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- MENSTRUAL HEALTH
- CONTRACEPTION
- MENOPAUSE
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
- How do I know if I’m in menopause?expand_more
Menopause happens when you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. This marks the end of the period when you can get pregnant. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flushes (with or without sweating), vaginal dryness, and mood changes.
Find out more aboutCommon symptoms
- What age do women go through menopause?expand_more
Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45–55 years. However, it can sometimes start earlier. The reasons for this aren’t always known, but can include chemotherapy, surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus (oophorectomy or hysterectomy), or genetics.
- How long does it last?expand_more
How long the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause last can vary for every woman. For example, hot flushes can last 7–10 years on average, but may sometimes be shorter. As symptoms can last for a long time, it's important to learn about all treatment options so that together, you and your healthcare provider can find an option that works for you.
- What are the different stages of menopause?expand_more
The stages of menopause include perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, and each stage comes with its own set of symptoms and adjustments. The questions below include more information on these different stages.
- What is perimenopause?expand_more
Before menopause, you may find your periods start to become less frequent over the course of months or years, before stopping completely. This is called perimenopause. During this time, your hormone levels go up and down, which can cause symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings. These changes can really impact daily life and overall well-being, and perimenopause can last for several years, so it is important to recognise the changes and know how to manage them. Your healthcare provider will be able to advise you on what support is available to help manage your symptoms.
- What is postmenopause?expand_more
Postmenopause is the time after menopause when your body has fully adjusted to the changes. While some menopausal symptoms may get better during this stage, it’s important to be aware that you can be at a higher risk of conditions like weak bones and heart problems because of changes to your hormone levels. Understanding these changes as well as the treatment options available can help you feel empowered when navigating this time in your life.
- How do hormone levels change during menopauseexpand_more
Reproductive hormones fluctuate during perimenopause, while starting to gradually reduce overall. In the transition from perimenopause to menopause, the fluctuations continue and the reduction in oestrogen levels particularly becomes more pronounced. These changes can lead to physical and emotional menopausal symptoms. During postmenopause, oestrogen levels remain low but the fluctuations stabilize.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE
- Does menopause cause weight gain?expand_more
You may find that you gain weight during menopause as a result of hormonal changes, especially if you are finding it harder to sleep. Getting less sleep can slow your metabolism, which can result in you burning fewer calories and lead to an increase in body weight.
For more information, seeHow can menopause affect sleep? - What causes hot flushes?expand_moreHot flushes(also known as vasomotor symptoms or VMS) are caused by changes in the way your body regulates its temperature.
They can lead to sudden feelings of heat, sweating, and discomfort, and may be triggered by alcohol, and spicy or hot food and drinks. These symptoms can occur at any time of day or night and may vary in intensity and duration, with the most severe hot flushes making it impossible to carry out daily tasks. - What does a hot flush feel like?expand_moreHot flushesare a sudden feeling of intense heat that can cause sweating and discomfort. They usually last for around 1-5 minutes, and often occur in the face, neck, and chest. They can happen in the day or at night, which can disrupt your sleep patterns and mean that you wake up feeling tired.
Hot flushes can lead to reduced quality of life, which is most noticeable in people with more frequent or severe hot flushes.
- How can menopause affect sleep?expand_more
Menopause can affect sleep in a number of ways. You may find it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early. Hot flushes that occur at night can contribute to these disrupted sleep patterns, which may impact how you feel during the day.
Over time, getting less sleep can impact your health in a number of ways.
For example, it can lead to weight gain, and even be associated with heart health issues or depression if it isn’t effectively managed.
Tiredness and irritability from sleep symptoms can also sometimes affect relationships, work productivity and completion of normal day-to-day tasks. However, support is available, so make sure to Talk Menopause with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any sleep-related problems.
- Does menopause impact my sex drive?expand_more
Reduced sex drive (or loss of desire/libido) is a common change during menopause. In some women, it may be related to vaginal pain or discomfort, such as a dry, itching or burning sensation, which can become worse when having sex.
A changing sex drive can have a big emotional impact or affect relationships. Stigma or embarrassment can make this hard to talk about but help is available, so speak to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these issues.
- What is the psychological impact of menopause?expand_more
Menopause can affect your psychological well-being and may lead to symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, mood swings or feelings of sadness or depression.
Emotional changes like these can have a significant impact on your daily life, so it’s important to seek support if you experience them, as your healthcare provider will be able to recommend treatments or talking therapies to help. - What other menopausal symptoms could I experience?expand_more
Menopause can lead to a variety of physical and psychological changes, but everyone’s experience is different. While some may have only a few symptoms, others may experience several.
Alongside well-known symptoms like hot flushes and changes in period patterns, other common symptoms include joint pain, cognitive changes (such as brain fog), mood swings, irritability, anxiety, vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive.
If not addressed, disruptive symptoms associated with menopause can affect quality of life, engagement, performance, motivation, and relations with employers; women experiencing severe symptoms are more likely to leave work or reduce their working hours than women who report no severe symptoms.
Whatever changes you’re going through, you don’t have to suffer in silence, so speak to your healthcare provider to find out what treatment and support is available.
For more information, seeHow symptoms can impact you
MANAGING MENOPAUSE
- What treatments are available for menopause?expand_more
There are a number of different treatment options available for menopause, including effective hormone therapy and hormone-free treatments.
For more information, seeTreatment Options.