Menopause Evidence-Based Information

“Most women become menopausal naturally
between the ages of 45 and 55 years,
with the average age of onset at around 51 years”.1

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Evidence-Based Information Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Early Menopause
  • Induced Menopause
  • Menopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Premature Menopause
  • Surgical Menopause

Menopause

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In Menopause: How Menopause Occurs, dated 16 October 2024, the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Natural menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months without menstruation for which there is no other obvious physiological or pathological cause and in the absence of clinical intervention”.2

Menopause Age

What is the average age of menopause?

In What Is Menopause? Definition of Menopause the Australasian Menopause Society explain:

“Most women become menopausal naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 years, with the average age of onset at around 51 years. Surgical menopause refers to menopause as a result of bilateral oophorectomy. Premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency may occur before the age of 40 due to natural ovarian function ceasing, following surgery to remove the ovaries, or as a result of chemo/ radiotherapy. Menopause is considered “early” when it occurs between 40 and 45 years”.3

Menopause Symptoms

What are some menopause symptoms?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms may include:

  • Irregular periods
  • Hot Flushes
  • Night sweats
  • Sleep problems
  • Sore breasts
  • Itchy, crawly or dry skin
  • Menopause Evidence-Based InformationExhaustion and fatigue
  • Dry vagina
  • Loss of sex drive (libido)
  • Headaches or migraines
  • More pronounced premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Aches and pains
  • Bloating
  • Urinary problems
  • Weight gain due to a slower metabolism


Psychological and Emotional Symptoms

Psychological and emotional symptoms may include:

  • Feeling irritable or frustrated
  • Feeling anxious
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Brain fog
  • Forgetfulness
  • Lowered mood
  • Mood swings
  • Feeling you can’t cope as well as you used to”.4

Menopause Symptoms Duration

What is the average duration of menopause symptoms?

On page one and two in Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, the authors note:

“It is estimated that menopausal symptoms affect more than 75% of women, with over 25% of women describing severe symptoms. Furthermore, menopausal symptoms may last for a long time with an average duration of 7 years, with a third of women experiencing symptoms beyond 7 years”.5

Healthy Lifestyle

Can a healthy lifestyle improve menopause symptoms?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms”.6

Treatments

What treatments are available?

On page one in Emotional Wellness In Menopause: What Treatments Are Available? the (British) Women’s Health Concern elaborate on:

“There is no one size fits all for women when it comes to managing physical or psychological symptoms of menopause, but a variety of treatments are available.

  • Anti-depressants can help with emotional and cognitive symptoms of the menopause. However, unless you have been diagnosed with depression, there are other treatments which may be more helpful and appropriate
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help with many cognitive and emotional symptoms of menopause. HRT can also help improve quality of sleep. It’s useful to keep a record of symptoms to discuss with your HRT prescriber as this will help identify the best HRT regime for you
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other talking therapies can be hugely beneficial in dealing with some of the emotional symptoms of menopause. Even women who have never used therapies before and them helpful to navigate their menopause journey
  • Mindfulness and meditation are popular techniques to help relax and clear the mind – a very useful addition to managing some of the emotional and cognitive symptoms of menopause. Alongside restorative exercise such as yoga and Pilates, both body and mind can recover and heal”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my menopause?

If you would like help with your menopause, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:

“Talk to your doctor if you are worried about:

  • Irregular periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
  • Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.8

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic encourage us to seek help:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your healthcare professional about your choices and the risks and benefits of each. Review your choices yearly. Your needs and the treatment choices may change”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Evidence-Based Information?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Evidence-Based Information?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

Bioidentical Hormones

Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  1. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  2. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  3. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  4. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  5. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  6. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
Hormone Therapy
  1. HRT Questions Answered
  2. Hormone Therapy: Four Things A Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Specialist Wants You To Know [02 May 2024] [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/CG: Taryn Smith, M.D./Internal Medicine/Mayo Clinic]
  3. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  4. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  5. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy [September 2024]
    Menopause
  6. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies [18 October 2024]
  7. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
    Menopause
Hot Flushes
  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  3. Hot Flashes
  4. Hot Flashes
  5. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  6. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  7. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Menopause
  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  3. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Premature and Early Menopause
  4. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  5. First Symptoms of Menopause
  6. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths] [Other Languages and Formats]
  7. Menopause
  8. Menopause
  9. Menopause
  10. Menopause
  11. Menopause
  12. Menopause
    Menopause
  13. Menopause Checklist Podcast
  14. Menopause Education for Patients
  15. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Evidence-Based Information
  16. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  17. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  18. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  19. Premature and Early Menopause
  20. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  21. What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
Menopause Diagnosis

Menopause Glossary

Menopause Health Care Providers

Menopause In Multiply Languages

Menopause Memory

Menopause Mood Changes
  1. 5 Ways To Cope With Menopausal Mood Swings
  2. Emotional Wellness In Menopause
  3. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
  4. Menopause and Depression: Is There A Link?
  5. Menopause and Mental Health
  6. Menopause and Mental Health
  7. Mood and the Menopause
  8. Self-Help Tool: Menopause and Mental Wellbeing
Menopause Symptoms
  1. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  2. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  3. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  4. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  5. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
  6. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  7. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  8. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  9. Symptoms of Menopause
  10. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
Menopause Videos
  1. BMS TV
  2. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause [03 December 2024]
  3. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Delaying Menopause Through Ovarian Tissue Freezing
  4. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and the Workplace
  5. Menopause Mindfulness: Living Your Best Work-Life Through the Menopause Transition
  6. Menopause Patient Information [Videos]
  7. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series
  8. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Vulvar Diseases, Overview for Aging Women
  9. Webinars: Previous – Recommendations on Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
  10. Why Is FSH Not Needed for Diagnosis of Menopause
Perimenopause
  1. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  2. Menopause Evidence-Based InformationMayo Clinic Minute: Perimenopause and Menopause [+ Video]
  3. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  4. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  5. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  6. Perimenopause
  7. Perimenopause
  8. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  9. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  10. Stages of Menopause: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
  11. Webinars: Previous – Perimenopausal Contraception
  12. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
Postmenopause
  1. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  2. BMS TV: Osteoporosis
  3. Postmenopause
  4. Menopause Evidence-Based InformationStages of Menopause: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Menopause? Definition of Menopause. Content Created  May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 01 January 2025
  2. Menopause: How Menopause Occurs. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 01 January 2025
  3. What Is Menopause? Definition of Menopause. Content Created  May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 01 January 2025
  4. Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms. Last Updated: 02 December 2024. Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms#physical-and-emotional-symptoms Accessed: 01 January 2025
  5. Hamoda, H, Mukherjee, A, Morris, E, Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P, Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:1-2 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 01 January 2025
  6. Hamoda, H, Mukherjee, A, Morris, E, Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P, Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 01 January 2025
  7. Emotional Wellness In Menopause: What Treatments Are Available? Published Date: June 2023:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/30-WHC-FACTSHEET-Emotional-wellness-in-menopause-JUNE2023-A.pdf Accessed: 01 January 2025
  8. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 18 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 01 January 2025
  9. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 01 January 2025
Topic Last Updated: 24 January 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 01 January 2025

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