Perimenopause and Menopause are natural phases of a woman’s life. Specifically, a woman who has gone for a whole year without a menstrual cycle can be considered menopausal. Many women may wonder at what age does it start to show Menopause Symptoms?
This is a simple answer: Generally, most women get into menopause between their 40s and 50s. Though the average age is 51. However, there are women who enter it earlier too. At the same time, there are chances of a late start for it in some women.
How to determine the age when you are likely to enter menopause
Currently, there is no way of testing and telling when a woman will reach menopause. However, one may find clues on when she is likely to reach menopause by looking at her family history. That is because a woman is likely to reach it at more or less the same age as her mother or sisters reached.
When does perimenopause begin?
The actual menopause is preceded by a transitional phase, which we refer to as ‘perimenopause’. Sometimes, this transitional phase lasts 4 years on average. But it can also be brief, and only last months. Normally, perimenopause tends to start during the mid to late 40s. After that, what tends to happen is a complete cessation of periods. Then one moves into the actual menopause.
Perimenopause symptoms
Perimenopause is characterized by hormonal changes. This tends to trigger period irregularities. The end result may be shorter or longer periods. Further, the periods may turn out to be heavier or lighter than was previously the case. There may also be chances for the cycles to start skipping months.
The symptoms that come with this phase include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleeping difficulties
- Some degree of vaginal dryness
- Changes in mood
- Increase in body weight
- Hair thinning
- Skin dryness
- Breast fullness loss
Sometimes, these symptoms are mild, and manageable without medical help. But these can be severe for some women which leads them to consult aspecialized menopause doctor in London. This is on account of the great discomfort that these symptoms sometimes bring about.
What is termed as early menopause?
Early menopause is that which occurs between the age of 40 and 45 years. In case it occurs even earlier, before the age of 40, it is termed as premature menopause.
Factors that increase the chances of early menopause include
- Never having had any children
- Being a smoker
- Having a family history of early menopause
- Having undergone treatments like chemotherapy or pelvic radiation
- Undergoing certain surgical operations. Examples are oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- Suffering from certain health conditions. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and thyroid disease
Anyone who suspects that they are undergoing early menopause is advised to visit a private doctor in London. There are tests the doctor can perform, to confirm this. One such test is the PicoAMH Elisa test.
The health risks and possible benefits linked to early menopause
There seems to be a link between early menopause and shorter life expectancy.
Further, early menopause also seems to be a risk factor for certain health conditions. Those include:
- Cardiovascular issues
- Bone fracture/osteoporosis
- Depression
However, there are also some benefits associated with early menopause. Those include an apparently lower risk of ovarian, endometrial as well as breast cancer.
Is it possible to delay menopause?
There is really no guaranteed way in which you can delay it. However, certain lifestyle modifications may help. Those include quitting smoking and making certain dietary changes.
When is it necessary to consult a doctor about menopause?
If you experience any sort of vaginal bleeding after menopause, you need to fix an urgent appointment with your doctor. That is because it could be a sign of a major underlying problem.
On another note, the symptoms of menopause may be making your life unbearable or unproductive. This too can necessitate seeing a doctor.
Some of the concerns you may ask your doctor are:
- The available treatments for the symptoms I have
- Any natural ways to alleviate my symptoms
- The sorts of monthly periods to expect while in the perimenopause stage
- How long should I keep using birth control
- The things I need to do to maintain my overall health
- Any tests I may need
Menopause is a natural phase of life, not a disease. But some aspects of it may necessitate seeking medical care. To that end, you can consider booking a Private GP London clinic appointment.
The specific age when menopause starts varies for each woman. But it is usually during the 40s or the 50s. The average age for menopause is 51. We at Private GP Clinic offer high quality patient care in London area where people of London can trust for there treatment and care. Contact our consultation for any kind of information related to your personal health.
