Your Menopause Questions, Answered

Every woman’s menopause experience is different, but the average age of menopause in the US is 51. And on average, perimenopause lasts about four years – but it can be more or less. During this time you may notice changes in your periods. You may miss periods, or they may become heavier or lighter.

You may also start to experience other symptoms, like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, or brain fog. Menopause is totally natural, and there are plenty of resources available if symptoms are affecting your quality of life.

If you’ve experienced severe menstrual symptoms throughout your life you might expect menopause to bring on similar symptoms like fatigue or changes in mood. But what about bladder issues, heart palpitations, or hair thinning? All are possible during this time.

The more obscure symptoms of menopause can catch some women off guard and create distress, or they may be dismissed as just part of aging. But having open conversations with your provider is so important. If things just aren’t as they should be, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

There are many birth control options available, including hormonal birth control like birth control pills or patches and non-hormonal methods like using condoms. Non-hormonal methods don’t affect menopause symptoms, but hormonal methods might mask them. Because many women experience decreased periods or no periods at all while on hormonal birth control, it can be tough to know when perimenopause has started.

There are many things to consider during this time of life, such as when to stop taking birth control and when hormone therapy might be helpful. If you’re approaching the age of perimenopause, it’s best to connect with your provider to create a plan for the season ahead.

Fertility declines with age as menopause approaches, but it’s still possible to get pregnant during perimenopause. This is true even if you’ve started to miss some of your monthly periods. There are many factors that affect a woman’s fertility, including conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or whether or not a woman smokes.

If you’re trying to get pregnant during perimenopause, you can increase your chances by sustaining a healthy lifestyle and using fertility treatments like IVF. If you don’t want to get pregnant, it’s best to continue using birth control until you haven’t had a period for at least one year.

Hormone therapy (HT) is medication that comes in various forms – like pills, patches, and gels – that increases the estrogen and progesterone hormones during the menopause transition. This can help ease severe symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, or joint pain.

Unfortunately, HT has been the target of a lot of misinformation. But for many women, it can be used safely and effectively. If you’re interested in HT, connect with your provider to discuss your medical history and FDA-approved options.

Vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence are common menopausal symptoms – symptoms that can make for uncomfortable sex. Other symptoms like sleep issues or joint pain may also affect a woman’s sex life. Remember that while menopause is completely natural, you don’t have to dismiss troubling symptoms as just part of aging.

Not all women experience changes in libido during the menopause journey. In fact, postmenopausal women may enjoy sex even more without the worry of becoming pregnant. Be sure to have open conversations with your partner and your doctor, and know that there are medications and treatments that can help.

The menopause transition can take a toll on your mental health – but help is available. Hormonal changes can increase levels of anxiety or depression, while physical changes like trouble sleeping can make you feel even worse. And if you’ve experienced mental health challenges in the past, you’re at a higher risk of seeing symptoms return.

If perimenopause is on the way, prepare for these potential changes. If you’re experiencing mental health issues right now, remember it’s not all in your head. From HT to lifestyle changes, there are many ways to impact your mental health in a good way. Your provider is a key contact for this conversation, and our mental health specialists are also here to walk this road with you.

Menopause is definitely having a moment. It seems like it’s being talked about everywhere – and we need to talk about menopause! But with that conversation comes bad actors who will try to exploit others. Use caution with supplements, as they may be ineffective or even harmful.

Supplements are not regulated in the US the same way pharmaceutical medications are. Your medical history is key in determining what treatments are safe for you, and it’s important to know if a supplement will work well alongside any medication you may take. Menopause symptoms may leave you aching for quick relief, but it’s critical that you speak to your doctor before adding supplements to your self care.

A very important question! The answer: it’s different for every woman. The average time for perimenopause symptoms is four years, but some women may experience them for up to 10 years. After a woman has reached menopause, she is considered to be in postmenopause for the rest of her life.

Once you’ve reached postmenopause, your menopausal symptoms should start to subside. This may happen fairly quickly, or it may take years. However, keep in mind that even though symptoms like hot flashes may wane after menopause, you may be at higher risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. Stay connected with your provider so you’ll have the help you need during each stage.

Yes. Routine pap tests and HPV screenings are recommended for women up to age 65. Your specific recommendations may differ based on a number of factors, such as any history of abnormal tests or whether or not you’re immunocompromised. The HPV vaccine is currently accessible up to age 45, so if you’re of age and haven’t received it yet, there’s still time.

After you’ve reached menopause, keep an eye out for postmenopause bleeding. This may be a sign of a benign issue (such as polyps), or in less common cases it could be an alert to cancer. Explore our women’s health page to discover all the ways we can support you.