What is Menopause?

The last menstruation of your life is called menopause. The period around it is the menopause transition. During this time, your body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes and your menstrual cycle changes until you reach your last period, i.e., menopause.

Read in this article what menopause exactly is. What the difference is with the menopause transition. What symptoms you can have and how to deal with them. 

The menopause transition is the life phase in which the ovaries gradually stop producing the female hormone oestrogen. This phase lasts an average of 5 to 10 years, but it can be longer or shorter. Somewhere in the middle of this period in your life that we call the menopause transition, menopause occurs. Menopause is the moment when you have your last period.

The difference between the menopause transition and menopause is therefore that the menopause transition indicates a life phase, in contrast to menopause, which is a point in time. If you have not had a period for at least a year, you know that you have reached menopause. And that your previous period was your last.

You can read more about the menopause transition period and the different phases you go through in the article The phases of the menopause transition explained >>.

The menopause transition begins when the maturation of egg cells becomes less regular. The number of egg cells decreases and fewer of them mature.

At birth, all your egg cells are already in your ovaries. Every month, one egg cell matures and ovulation takes place. This is called ovulation. The days around ovulation are the fertile period. When the supply of egg cells is almost exhausted, fewer egg cells mature and the menopause transition begins.

Because no more mature egg cells are released from the ovaries, your body produces less of the female hormone oestrogen. This causes the uterine lining to grow faster or slower, which means you will menstruate more or less frequently.

The declining production of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone has an effect on your body. For example, it disrupts temperature regulation, causing hot flashes. And it has an effect on your heart, bones and breasts.

The depletion or lack of maturation of the egg cells causes hormonal changes that in turn cause your menstrual cycle to change. Ultimately, this leads to the last period, also known as menopause.

You are no longer fertile as soon as the maturation of egg cells stops. So after menopause, you are infertile. Because you only know for sure that it was menopause 12 months after your last period, it is wise to use contraception until that time.

The first symptom of the menopause transition is often a change in your menstrual pattern: you will menstruate more irregularly. For example, there may be more time between periods or periods may follow each other more quickly. You may also lose more blood than usual during your period, possibly with clots.

Although the menopause transition is a natural process, a large number of women experience complaints during this period. In addition to the changes in the menstrual cycle, hot flashes and mood swings are common symptoms during the menopause transition.

During a hot flash, you suddenly feel very hot, your face and neck turn red and you start to sweat. Hot flashes are caused by the reduced production of oestrogen, which occasionally disrupts your body's temperature regulation.

For practical tips during the menopause transition, read the article “What to do about menopause transition symptoms?”.

On average, a woman reaches menopause at age 51. Depending on when the menopause transition begins, menopause can occur earlier or later. The menopause transition is the period around menopause and begins in most women between the ages of 40 and 60. This period during which your body seeks a new balance lasts approximately 5 to 10 years in total.

Entering the menopause transition before your 40s is less common, but it still happens in 1 in 100 women. This is called premature menopause. Premature menopause can have a clear cause, such as a hereditary condition, medical treatment or removal of the ovaries. But in most cases, there is no clear cause of premature menopause.

The menopause transition is a difficult period for most women because of the hormonal changes in the body. Especially if you suffer a lot from discomfort such as hot flashes or mood swings, the menopause transition affects your daily life in an unpleasant way.

There are a number of things you can do to reduce the symptoms. Of course, you can always consult your GP to find a suitable solution that works for you. You can also support your body with natural supplements. The menopause transition supplements from OvaBalance help you with discomfort during the menopause transition.

For example, you can choose the Menopause Value Pack. The pack contains a herbal supplement that helps with hot flashes, vitamin D3 and K2, and Omega 3. Another great product during the menopause transition is the Menopause Comfort Tea with sage, among other ingredients.

Want to learn more about the menopause transition and menopause? Then books such as The Hormone Revolution or Hormone Balance for Women can help you get started.