Menopause is a natural part of aging that usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, and it begins when a woman’s estrogen levels begin to drop.
In the UK, the average age of a woman with menopause is 51 years.
However, it has been found that women have to experience this before reaching the age of 40. Statistics show that 1 in 100 women suffer from early menopause, also known as premature menopause or premature ejaculation.
Menopause can be a controversial topic, especially when it comes to hormone replacement therapy.
A large-scale study last month found that HRT does not reduce age and that the benefits of HRT far outweigh the risks.
The Women’s Health Initiative Trial found that HRT in postmenopausal women during the 18-year follow-up of 27,000 women (1) was not associated with a risk of death from all causes, heart disease, or cancer.
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The WHI trial began in 1991, and preliminary results showed that women using HRT were more likely to develop breast cancer.
It was also supported by the results of the Million Women’s Study, a collaborative project between Cancer Research UK and the NHS, which analyzed data from more than 1 million women (2).
The latest WHI findings, while positive in some respects, are perhaps controversial because the results are primarily focused on deaths.
The safety of taking synthetic hormones and the potential increased risk of cancer is still a concern for women regardless of whether it can lead to early death or not.
Menopause affects every woman, and for many, this natural phase of life can be a time of physical and emotional distress.
The most common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, mood swings, and weight gain, all of which are due in part to declining estrogen levels.
Long-term concerns may include osteoporosis, cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
The average age for a woman to reach menopause is 51 years (NHS) and with a growing population, it is predicted that the number of women after menopause will increase to more than 1 billion by 2025.
Menopause transfer
Perimenopause or ‘menopause transition’ is when the ovaries begin to reduce the amount of estrogen they produce and the physiological changes first become noticeable, usually beginning 3-4 years before menopause.
During menopause, the ovaries no longer lay eggs and the production of estrogen decreases rapidly.
Menopause occurs when menstruation stops permanently for 12 months.
The majority of menopausal symptoms usually improve within 5 years of the last menstrual period.
It is estimated that approximately 80% of women will experience symptoms and 10% of women may experience symptoms for up to 12 years (4).
A survey by the British Menopause Society found that half of women in the UK go through menopause without consulting their doctor.
This is despite the fact that women report an average of seven different symptoms and 42% say their symptoms are worse than expected (5).
That is why women have to make a difficult decision regarding menopause, and for many people the risks of HRT can still outweigh the benefits.
Whatever decision women make, menopause can be reduced if we do what we can to support the body to adapt to the hormonal changes that occur during this time, their effects on the body, and so on.
By doing this we can help create a positive experience instead of frightening menopause!