If you’re nearing the stage of menopause or you’re currently going through perimenopause and its often frustrating symptoms, you might be wondering how long menopause can last.
There are various stages to this period of your life which this blog post will detail, but if you’re tight for time, the short answer is that menopause can last for several years to more than a decade.
The symptoms of menopause can also last for years and sometimes even beyond the end of menopause. This is why many women turn to treatments such as hormone therapy, which can make living with menopausal symptoms more manageable.
The Menopause Clinic is dedicated to helping women deal with menopause and takes a holistic approach to treating the symptoms which can often feel never-ending. We are one of the first clinics in the North West of England to offer Bioidentical Hormone Therapy.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her ability to have biological children ceases. It’s a gradual process whereby she no longer produces eggs and the body begins to produce less estrogen and progesterone – the hormones crucial for pregnancy. Eventually, the periods stop and menopause is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period.
When Does Menopause Begin?
Most women will experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, early menopause can begin before a woman reaches 40. It’s a natural process that happens with age and there’s nothing that can be done to prevent it.
Menopause transition is called perimenopause and it’s at this stage when symptoms can occur. The perimenopause stage can begin quite some time before menopause, with some women experiencing symptoms as early as the late 30s.
Why Do Menopause Symptoms Occur?
Most people associate menopause with the symptoms it brings about. These can range from mild to severe and can impact daily life. These symptoms occur as a result of hormonal changes when hormone levels begin to fluctuate and the body tries to adapt.
Some women experience these symptoms during menopausal transition or perimenopause, while others may not notice any difference at all.
Menopausal Symptoms
Common symptoms of menopause include;
- Hot flashes and night sweats: These are some of the most commonly experienced menopausal symptoms and are thought to be due to hormonal changes.
- Mood changes: Lots of women experience mood swings and sudden feelings of worry or panic. The mood can change quickly from happy to sad and irritable.
- Irregular periods: You may find you have irregular periods or that your periods stop for some time before stopping altogether.
- Bladder weakness: Some women have issues with incontinence during the menopause transition which is due to hormone changes weakening the pelvic floor muscles and thinning the lining of the urethra.
- Trouble sleeping: Insomnia or difficulty sleeping are commonly experienced during menopausal transition.
- Weight gain: Putting on weight is common, experienced by more than half of women going through menopause.
- Vaginal dryness: This can occur before, during and after menopause. It’s very common and can lead to pain during sexual intercourse and urinary tract infections.
Some women will experience nearly all of these conditions, while others may have only one or two mild menopausal symptoms.
Understanding Menopause Stages
Perimenopause
This is the stage leading up to menopause when you may begin to notice symptoms as the body adapts to hormonal imbalances.
Menopause
Menopause is the point at which a woman has not experienced menstrual periods for a full year.
Postmenopause
This is the stage after menopause. Hormone levels may be at their lowest but symptoms can continue.
Managing Menopause Symptoms
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the most effective ways to treat the symptoms of menopause. It involves taking estrogen, progesterone and other hormone supplements to balance hormone levels.
The Menopause Clinic provides Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, which uses hormones that are chemically identical to your body’s natural hormones.
There are other non-hormonal medications available to treat menopause symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can also help you manage the symptoms of menopause.
How Long Does Menopause Last?
Perimenopause symptoms can begin up to 10 years before the start of menopause and can continue for up to five years during the postmenopausal phase. The menopause stage is often the shortest, lasting around 12 months.
Some women will only experience symptoms for a few months while for others, the symptoms of menopause can go on for years. The severity of these symptoms may change during the transition into menopause and postmenopause.
