Not to sound dramatic but chances are menopause has or will impact you or someone you care for.
Menopause is when someone with a vagina stops having periods and is therefore something that a significant portion of the population will have to deal with sooner or later.
With that in mind, and to celebrate World Menopause Day, now’s as good a time as any to learn when menopause usually begins and how long it typically lasts for.
At what age does the menopause start?
Stephanie Taylor, Managing Director of pelvic healthcare brand Kegel8, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Typically, a woman can expect to hit the menopause between the ages of 45 – 55, with the average age being 51.
‘That said, it’s important for women to understand that the menopause isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing which can make it difficult for them to know if they’re going through it or not.’
She pointed out that many women experience menopause earlier than that, adding: ‘In the UK, 1 in 1,000 women will experience premature menopause; where a woman’s oestrogen levels decrease, and periods become infrequent or stop altogether, before the age of 45. The cause of early menopause is not known, so if you start to notice any symptoms, consult your GP.’
On the subject of how long menopause typically lasts, Stephanie said: ‘On average, women can expect to experience symptoms of the menopause for around four years, although some have been known to last as long as 12 years.’
According to the NHS, the severity of the symptoms people going through menopause will experience will vary, and symptoms often begin months or years before the menstruation stops altogether. This is known as perimenopause.
Stephanie said: ‘The menopause (and perimenopause which predates it) is highly complex; there is so much more to it than the well-known symptoms of night sweats, memory loss and hot flushes but in most cases, these are the signs women think they should be looking out for. That’s why other, subtler or seemingly unrelated changes to the body – like dry skin, incontinence, toothache, vaginal dryness or late-onset allergies – can end up being dismissed.’
She also highlighted the importance of people going through menopause not suffering alone.
She said: ‘Menopause is a confusing time for many women experiencing the changes that come as a result of falling oestrogen levels. During this time, it is important that women don’t feel embarrassed and seek help if they are struggling with their symptoms and are concerned about the impact on their physical and mental health.’
In March, Metro.co.uk spoke to Ebony, who was going through the menopause herself at the time. When asked what she wanted women to understand about menopause, she said: ‘This is a time when we should shamelessly take care of our personal needs.
‘We sweat a lot throughout the day, so our skin can become dry, and our bones could become brittle. We get aches and pains. We feel heavier. It’s important that women talk about these symptoms and are open about them.
‘As soon as we are having that conversation we are removing stigma, and when women know what to expect – it takes aways a huge amount of the associated worry and anxiety. It happens to every woman.’
source https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/18/what-age-does-the-menopause-start-and-how-long-does-it-last-10937153/
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