One of the ways that menopause is similar to puberty is that the timing of the change, and the first symptoms that you experience, can vary significantly. Puberty usually starts sometime in your early teens, and comes with changes like secondary body hair and breast budding. Some girls experience early puberty, while some wait for years for periods to start.
In the same way, menopause can begin anywhere from your 40s to your 50s. And the first signs of the change won’t necessarily be the same for everyone. However, there are trends and patterns that you can look at to guide your understanding of this next chapter of your life.
At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges supports you before, during, and after menopause. She treats new and existing patients in Odessa and Midland, Texas. In this blog, she goes into more detail about the beginning of menopause.
You enter menopause when it’s been a full 12 months since your last menstrual period. The average age of menopause in women in the United States is 52.
Typically, you experience a transitional time in your life as menopause approaches. Your hormone levels naturally start to change, with your production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decreasing. Your periods may become irregular, and you may start to notice symptoms like hot flashes or fatigue.
Perimenopause, the transitional time as you begin to approach menopause, can start as early as age 35, and affects many women in their 40s. Some women, about 5% in the US, go through early menopause between the ages 40-45. For most women, the transition into menopause takes between 7-14 years to complete.
The statistics above show that you may find yourself on the lookout for menopause symptoms for a significant amount of time. It can be destabilizing not knowing what to expect, or when to expect it.
Your early menopause symptoms may not be the same as others. Still, there are some common impacts that early menopause and perimenopause have to your physical and mental health. These include:
If your symptoms are intense, disruptive, or uncomfortable, talk to Dr. Bridges about options for relief. Lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your comfort during the transition into menopause. You may also benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Working with an OB/GYN you trust takes some of the stress out of perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Bridges reviews your symptoms and suggests the best ways to support you. She can also help you evaluate where you are in this part of your journey, providing expert and knowledgeable advice to take some of the mystery out of menopause.
If you think you might be noticing early signs of menopause, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone today.
