Women Menopauses
Learn about women menopauses, menopauses diet and how to relief yourself from it symptoms

The Start of the Women Menopause

Women are born with around two million eggs and throughout life the eggs are used or die off. Although only approximately 400 menstrual periods take place in a woman’s lifetime, the supply of eggs is exhausted by mid-life, causing the menopause to take place.

When the ovaries stop producing eggs, it causes a decrease in the production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, which in turn leads to the end of periods. These lowered hormone levels also produce a range of symptoms, which include hot flushes, insomnia and weight gain. It is common for women to experience these symptoms for some years prior to the menopause and this is called the perimenopause phase.

There are three stages of women menopause:

These are perimenopause (sometimes referred to as pre-menopause), menopause, and postmenopause. Medically speaking, menopause is defined as the last menstrual period, or the cessation of menstrual bleeding. The transition to menopause is known as perimenopause and may last as long as 8 to 15 years. Postmenopause is considered to start approximately one year after menopause has occurred. The chart below demonstrates menopausal symptoms and hormonal-influenced conditions time line through these three stages.

Contrary to common belief, most women's estrogen levels remain relatively stable during perimenopause or even may increase slightly. On the other hand, progesterone levels begin to fall in perimenopause. The result is a condition called estrogen dominance. This is the most significant issue for perimenopausal women causing a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms (see chart) commonly known as PMS, only ten times more severe. Maintaining adequate progesterone is important for building up the uterine lining during menstruation, as well as for proper blood clotting, blood sugar regulation, healthy bone formation and fat metabolism.

It is important for women to talk to their doctor about their menopause condition.  Even better is to find a doctor that specializes in menopause and can offer you treatment that makes you feel good about your body and about your needs. In addition to talking with your doctor about menopause, you can talk to other women that have gone through menopause in your family or you can find support groups through your doctor’s office and through your local health center.

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