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What Are the Beginning Stages of Menopause?

Menopause marks the ending of a woman's reproductive years. This ending can come about naturally, or prematurely by surgical procedures or other medical treatments. Its beginning stage is called menopause transition.

  1. Identification

    • Perimenopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. This marks the beginning stage of natural menopause. If you enter menopause prematurely (before the age of 40) you may not go through this stage.

    Stages

    • Perimenopause can last two to eight years, and is followed by menopause and post-menopause. Post-menopause begins when your menstrual cycle has been absent for 12 months.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of perimenopause are irregularly heavy, light, or sporadic menstrual bleeding, mood swings, fatigue, spotting, and vaginal atrophy.

    Causes

    • Perimenopause is caused by fluctuating levels of the hormone estrogen. During menopause a woman's estrogen levels steadily decline, but during perimenopause estrogen levels sporadically rise and fall.

    Treatments

    • To help ease several of the symptoms experienced in perimenopause, you may be given oral contraceptives to help stabilize your hormone levels. Oral contraceptives will also help prevent pregnancy, which can still happen during perimenopause.

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