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, although you might continue to experience some ongoing 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 early menopause when it happens between 40 and 45, and premature ovarian insufficiency when you’re younger than 40.
What if I don’t normally have my period?
You might not regularly have your period for another reason. This could include being on hormonal contraception or hormone therapy, or having had a hysterectomy. This can make it difficult to know whether you’re in perimenopause or postmenopause. But your doctor can make a reasonable prediction based on when your perimenopausal symptoms started. Sometimes a blood test can help determine which stage of menopause you’re in.
In perimenopause, your ovaries begin releasing fewer eggs and, as a result, levels of oestrogen can fluctuate, before eventually decreasing around the time of menopause. These fluctuating hormones and subsequent decrease in oestrogen can lead to physical and emotional changes, with symptoms that vary widely from person to person. Some common symptoms include hot flushes, problems sleeping, mood changes, and changes to your period. Even if you don’t normally get your period – because you’re on hormonal birth control, hormone therapy, or have had a hysterectomy – you may still go through the stages of menopause and experience these hormonal changes.
Book your 45-minute initial appointment with one of our menopause clinicians.