People often use “menopause” as a catch-all term to describe all three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, but it actually refers to a moment in time when you haven’t had a period for 12 months.
After this, you’ll be in postmenopause, and your ovaries won’t be releasing any eggs, although you might continue to experience some symptoms.
Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age of menopause in Aotearoa is 51, but sometimes your ovaries stop creating oestrogen earlier. This is called premature or early menopause.
If you’ve been taking hormone therapy, have had a hysterectomy, or if you’ve been using contraception that affects your periods, it might not be possible to determine the exact moment in time when you experienced menopause. Your menopause clinician will be able to make a reasonable prediction about when you are in postmenopause based on when your symptoms started. Sometimes a blood test can help determine which stage of menopause you’re in.
If you’ve been taking hormone therapy, have had a hysterectomy, or if you’ve been using contraception that affects your periods, it might not be possible to determine the exact moment in time when you experienced menopause. Your menopause clinician will be able to make a reasonable prediction about when you are in postmenopause based on when your symptoms started. Sometimes a blood test can help determine which stage of menopause you’re in.
Book your 45-minute initial appointment with one of our menopause clinicians.