Menopause Stages

The three stages most commonly associated with menopause are perimenopause (before menopause), menopause and postmenopause (after menopause).

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Stages Umbrella include?

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

  • Menopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Postmenopause

Three Stages

What are the three stages most commonly associated with menopause?

DotS the three stages commonly associated with menopause are:

  • Perimenopause (before Menopause)
  • Menopause
  • Postmenopause (after Menopause)

Perimenopause

What is perimenopause?

DotS the definition of perimenopause may vary. The International Menopause Society’s (IMS) definition is:

“Perimenopause – the time before; around and just after the actual moment of menopause”.1

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions, published online 30 October 2023, the definition of perimenopause is:

  • “Perimenopause is the time from the onset of cycle irregularity through until 12 months after the final menstrual period”.2

The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“The perimenopause is the time period preceding the menopause to one year after the menopause, and is characterised by hormonal fluctuation, anovulatory cycles and onset of cycle irregularity and symptoms. The menopause transition is the time period leading up to the final menstrual period. Hallmarks of the perimenopause are changes in a woman’s menstrual periods such as, irregular periods or changes in flow. Cycles can be shorter or longer in length. Symptoms may also include hot flushes and night sweats, aches and pains, fatigue or irritability, as well as premenstrual symptoms such as sore breasts”.3

Menopause

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. 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”.4

The IMS’s definition is:

“Menopause – the last day of a woman’s last period ever”.5

The AMS’s definition is:

“The term “menopause” refers to the final menstrual period”.6

Postmenopause

What is postmenopause?

DotS the definition of postmenopause may vary. The IMS’s definition is:

“Postmenopause – the stage after the final menstrual period”.7

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions, published online 30 October 2023, the definition of postmenopause is:

  • “Postmenopause starts 12 months after the final menstrual period”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my stage of menopause?

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

On page one 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, the recommendations include:

  • “All women should be able to access advice on how they can optimise their menopause transition and the years beyond. There should be an individualised approach in assessing women experiencing the menopause, with particular reference to lifestyle advice, diet modification as well as discussion of the role of interventions including HRT
  • 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
  • Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HR
  • The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient…”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Stages?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Stages?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. AMS Symptom Score Card
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  5. Diagnosing Menopause
  6. CAMS Menopause Hour: A Practical Approach To the Management of Menopause [Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies]
  7. CAMS Menopause Hour: Perimenopause – A Clinical Challenge [Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies]
  8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  9. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  10. Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
  11. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: How To Handle the Daily Practice Challenges When Prescribing Oral MHT (EN)
  12. Emotional Wellness In Menopause
  13. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  14. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  15. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  16. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  17. First Symptoms of Menopause
  18. HRT Questions Answered
  19. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  20. Hormone Therapy: Four Things A Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Specialist Wants You To Know [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/CG: Taryn Smith, M.D./Internal Medicine/Mayo Clinic]
  21. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  22. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  23. How Menopause Impacts Your Health
  24. How To Know If You Are In Menopause
  25. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  26. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  27. 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
  28. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths] [Other Languages and Formats]
  29. 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]
  30. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  31. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  32. Mayo Clinic Minute: Perimenopause and Menopause [+ Video]
  33. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  34. Menopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause StagesMenopause
  37. Menopause
  38. Menopause
  39. Menopause Checklist Podcast
  40. Menopause Definitions and Terms
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Stages
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Stages
  43. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
  44. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  45. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
  46. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  47. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  48. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  49. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms
  50. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  51. Menopause and Mental Health
  52. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Menopause Stages
  53. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  54. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  55. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  56. Menopauseinfo.org [Menopause Info, International Menopause Society]
    Menopause Stages
  57. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  58. Mood and the Menopause
  59. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  62. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  63. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause
  64. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  65. Peri-Menopause and Irregular Periods
  66. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  67. Perimenopause
  68. Perimenopause
  69. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  70. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  71. Perimenopause or Menopausal Transition
  72. Postmenopause
  73. Postmenopause: Symptoms and Impact
  74. Stages of Menopause
  75. Stages of Menopause: Natural Menopause
  76. Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
  77. Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause
  78. The Menopause: After the Menopause
  79. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy [September 2024]
    Menopause
  80. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  81. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  82. Vaginal Dryness
  83. Vaginal Dryness
  84. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  85. Video Resource: Menopause and Health Living – What Is Early Menopause? [Multiple Languages]
  86. Video Resource: Menopause and Health Living – What Is Menopause? [Multiple Languages]
  87. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  88. Video: Researchers Emphasize Normalization of Menopause
  89. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  91. Webinars: Previous – Menopausal Migraines
  92. What Is Menopause?
  93. What Is Menopause?
  94. What Is the Menopause?Menopause Stages
  95. What To Expect In Each Stage of Menopause
  96. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning [Video]
  97. Why Is FSH Not Needed for Diagnosis of Menopause
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  99. Menopause Stages World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms – Perimenopause. 2022:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 08 January 2025
  2. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions. Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 08 January 2025
  3. What Is Menopause? What Is Peri-Menopause (the Menopausal Transition)? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 08 January 2025
  4. Menopause: How Menopause Occurs. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 08 January 2025
  5. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms – Menopause. 2022:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 08 January 2025
  6. What Is Menopause? Key Points. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 08 January 2025
  7. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms – Postmenopause. 2022:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 08 January 2025
  8. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Definitions. Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 08 January 2025
  9. 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: 08 January 2025
Topic Last Updated: 08 January 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 08 January 2025

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