Menopause
Stage 1: Perimenopause
The perimenopause stage refers to the point when a woman approaches menopause when the body is transitioning to the end of the reproductive years. Perimenopause begins at varying ages, but on average during the your 40s.
During the perimenopause period, the levels of estrogen rise and fall unsteadily with increasing irregularity in menstruation. Menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems occur during the perimenopausal stage.
Stage 2: Menopause
When a woman goes 12 consecutive months of having no menstruation (periods) you are in menopause, on average around the age of 51. The transition from perimenopause to menopause can take about 1-3 years, depending on the woman’s estrogen levels.
Stage 3: Post Menopause
The post menopause stage is the time when a woman has gone through the menopause years. The menopausal symptoms a woman has been having during perimenopause and menopause phases are milder and may even go away completely. However, some women may still experience menopause symptoms for up to 10 years. Once a woman enters the post menopause stage, she will be in this phase for the rest of her life. The hormone levels will remain relatively low, and the ovaries during this time are making very little estrogen and progesterone.