[?] Subscribe To This Site

When Will My Menopause Start?

Dear Women Over 40,

There are some women who wonder and worry about what will happen when they reach menopause.

There's no way of predicting exactly when your menopause will occur. In other words, each of us has an internal biological timer that is programmed before birth to set off the hormonal events that trigger both the start and the end of menstruation.

It seems most likely that our individual genes determine the age at which we experience menopause.

But there are things you could do to understand more about menopause. The first step is to learn all you can about the physical and emotional changes that may be ahead of you.

In a survey asking women what was the worst thing about menopause, most said, "Not knowing what to expect." One woman added, "You wish someone would tell you -- but you're too embarrassed to ask anyone."

Although very rare before the age of 40, menopause can happen anytime from your 30’s to your mid-50’s or even later. Smokers often begin menopause earlier than non-smokers. If you have both ovaries removed (bilateral oophorectomy) during a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), you may have the symptoms of menopause right away, no matter your age. Once your uterus is removed, your periods will stop.

Although most women experience similar symptoms of menopause, not every woman experiences all the symptoms.

Here are some symptoms you can acknowledge:

- Some women may have frustrating symptoms that start during perimenopause and continue once they have reached menopause.

Perimenopause marks the interval in which your body begins its transition into menopause. Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause — anywhere from two to eight years — plus the first year after your final period. It's a natural part of aging that signals the ending of your reproductive years.

Hot flashes have become the hallmark symptom of menopause. Hot flashes are a feeling of sudden flush or warmth, often followed by sweating. They can cause serious discomfort and sleepless nights for some women.

Other symptoms that can start in perimenopause, but also might continue once you reach menopause include:

Night sweats (hot flashes that happen while you sleep)

Sleep problems

Mood changes (mood swings, depression, and irritability).

Vaginal problems, including vaginal dryness and irritation that can cause pain during sex and pelvic exams, and frequent vaginal infections; urinary problems, including burning or pain when urinating, or leaking when sneezing, coughing, or laughing problems with concentration or memory; less interest in sex and changes in sexual response

Weight gain

Hair thinning or loss

The vast majority of women will experience their menopause in a 2 to 10 year window of time, probably from their mid-forties to their mid-fifties. But even if you begin much earlier, or end later, you may still be having your own version of a healthy menopause. And whether you never feel a single hot flash, or continue to have them into your late sixties, it can be “normal” for you.

If your symptoms cause you difficulty or anxiety, discuss them with your medical provider. Many signs that may be normal menopausal events can also be signs of other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about your own risk factors, health history and symptoms to help you get a complete picture of how you’re doing and what to expect.

Women Over 40 Health

SBI!