Peri, Meno or Post: What every woman should know about Menopause.
Perimenopause v Menopause or Postmenopause…which one are you?
Like it or not, this naturally occurring biological process, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, is an inevitability. A transitional period which none of us escapes completely, different for each of us, but with many shared similarities.
Symptoms of perimenopause & menopause can range wildly, but what we do know is that hormone changes can lead to mild symptoms like fluctuating moods & irregular bleeding or in some cases major symptoms like depression & an increased risk of suicidal ideation.
So, what can we do to combat these many & varied symptoms?
What exactly are we dealing with?
How is it that our population, made up of 50% women, knows so little about menopause & perimenopause?
A short history lesson on menopause research.
What we do know is that the average age for menopause in Australia is 51 and that between 2021 and 2022 the life expectancy for women globally increased from 73.8 years to 85.3 years. That means that women, on average, are living 34.3 years post menopause.
It’s only in the last forty years that research into menopause has begun, partly because forty years ago the average life expectancy for women in Australia was 70.3. We’re now living on average 15 years longer. That’s a lot of years of being symptomatic and more time spent trying to find ways to feel better, function better and thrive!
Research into menopause didn’t begin in earnest until the early 1980’s & it wasn’t until the 90’s that HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) clinical trials began.
Lots of you would know about the Women’s Health Initiative (2002) findings, linking the use of HRT to an increase in heart attacks, strokes & blood clots. Reports of the findings led to in a decline of HRT use worldwide.
The results of the study have subsequently been proven incorrect & MHT (Menopausal Hormone Therapy) is now considered to be the most effective way to control symptoms, whilst also providing health benefits.
In fact, in February 2025 the Australasian Menopausal Society announced that three MHT (Menopausal Hormone Therapies) will become available to help alleviate symptoms under the Australian PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme).
So, with approximately 3 million Australian women between the ages of 40 & 59 (the most common age range for menopause), over 2 million women 60 plus affected by biological changes associated with being post-menopausal & up to 80% of women experiencing some symptoms…. what do we know??
What is perimenopause?
The time preceding menopause to 1 year post.
A time of hormonal fluctuation, anovulation (no release of egg from ovary), irregular cycles & various symptoms.
A risky period because whilst symptoms are occurring a woman can still become pregnant.
A potentially lousy time in a woman’s life, with only 20% reporting no menopausal symptoms.
What is menopause?
The word menopause refers to the final menstrual period a woman experiences.
Most women become menopausal naturally between the ages of 45 & 55 years.
Nowadays women are living for another third of their lives after menopause & optimising mental & physical health during this period has become super important.
What is post menopause?
The time after you have been without a menstrual cycle for 12 months.
It lasts the REST of your LIFE…take that in for a minute!
Symptoms may become milder or disappear altogether.
There is from now on an increased risk of heart disease & osteoporosis.
Like it or loathe it we are all going to experience some of it. Whilst not exhaustive, this is a list of what you could experience & what you can do to help yourself navigate this often difficult & debilitating time of your life.
I have broken it into 5 different categories & will post them weekly. This is such a big topic & menopause brains can only take in so much information…so check in each week for the next exciting instalment ;)