Things You Should Know About Menopause

Menopause is a natural part of the life cycle as a woman. Some people even refer to menopause as the start of the next half of your life. Whatever you refer to it as, many women have lots of questions about this important milestone. From what you can expect during menopause to important lifestyle changes you should make to stay healthy after your menstrual cycle stops, read on for things about menopause every woman needs to know.

What Is Menopause?

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Put simply, menopause is defined as not having a menstrual period for one year. During this time, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body decrease and your menstrual cycle comes to a stop. It’s important to note that you are not truly in menopause until you have missed 12 consecutive periods, or if your doctor says otherwise. Some women may experience periods every few months before they enter menopause. This is called perimenopause — but we’ll get to that later.

The expected age when women will experience menopause varies depending on numerous factors. Learn at what age you may begin menopause next.