Author: Maria Alfano
I wish I knew there were 3 menopause phases when I was suddenly in the throws of it without realizing what was happening to me. There are changes happening every day once you reach midlife, that creep up ever so slowly that you don’t realize that it’s menopause knocking at the door.
You don’t need to guess anymore. There are so many resources available ranging from your own doctor to online to help you get through this phase of your womanhood.
Ladies, it’s not all bad. You are saying goodbye to your younger years but you are saying hello to a whole new world full of possibilities!
Menopause was the last thing my mother chatted about with me as a young woman. It wasn’t until I was in the throws of it that she opened up about her own experiences. There were so many things I wished I knew before I fell into my “change” unexpectedly. It’s insane how different my mother’s experience was with menopause as compared to mine. Much of it had to do with the European diet versus the North American diet. Today foods are injected with all kinds of hormones. In our parents’ time, food was naturally and organically grown. There were no pesticides, hormones, or color additives to make food look more appealing. And, there was no McDonald’s, Popeyes, or Starbucks on every corner. Fast food referred to how quickly you can make a meal not how quickly Uber Eats could deliver it to your door.
This post is all about the 3 menopause phases and knowing how to identify which phase you are in. Of course, you could always use HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to help alleviate your symptoms. Consult your physician for medical advice.
How To Know Which Of The 3 Menopause Phases You Are In – Perimenopause, Menopause, Postmenopause
The three phases of menopause are more frequently spoken about today than they were even 10 or 15 years ago. Society is realizing that that change of life can impact women dramatically. Honestly, when I started my “change” I had no clue that there were 3 phases to this whole menopause thing. As if one wasn’t enough!
Menopause is Mother Nature’s way of telling you that your reproductive system is now closed for business. But that doesn’t make you any less of a woman. For me it was a relief – no more periods, no more cramps, and the freedom to do what I want, when I want without the fear of having an unexpected “accident.”
I started my journey in my mid-30s and by the time I was 38 I was completely through to the post-menopause stage. It all happened naturally. It was short and sweet and not medically induced. Until I hit my fifties when the hot flashes started again for a couple of years. Just when I thought it was all over, they hit me out of nowhere.
Phase 1 – Perimenopause
As the prefix insinuates, perimenopause is the period of 4-8 years prior to menopause. This menopause phase typically starts around the age of 40. Some women can experience it as early as in their 30s. Estrogen, our reproductive hormone dramatically reduces during this phase.
Some of the key symptoms of perimenopause are sleep issues, bone tissue loss, weight gain, and irregular menstrual cycles (either more or less frequent). In my case, my doctor refused to believe that a vibrant 30-something-year-old woman could be already in the throws of the 3 menopause phases. For one year I tracked my period. I went from someone who knew exactly on which day, at what time, and for how long I would have my period each month to someone who had no clue what to expect next. My period would last anywhere from 15- 20 days on a very heavy cycle. I would get a respite for 5 or 6 days and back into the thick of it again. Finally, my doctor admitted I was going through my change of life. Please be careful and take precautions – since you still have a period, you can get pregnant during this stage of menopause.
I experienced the most unusual symptom, or so I thought. The palm of my hands would suddenly be so hot. The heat emanated from the inside out and my palms felt like they were on fire. Holding ice cubes with my bare hands was the only way I could control the intense heat.
Phase 2 – Menopause
With menopause, the production of estrogen and progesterone is halted. Your body prepares for no longer being able to create new life. No more eggs are produced. You know you are in full-blown menopause when you no longer have a period for at least 12 months.
Mother Nature decided to give me one last hoorah. I had well passed the 12 months period without a menstrual cycle. My husband and I were on vacation in St Maarten when I had the most excruciating cramps ever. I was not prepared for a period after almost 15 months without one. Yet, here it was. For two days, I went through severe pain and bloating that comes with any monthly cycle. And, just as suddenly as it came, it abruptly ended for the last time. Be ready for anything for the first 12 – 18 months after your last period.
The typical age of women going naturally into menopause phase 2 is around 50. However, you can count back to the start of your perimenopause phase and add 4-8 years to the age that phase started. Premature menopause can happen if you had to have your uterus and ovaries surgically removed.
The most common symptoms you will experience during menopause are mood swings, reduced sex drive, vaginal dryness, and ever-popular hot flashes. Estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones that regulate the woman’s body are no longer being produced. As a result, all the things that kept us sane and wanting to enjoy our partners, are now gone.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Menopause symptoms can be overwhelming for some women. Doctors will help by prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Essentially, HRT puts the estrogen back into your body to help maintain stability in moods swings, hot flashes, and overall general health. There are 4 commonly used ways to add estrogen back into your system. Studies have shown that HRT works best for women up to the age of 59 who are no more than 10 years into their menopause journey.
Hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone. If you have a history of high blood pressure, if breast cancer runs in the family, if you have heart disease, or at risk of stroke, then HRT is not for you. Please tell your doctor about all this so they can make the best medical decision for your ongoing health.
HRT Types
Estrogen pill – the most common way. Ingest the prescribed number of tablets 30 minutes before a meal.
Estrogen patch – place on the abdomen for the estrogen to be absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream. Change the patches every few days depending on the patch and the strength of the estrogen.
Estrogen topicals – work like the patch in that they are absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream. You must apply these creams or gels at least once per day. This is the most work of all the options available.
Vaginal estrogen – inserted into the vagina and is most helpful for women who experience vaginal dryness, itching, and burning. It is applied directly to the area that needs it most. You can get it in cream, vaginal suppositories, or vaginal ring formats. The vaginal ring needs to be replaced 4 times per year at a minimum.
Phase 3 – postmenopause
Ladies, there is hope, once you get through the hot flashes and night sweats, the other side is not so bad. It can take 2-4 years to complete your menopause phase and move into postmenopause.
Generally, after one year with no period, it is said you are postmenopausal, but the symptoms don’t go away after only 12 months. It took me about 4 years to come out of that phase. Some women are lucky to experience none of the symptoms. I wasn’t one of them. I still had the headaches I used to get just before my monthly cycle was to start. The bloating and cramping, although not as severe, were there every 28 days.
Some of the more common symptoms for this final of the menopause phases include lack of sex drive, urinary incontinence, vaginal itching/burning, and stiff joints.
SUpplements
You may find some relief from the symptoms using supplements and probiotics like these found on Amazon. Probiotics help regulate your bowel movements. That is one less pressure for you and your partner to deal with. Mood swings happen regardless when going through the 3 menopause phases, don’t let constipation and bloating add to that.
This post was about the 3 menopause phases and what you can expect to experience with each phase. You will find some of my personal histories that will hopefully provide you with some insights on how every woman will experience menopause differently.