Menopause

“Menopause is your final menstrual period.
If you haven’t had a period for 12 months,
you’ve reached menopause”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Umbrella include?

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

  • Change of Life
  • Early Menopause
  • Going Through the Menopause
  • Induced Menopause
  • Menopausal/Menopause Transition
  • Menopause
  • Natural Menopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause
  • Postmenopause
  • Premature Menopause
  • Second Half of Your Life
  • Surgical Menopause
  • The Change
  • The Change of Life
  • The Time of Life
  • The Menopause Years
  • The Menopause-Related Years
  • The Three Stages of Menopause
  • Turning St Catherine’s Corner

Definition

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In Menopause: How Menopause Occurs 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

On page four in Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Definitions – Menopause the definition used by the International Menopause Society is:

“Menopause – the last day of a woman’s last period ever”.3

In Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Menopause? the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“Menopause is a normal, natural event—defined as the final menstrual period and usually confirmed when a woman has missed her periods for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes)”.4

In What Is Menopause? Key Points the Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“The term “menopause” refers to the final menstrual period”.5

In What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause: Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Menopause is your final menstrual period. If you haven’t had a period for 12 months, you’ve reached menopause”.6

Menopause Age

What is the average age of menopause?

On page three in Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society: 2. Diagnosing Reproductive Status, published 12 May 2022, the authors note:

  • “Spontaneous menopause is usually defined retrospectively, after 12 months of amenorrhoea, typically at 50–51 years. The age of spontaneous menopause varies between ethnic groups. According to data retrieved from 21 studies and 10 countries, the youngest age at menopause has been described as 48 years for women living in South Asia, the oldest as 52 years in Japanese women, and an intermediate age of 50 years for Caucasian women”.7

Different Differences

Do all women experience the same menopause?

No. Menopause is not one-size-fits-all. Although all women have a FMP, different women experience different symptoms, at different times, in different ways, for different lengths of time, before and after their FMP.

In Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, the NICE elaborate on:


Menopause
“Menopause affects every woman differently. You may have no symptoms at all, or they might be brief and short lived. For some women they are severe and distressing.

You can still get menopause symptoms if you have had a hysterectomy (an operation to remove your womb).

Other natural changes as you age can be intensified by menopause. For example, you may lose some muscle strength and have a higher risk of conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease”.8

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”.9

Hormone Therapy

How effective is hormone therapy (HT) for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the NAMS explain:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life. Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats is the principal reason women use HT. Hormone therapy also treats vaginal dryness and painful sex associated with menopause. Hormone therapy keeps your bones strong by preserving bone density and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures. If preserving bone density is your only concern, and you do not have bothersome hot flashes, other treatments may be recommended instead of HT”.10

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”.11

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 doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.12

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 5 of the Most Common Questions About Menopause
  2. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  3. A Guide To Birth Control In Your 40s and 50s
  4. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  5. Autism and Menopause: Q&A With Rachel Moseley and Julie Turner-Cobb
  6. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  7. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  8. BMS TV: Menopause – Weight Gain, Nutrition and Lifestyle
  9. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  10. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  11. Causes of Menopause
  12. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  14. Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
  15. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  16. Dr Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  17. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. Glossary of Terms
  22. How To Know If You Are In Menopause
  23. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  24. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  25. 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
  26. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Menopause]
  27. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  28. Living Well With MS and Menopause
  29. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  30. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  31. Menopause
  32. Menopause
  33. Menopause
  34. Menopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause
  37. Menopause
  38. Menopause
  39. Menopause FAQs: Premature, Early, and Induced Menopause
  40. Menopause Glossary
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause
  43. Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
  44. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
  45. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  46. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  47. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  48. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  52. Menopause Wellness Hub
  53. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  54. Menopause and MS [Multiply Sclerosis]
  55. Menopause and Mental Health
  56. Menopause – Multilingual Fact Sheets
  57. Menopause – Multiply Languages
  58. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  59. Menopause: Continuing the Conversation
  60. Menopause: Definitions and Terms
  61. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  62. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  63. Menopause: How Your Body Changes and What You Can Do [+ Video]
  64. Menopause: Is It Starting?
  65. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  66. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP #256
  67. Menstrual Calendar
  68. Mood and the Menopause
  69. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  70. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  71. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  72. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  73. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  74. Normalising Menopause
  75. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  76. Symptoms of Menopause
  77. The Menopause Years
  78. The Reality of Menopause Weight Gain
  79. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  80. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  81. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  82. Understanding Premature & Early Menopause – Booklet
  83. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  84. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  85. Video Series-2023: Menopause and Heart Disease
  86. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  87. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  88. Video Series-2023: Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Menopause Experience
  89. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  91. Webinars: Previous – Clinical Climacteric Conundrums
  92. What Causes Menopause?
  93. What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Menopause
  94. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  95. What Is Menopause?
  96. What Is Menopause?
  97. What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
  98. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  99. World Menopause Day
  100. World Menopause Day: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause: Menopause. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  2. Menopause: How Menopause Occurs. 17 October 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  3. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Definitions – Menopause. Page 4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMS-English-Factsheet-4-glossary.pdf Accessed: 04 October 2023
  4. Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Menopause? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-an-introduction-to-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  5. 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: 04 October 2023
  6. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause: Menopause. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  7. Lambrinoudaki I., Armeni E., Goulis D., Bretz S, Ceausu I, Durmusoglu F, Erkkola R. Fistonic I, Gambacciani M., Geukes M., Hamoda H., Hartley C., Lindén Hirschberg A., Meczekalski B., Mendoza N., Mueck A., Smetnik A., Stute P., van Trotsenburg M., Rees M. Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society: 2. Diagnosing Reproductive Status. 12 May 2022:3 https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(22)00090-1/fulltext Accessed: 04 October 2023
  8. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  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: 04 October 2023
  10. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 04 October 2023
  11. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  12. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 04 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 04 October 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 October 2023

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