You have likely heard of menopause before, but perhaps you weren’t aware that there are four different stages of menopause. Many people refer to menopause during all four of these stages, but they are all actually different and women should be aware of the different phases and of what happens.

The four stages are:

1. Premenopause
2. Perimenopause
3. Menopause
4. Postmenopause

Premenopause is the period when a woman is fertile. This is during her reproductive years and represents the period from the first period to the last. Premenopause is not just for the years right before menopause or for premature menopause, but rather for the entire period of reproductive years.

Perimenopasue refers to the years that immediately precede menopause. Many women begin experiencing menopausal symptoms during perimenopause as a result of hormonal changes. Women usually experience the onset of perimenopause between the ages of 45 and 60. Perimenopause can last anywhere from two to six years.

Menopause is the period of time when a woman has her final period. This means that the woman has experience 12 consecutive months without a period. When menstruation and fertility are permanently over this means the woman is menopausal.

Postmenopause represents the time in a woman’s life when her last period has ended for good. There are health issues that may result from postmenopause and the resulting changes in hormone production of progesterone and estrogen. Heart disease and osteoporosis are the most serious health concerns women should pay attention to during the postmenopausal years.

It’s important to know the different stages of menopause and also know what to expect. Generally, women begin ovulating less and producing fewer hormones by their late 30s and early 40s. As a result, it’s important for women to know what to expect so they can take control of their fertility as well as realize the symptoms they are experiencing as those related to one of the stages of menopause.

Posted in Menopause

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