Menopause Symptoms Age 40:
These symptoms are very confusing when they hit because early menopause is probably the last thing on your mind. But other shifts happen inside your body that you can’t feel, including bone loss, which often accelerates during the menopause transition. If you can’t or don’t want to take hormones, other medications can ease symptoms. They include antidepressants, antiseizure drugs, or blood pressure medications to help with hot flashes and mood swings.
But some women experience menopause in their 40s ‘ with a small percentage experiencing signs of menopause earlier. Read on to learn about the three stages of menopause, the symptoms you may experience at different ages, and when to seek care for menopause symptoms. Your experience with menopause will be unique to you ‘ from when it starts to the types of menopause symptoms you’ll feel as you age.
“Over-medicalization of menopause and promotion of MHT as a panacea is unhelpful,” according to an editorial featured in the series. However, compared with women who go through natural menopause, women undergoing premature ovarian insufficiency spend a greater portion of their lives without the protective benefits of their own estrogen. This puts them at an even greater risk for the above mentioned menopause-related health problems. As menopause gets nearer, your ovaries begin to produce less and less of the hormone estrogen, which causes your menstrual cycle to change. The symptoms you experience during menopause are a result of these fluctuating hormone levels. Early or premature menopause happens when ovaries stop making hormones and periods stop at a younger age than usual (the average age for menopause in the United States is 52).
If any of the following situations apply to you, see a healthcare provider to rule out other causes. The length of time you have symptoms of perimenopause you can try these out can vary between a few months to many years. The decrease in estrogen also can lead to bone thinning or changing cholesterol levels.
Also, if you’ve missed your period and you’re not sure whether perimenopause has started, consider taking a pregnancy test as a first step. I am very keen to continue to build on the growing momentum around menopause and women’s health in the workplace, to advocate for women working across the UK, and to broaden this conversation to new sectors and voices. I am incredibly thankful to Helen for embracing the role of Menopause Employment Champion, and for driving such exceptional progress in just 12 months. I look forward to continuing to support Helen in her work, alongside the many colleagues, stakeholders and businesses who have assisted us in our success so far. “Sadly, the issue within the NHS is that there is not enough knowledge and training within healthcare professionals around menopause but especially premature ovarian insufficiency.” Besides prior depressive symptoms, other risk factors for depression during menopause included severe and prolonged vasomotor symptoms, chronic sleep problems, and life stressors.
As the follicles and eggs mature, they produce more estrogen and progesterone. Then the hormone inhibin B sends a ‘turnoff’ signal to stop the pituitary from making more FSH. At that point, see one of your ovaries releases a mature egg, and if there is sperm to meet it, there’s a chance of conceiving a baby. If not, then your progesterone levels drop, leading to your period.
Again, this could be a direct result of lower estrogen levels or compromised sleep. However, it can also be a secondary result of the other symptoms of menopause, such as mood changes or a side effect of a medication. Scientists are not sure why they occur, but it appears that falling estrogen levels can affect the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. They cause someone to suddenly become hot, sweaty, and flushed, especially in the face, neck, and chest. Preventive health care as you age may include recommended health screening tests, such as colonoscopy, mammography and triglyceride screening. Your doctor might recommend other tests and exams, too, including thyroid testing if suggested by your history, and breast and pelvic exams.
Researchers believe some of these differences are due to life stress, socioeconomic characteristics, and discrimination. The possibility of pregnancy disappears once you’re postmenopausal. However, you can get pregnant during the menopause transition (perimenopause).
It’s diagnosed after you’ve gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. The change from perimenopause to menopause can take several years. Symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleeping difficulties, are common during this time. It’s important to discuss the pros and cons of hormone therapy with your provider. If you have infertility as a result of early or premature menopause, discuss your options with a fertility specialist, who can help you achieve your goal of becoming a parent.
In light of these numbers, the college has trained their managers to support staff, providing advice and guidance, including menopause appointments with health consultants. The strategy received hugely positive feedback and has seen a 70% reduction in absence for female staff accessing support over a 12-month period. In the first paper of the series, Hickey and co-authors advocated for a pivot away super fast reply from medically treating the individual symptoms of menopause and instead taking a more holistic approach. You may notice signs of progression toward menopause, such as menstrual irregularity, sometime in your 40s. In the U.S., the average age of onset for “natural” menopause is 51. However, because of genetics, illness, or medical procedures, some women go through menopause before the age of 40.