A few facts to get you started
What is menopause?
The word ‘menopause’, in biological terms, literally means ‘the stopping of monthly periods’. But menopause is so much more than that and doesn’t happen overnight.
It’s a normal and inevitable stage of life. The opposite of puberty or puberty in reverse; an important hormonal milestone and the result of a series of hormonal changes which can affect someone cognitively, physically and emotionally.
Like puberty or pregnancy, it is a transition to a new season of life. Some people and cultures see menopause as ‘a second spring’ or ‘third act’ - something to look forward to and celebrate.
Even if some symptoms (changes) are not easy to adjust to or live with, it’s good to remember that menopause is temporary, and there are many things you can do to support yourself, friends, family or workmates.
Who does it affect?
Every woman/wahine who lives beyond midlife will go through menopause. Some non-binary, and trans men, will experience symptoms too.
Everyone’s experience is different, just as everyone’s experience of menstruation, puberty or pregnancy is different. Symptoms (changes) can be mild, moderate or severe. Some people have no symptoms at all.
About 70% of women have significant symptoms with menopause and 40% will see a doctor because of their symptoms.
The average age that most women/wāhine in NZ no longer get periods is 52 years.
Reaching menopause before the age of 40 is called ‘premature ovarian insufficiency’ (POI). Reaching menopause between 40-45 is called ‘early menopause’. ‘Surgical menopause’ is when both ovaries are surgically removed before a woman goes through menopause naturally. ‘Induced menopause’ is when the ovaries are damaged either by disease or medical treatments before a woman goes through menopause naturally.
363,000 women/wāhine in New Zealand were 45-55 years (based on the 2023 census - Stats NZ).
What are the stages of menopause?
Peri-menopause - the years leading up to menopause when symptoms are common and can last 2 to 10 years or five years on average.
Menopause occurs for most people when they haven’t had a period for at least 12 months in a row.
Post-menopause - the years after menopause when symptoms start to settle but can continue.
How do hormones impact women during menopause?
Levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone fluctuate in the time leading up to someone’s final period.
At menopause, the ovaries stop producing oestrogen. Oestrogen has over 400 biological actions including the regulation of sleep, mood and appetite.
Fluctuating and declining oestrogen can cause 34+ symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations, irregular and/or heavy periods, anxiety, low mood/depression, decreased libido, brain fog, dry eyes, mood swings, nausea, disturbed sleep/insomnia, vaginal dryness and discomfort, aching joints and fatigue. Many women and people experience other symptoms too.
An increasing number of people and doctors are aware of the latest research, life style changes and solutions to support people through this stage of life. But some are not. If you’d like to get advice from a menopause specialist, check out the list of Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) doctors in New Zealand.
Sources:
When I started looking for credible, useful and consistent facts about perimenopause and menopause, I couldn’t find everything I wanted to know in one place. I have gathered many of the facts above from the following sources: