Menopause symptoms, Complications and Testing

Published on

18/10/2024

Menopause is the decline and cessation of reproductive potential as the follicles in the ovaries become depleted¹. In other words, it is when your periods stop because of changes in your hormone levels, usually between 45 and 55 years old. It is generally divided into stages; perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause, meaning around menopause, is the stage when you are having menopause symptoms but are still menstruating and ends when you’ve gone a year without a period¹.

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Stages of Menopause

Perimenopause

The perimenopause stage can begin 8 to 10 years before menopause when your ovaries gradually produce less and less oestrogen. It usually starts when you’re in your 40s. You can be in perimenopause for several months or several years. Perimenopause symptoms often vary depending on the individual, common symptoms include menstrual cycle changes, hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, weight gain and vaginal dryness.

Menopause

Menopause is the point when you no longer have menstrual periods. At this stage, your ovaries don’t release eggs, and your body doesn’t produce much estrogen. A healthcare provider diagnoses menopause when you’ve gone without a period for 12 consecutive months. Unlike the other stages, menopause itself is a defined moment, so you don’t stay in this stage.

Postmenopause

This is the time after menopause. You stay in postmenopause for the rest of your life. While most symptoms of menopause ease up in postmenopause, you can continue to have mild menopausal symptoms for several years in postmenopause. People in the postmenopausal phase are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease due to low estrogen levels.

Common Menopause Symptoms

During perimenopause, women may experience irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. These perimenopause symptoms can continue into menopause and postmenopause.

The primary cause of menopausal symptoms is the natural decline in reproductive hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone.

Factors that may contribute to early menopause include surgery, such as hysterectomy, medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, smoking and a family history of early menopause.

Impact on Mental Health:

Menopause can significantly impact both physical and mental health. Hormonal changes can affect mood, leading to symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and depression. It’s important for women to prioritise self-care during this phase and seek appropriate medical guidance to manage their symptoms effectively.

Complications of Menopause

♥ Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

Post-menopausal women often display increased cholesterol levels ^1,2. Oestrogen plays a role in the regulation of cholesterol levels and therefore helps to control the formation of plaques in the arterial wall which can cause heart disease. Furthermore, as age increases, blood pressure increases – a common risk factor for heart attacks and strokes⁴.

New studies show that menopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are not at a significantly increased risk of fatal cardiac events⁴. Previous studies had shown a link here which caused controversy in the use of HRT to treat early menopause. However, new research suggests the risk of premature heart disease is more significant for women who enter menopause before 40 than for those who receive HRT to treat early menopause⁴.

🦴 Osteoporosis

Changes in hormone levels can have significant impact on our bodies bone remodelling processes⁶. The first 5 years of menopause can result in a swift decrease in bone density before returning to a normal rate and within this timeframe, bones are more susceptible to fractures⁷. For more information on Osteoporosis, take a look at our blog, ‘Build Better Bones – World Osteoporosis Day.’ Quitting smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise are your best bets in combating this risk^5,6.

♡ Diabetes

Menopause may also increase your risk of other conditions, including type 2 diabetes as a change in hormones can affect your insulin processing capabilities and cause a serious hinderance to our bodies ability to process sugar⁵ .

HOW WE CAN HELP

Concerned about perimenopause symptoms or the menopause? Get the insights you need on more than just hormone levels with our simple menopause blood test.

Our Menopause blood test measures over 30 biomarkers to help you understand your hormone levels better and assess the impact of menopause on your heart health and other key health areas.

Find Out More

The Osentia Fracture Risk Assessment Test will assess your risk of suffering a fragility fracture early giving you the opportunity to reduce your risk and minimise the development of weak bones.