Menopause is the time of life when your periods stop and you can no longer get pregnant naturally. It is a natural stage of life when the levels of estrogen and progesterone produced in your body start to fall, and your periods eventually stop completely.

When you have not had a period for 12 months, menopause is said to have happened.

Perimenopause is the name given to the period of time when your hormones start to fall.

The changes in hormone levels don’t usually take place all at once, although they can happen quite suddenly in some cases. So it could take a few months or as long as 10 years before you finally reach menopause.

The average age for menopause in the United States is 52, but perimenopause can start several years before your periods actually stop. Certain factors like surgery, family genetics or treatment for cancer can cause menopause to happen earlier.

Fluctuating hormone levels in the years leading up to menopause can cause a range of perimenopause symptoms. Some of the most common perimenopause symptoms include:

● Changes to your menstrual period
● Hot flashes and night sweats
● Disturbed sleep patterns
● Brain fog
● Mood swings
● Vaginal dryness
● Weight gain

Everyone experiences perimenopause differently. Your range and severity of symptoms will not be the same as your friends and relatives, so try not to compare your perimenopause to theirs.

Perimenopause could last a few months or up to 10 years, but you may not experience the same symptoms all the way through your perimenopause.

In most cases, your symptoms will go away once you have reached menopause. But sometimes symptoms like hot flashes can continue for a while after your periods have stopped.

If your uterus is removed but not your ovaries, you will no longer have periods. But because your ovaries may still be making hormones, you might experience some of the other symptoms of menopause as your hormone levels fall. Your menopause may arrive a little earlier than you would otherwise have expected.

If your ovaries are removed together with your uterus, you will no longer have periods and may experience menopausal symptoms straight away.

Menopause happens when you have had no menstrual bleeding or spotting for 12 months.

Any spotting or bleeding after menopause should be checked out by your doctor as it could be caused by a number of conditions including some forms of cancer.

As your levels of estrogen fall, your bones can become weaker due to bone loss. This can lead to a condition called osteoporosis, which will cause your bones to break more easily,

You can help to prevent osteoporosis by boosting your intake of calcium and vitamin D, and by doing regular weight bearing exercise such as walking, jogging or using weights.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT or HT) can help to relieve moderate to severe symptoms of menopause and can also help to prevent hip fractures caused by osteoporosis.

However HT is something that you would need to discuss with your doctor as you would need to have a risk assessment carried out. Hormone therapy isn’t suitable for everyone and can be associated with an increased risk of certain medical conditions such as stroke or heart disease.

After menopause, your risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks or strokes will be higher. This may be partly due to your lower levels of estrogen but could also be due to getting older or gaining weight.

Eating a heart healthy diet and taking regular exercise will help to reduce your risk, but you should discuss any concerns with your doctor.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 40% of perimenopausal women and 60% of post-menopausal women have sleep problems. If these are menopause related, Hormone Therapy might help to ease your symptoms.

Self-help methods that may improve your sleep include wearing natural fibres to keep you cooler in bed and avoiding naps during the afternoon.

Click here for more tips for better sleep.

Your fluctuating hormones may cause you to have mood swings, and they might be made even worse if you’re having trouble sleeping.

Meditation or yoga can help with relaxation, and getting enough exercise and sleep may also help to manage your stress and keep your mood more level. If self-help methods don’t work, it’s worth considering talking to a therapist or joining a menopause support group.

Around 60% of women have problems with forgetfulness during perimenopause and this can be made even worse if you’re struggling to sleep well at night. Taking regular physical exercise, improving your sleep patterns and exercising your mind can help to ease the problem.

But if you’re worried, it’s a good idea to get your doctor to rule out other medical causes like thyroid problems.

In most cases, sleep problems improve after menopause but until then you might also have to rely more on calendars, reminders and lists.

Click here for information on menopause and mental sharpness.