Bitesized science behind the menopause

It’s (actually) a sunny, February day for the woman writing this and… if you’re reading, it’s likely you too are a woman.

We make up half the population.

And all of us go through the menopause.

I wanted to share with you a little bit of the ins-and-outs of the menopause, just incase no one had shared this with you (which in my experience is nearly all of the time)

Menopause is technically one day 12 months after the last period; on average this day takes place at 51 years old.  Before this point there is the peri-menopause phase and after this the post menopause stage. 

Peri-menopause is the lead up to menopause when hormones may fluctuate, periods can become heavier, lighter, closer together or further apart. Symptoms can be very varied and these can impact the whole body, emotional, cognitive and physical and this phase can last on average 3-8 years 

Menopause means ovaries cease to produce and consequently the hormones oestrogen progesterone and testosterone decline.

Post menopause is when the hormones have depleted but the symptoms may still be felt by some women for a number of years.

The life expectancy for Women in the UK is 83, so on average women will live one third of their lives post-menopausal.

Most women spend about 40% of their lives in either peri menopause, menopause or post menopause.

Women of menopausal age are the largest growing demographic group, by 2030, 1.2 billion women worldwide wil have entered or will be about to enter menopause.

Until next time,

Caroline