What are the stages during menopause?
Every woman experiences menopause, the transition from a fertile period to a non-fertile one. This period is also called the menopause . Menopause has three distinct phases:
- Premenopause (or perimenopause)
- Menopause
- Postmenopause
Premenopausal phase
Premenopause, also called prime menopause, begins on average four years before the last menstrual period. During this phase of menopause, hormones begin to fluctuate, and the ovaries gradually stop producing the hormone estrogen. It becomes increasingly difficult for a woman's eggs to mature. Some women don't notice this at all, while others notice it. During this transitional phase, menstruation may still occur regularly.
During perimenopause, the first changes in the body may become noticeable. The closer you get to menopause, the more symptoms you may experience. The most common symptoms during this stage of perimenopause include:
- Menstrual changes, which may become more intense, irregular, or less intense
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Changes in the skin, hair, nails and vagina
- Mood swings
- Heart palpitations
- Weight gain
Menopause phase
Menopause is the day of the last menstrual period, and it only lasts one day. A woman only knows for sure whether she has had her last period afterward. A woman can only say with certainty that she is in menopause when she has not had a period for one year. However, due to years of adjusting to the menstrual cycle, after her last period, it can feel as if she still has to get her period every month, both physically and mentally. Hot flashes are common during this phase of menopause.
Post-menopausal phase
Once menopause has begun and menstruation has stopped for a year, postmenopause begins. This phase lasts an average of three years. The ovaries have stopped producing hormones, and the body searches for a new hormonal balance during this period. To ensure the body still has sufficient hormones, other organs begin to meet this demand by producing hormones. The body and brain begin to adapt to the new situation. Until the body finds this balance, women may experience symptoms of menopause.
During this phase, menopausal symptoms are still very much present. The body is searching for a new balance, which can take some time, longer for some than for others. At the end of this transitional phase, the ovaries no longer produce fertile eggs, and from that point on, a woman is infertile and menopause ends.
