Menopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause occurs when menstruation stops for 12 consecutive months and a woman can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after this age range.

Menopause is a natural process that occurs as the ovaries age and produce less reproductive hormones. The body begins to undergo several changes in response to lower levels of:

estrogen
progesterone
testosterone
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
luteinizing hormone (LH)

Stages of Menopause

Perimenopause: Most women first begin developing menopause symptoms before their last menstrual cycle. This phase is called Perimenopause, which occurs before menopause and is where hormonal changes happen in preparation for menopause.

During perimenopause, menstrual periods are likely to become irregular. Your periods may be late, or you may completely skip one or more periods.

Most women begin perimenopause in their mid-40s and symptoms could last from a few months to several years. Some women do not undergo perimenopause and enter menopause suddenly.

Menopause: Menopause is defined as a lack of menstruation for one full year. It’s important to know that every woman’s menopause experience is unique.

Post-Menopause: This refers to the years after menopause has occurred.

Symptoms & Complications

Aside from menstruation changes, the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause are generally the same.

Common symptoms include:

Urinary Incontinence
Vaginal dryness & laxity
Reduced muscle and bone mass
Painful or stiff joints

Menopause symptoms often lead to other complications, including:

Vulva & vaginal atrophy
Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse
Slower metabolic function
Osteoporosis, or weaker bones with reduced mass and strength
Mood or sudden emotional changes
Urinary incontinence
Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Management of Menopause Symptoms

Treatment at Orchard Clinic focuses on allowing the body to naturally overcome symptoms without the use of medication or hormone therapy. These include: