plus mid-life pressures (juggling work, kids, and elder parent care) can dramatically impact a woman’s mood and desire for sex.

Guide for Menopause: What Can You Do?

Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to reduce symptoms and protect your health during the menopause transition. In fact, you can consider this as a time to step up your health game!

Menopause specialist and author of The New Menopause, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD, OB/GYN, suggests 6 critical ways women can support their health and well-being through menopause and beyond:

  1. Excellent Nutrition – Incorporate an anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich diet of healthy fats, leans meats, fruits and veggies, and whole grains – and limit refined carbohydrates and processed foods, as well as sugar.
  2. Regular Exercise – Get 150 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, running, cycling, etc.) a week and practice resistance training four times a week.
  3. Hormone Therapy – This can be a game changer! Explore hormone therapy, nutritional supplements (i.e., omega-3s, vitamin D, magnesium, milk thistle, B vitamins, etc.), and other pharmacological options with your healthcare provider to help reduce menopausal symptoms and protect your health.
  4. Reduce Stress – Mindfulness, meditation, and breathing techniques are effective stress relievers. Practice them to bring cortisol levels down and help reduce some menopausal symptoms.
  5. Restful Sleep – Get 7-9 hours of restful sleep a night by using good sleep hygiene. Sleep is needed to keep cortisol levels, inflammation, and appetite in check.
  6. Community – Create or join a community of supportive people! We can’t go it alone.

Bottom line: There are many actions you can take to help navigate menopause and thrive.

 

At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.

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