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MENOPAUSE 101

Understanding menopause and its symptoms

Woman in bed looking up and smiling

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Menopause is a natural stage of aging for women when menstrual cycles permanently stop due to declining hormone levels. It’s officially determined 12 consecutive months after your final menstrual period, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, but the average age is 51.

WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?

Perimenopause is the transition stage into menopause. During perimenopause, hormonal changes occur and you may start to experience some menopause symptoms including persistent irregularities in your menstrual cycle. These symptoms can start up to 10 years before your menopause even begins.

Woman in front of gym lockers smiling

MENOPAUSE AFFECTS EVERYONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Each woman is unique and so are their symptoms. Many different factors impact the menopause experience, including medical conditions, race, ethnicity, and mental wellness.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE?

Up to 80% of women will experience the most commonly reported and bothersome symptom, VMS
Signs and symptoms of menopause infographic

EVEN SLEEP QUALITY CAN TAKE A HIT

According to a recent international survey* of 995 menopausal women in the workplace:

  • 79% reported sleep disturbances or insomnia as one of the most bothersome symptoms of the menopausal transition

*The EMPACT Menopause Study, involving employees and supervisors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other countries.

References:

  1. Menopause Foundation of Canada. What Everyone Should Know. Accessed April 17, 2024. https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/resources/menopause-what-everyone-should-know/
  2. Monteleone P, Mascagni G, Giannini A, Genazzani AR, Simoncini T. Symptoms of menopause - global prevalence, physiology and implications. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018;14(4):199-215.
  3. Thurston RC. Vasomotor symptoms. In: Crandall CJ, Bachman GA, Faubion SS, et al., eds. Menopause Practice: A Clinician's Guide. 6th ed. Pepper Pike, OH: North American Menopause Society, 2019;43-55.
  4. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med 2015;175(4):531-539.
  5. Yuksel N, Evaniuk D, Huang L, et al. Guideline No. 422a: Menopause: vasomotor symptoms, prescription therapeutic agents, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021 Oct;43(10):1188-1204.e1.
  6. Menopause Foundation of Canada. The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada. 2022; 1-21. Accessed February 7, 2024. https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/MFC_The-Silence-and-the-Stigma_Menopause-in-Canada_Oct22_v2.pdf
  7. Society for Women’s Health Research. Employee Perspectives and Challenges Concerning the Transition of Menopause (EMPACT Menopause) Study. Accessed May 9, 2024. https://swhr.org/resources/empact-menopause-study-bulletin/