How Long Does Menopause Last:
Some symptoms can last for years and affect your quality of life. By Kate Bracy, RN, NPKate Bracy, RN, MS, NP, is a registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s health and family planning. “On the other hand, a higher consumption of refined carbohydrates — such as pasta and rice — hastened the onset of menopause by 1.5 years,” said Dunneram.
The timing of your first period could also help predict when you’ll experience perimenopause. Lady Doctor,’ Dr. Culwell is a fellowship-trained OB-GYN who has specialized in women’s reproductive health for over 20 years. Dr. Culwell currently serves as the senior vice president and chief medical officer at Afaxys, Inc. She maintains an active medical license and continues to regularly see patients in need of outpatient gynecologic care. Many other treatments are available that alleviate symptoms and prevent issues related to aging. Researchers believe that prolonged exposure to estrogen protects the heart and bones.
You may experience them over the course of a year or even several years. Keep reading to learn about the 11 things every woman should know about menopause. Please this page call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency. A small percentage of AFAB folks are late going into menopause.
It is not uncommon to experience a random hot flash for years after menopause. If your hot flashes are bothersome or intensify, speak with your healthcare provider to rule out other causes. The majority of women stop having periods somewhere between look at this ages 45 to 55. The beginning stages of declining ovary function can start years before that in some women. Others will continue to have menstrual periods into their late 50s. Your doctor can check your blood for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Once your menstrual period has been absent for over a year, you are unlikely to get pregnant. Until your healthcare provider has confirmed you are no longer ovulating and can’t get pregnant, continue to use birth control if you don’t want to become pregnant. Once you enter postmenopause, you’re in this stage for the rest of your life. Your hormone levels will remain low and you’ll no longer have a monthly period. You can’t get pregnant because your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs.
At the onset of perimenopause, a person may wish to schedule regular doctor visits for preventive healthcare. Though menopause clinically occurs 1 year after the end of a person’s last period, they may begin experiencing symptoms earlier. By age 55, most AFAB individuals have gone through menopause. Once a full year has passed since your last period, you’re officially in the postmenopausal phase. Going into menopause early could prevent you from starting a family if you’ve been waiting.
It’s important to realize that perimenopause and menopause don’t cause only physical symptoms. You may experience a range unsettling changes in emotions, memory and concentration, as well those in the list above. Many people wonder how long menopause lasts, and while there are averages ‘ it is different for every person. Menopause is full of unknowns ‘ such as when the onset might begin and what symptoms to expect. And when it’s happening in the moment, you aren’t sure if you’re in menopause until you’re really in it.
Support groups and counseling are useful tools when dealing with emotional changes during menopause. As levels of estrogen decrease, you could have various symptoms. Many women experience mild symptoms that can be treated by lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine or carrying a portable fan. Some women don’t require any treatment at all, but for others, symptoms can be more severe.
As your body transitions to menopause, your hormone levels may change randomly, causing menopause symptoms unexpectedly. During this transition, your ovaries make different amounts of the hormones estrogen (ES-truh-jin) and progesterone (proh-JES-tuh-RONE) than usual. Some people continue to feel symptoms of menopause for years after their last menstrual period. It’s common to have hot flashes or feel depressed about getting older. Speak with your health care provider if you are still suffering from symptoms so they can offer support or treatment.
Talk with your doctor about making lifestyle changes to protect yourself against heart disease and other age-related diseases. The change from perimenopause to menopause can take several years. Symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleeping difficulties, are common during this time. Menopause typically begins between ages and can be affected by genetics, health, and lifestyle. Symptoms may include missed periods, hot flashes, and weight gain. If you can’t or don’t want to take hormones, other medications can ease symptoms.
You might have memory problems, and your joints and muscles could feel stiff and achy. Researchers are exploring such changes and how they relate to hormones and growing older. She’s excited to be starting a new phase of her life look at this as her children leave home and she has more spare time for her other interests. She’s looking forward to traveling and taking a pottery class. Life after menopause isn’t much different than life during your reproductive years.