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Understanding your Menopause PERI-MENOPAUSE

The peri-menopause is the next stage following the pre-menopause. During
peri-menopause the ovaries begin to decline in the production of hormones and
Prior to this occurring many women experience “menopause like” symptoms well
before the actual “last period” as the body undergoes various hormonal changes the menstrual periods become irregular. The changes in the cycle may be subtle
and fluctuations. This is often referred to as the “climacteric” or “change of life”. or very dramatic. Women may notice a slightly lighter flow, or slightly heavier flow.
The duration of the cycle may differ too, going from a 28 day cycle to a 33 day

cycle, followed by a 31 day cycle.
We are born with approximately 2 million egg follicles. By the time we reach
puberty there are about 750,000 and by the age of around 45, only 10,000 may
be left. The rest may have disintegrated over the years. Menopause occurs when Alternatively, the changes may be more dramatic. It is not uncommon to skip a
your store of eggs run dry. period completely, or cease having periods for a few months at a time then
recommence two weekly or monthly. Women often say they experience the
heaviest periods of their entire reproductive life or alternately their menstrual flow
During the transition to menopause most women will experience at least one of
the following phases. may be significantly lighter. Regardless, this is a time when changes are noticed
within the cycle whether they be subtle or dramatic.

Read on to identify where you may be at this very moment.

Generally speaking, the symptoms during the Peri-menopause will be
Pre-Menopause more severe than those experienced during the pre-menopause and

Peri-Menopause normally occur around the mid 40s but can occur as early as the late
30s early 40s and for other women as late as the early 50s.
Menopause

Post Menopause

Early Menopause Most women experience what is termed a “natural” menopause, which occurs
gradually. Many women begin noticing changes in their menstrual cycle and/or
Surgical Menopause
mood, years before they actually have their final period. It is not uncommon for a
woman to experience irregular cycles with associated symptoms sometimes up to

5-10 years prior to complete cessation of the menses. For other women their
PRE-MENOPAUSE
periods suddenly stop one month and they never menstruate again.

The pre-menopause can be characterised when a woman begins to experience
menopausal symptoms whilst still having a regular monthly cycle. This indicates Progesterone is generally the primary female hormone to decline during the
the hormones are beginning to change. pre/peri-menopausal stage whilst oestrogen can remain stable or even increase.
This ultimately creates an ‘imbalance’ between the two hormones. This state of

Pre-menopausal symptoms can occur for a woman as early as the age of 30 but low progesterone to oestrogen ratio is commonly referred to as “oestrogen
tend to occur more commonly around the mid to late 40’s. They may include hot dominance”. Testosterone levels may also start to decline well before the last
flushes, sweats and emotional swings. menstrual cycle.

The Australian Menopause Centre 10 The Australian Menopause Centre 11