In this post, I'm addressing a common question many women have: how do you know if you’re starting menopause, and what are the early signs to look out for? Understanding the symptoms and recognizing the changes in your body can help you approach this transition with more awareness and confidence.
What is Peri-Menopause?
When we talk about going through menopause, we’re usually referring to peri-menopause—the phase leading up to menopause, which can last for a few years or up to a decade. During this time, estrogen levels start to fluctuate, and women may experience a variety of symptoms.
When you reach the one-year anniversary of your last menstrual period, you'll know you have reached menopause. This is referred to as natural menopause, and it’s only after the one year without a period that you can say you’ve reached it.
Once you’ve passed that one-year mark, you are considered post-menopause. However, it’s also important to note that medical menopause can occur, which happens if you undergo surgery to remove your ovaries or have a hysterectomy. Other treatments, like chemotherapy or radiation, can also trigger menopause. So, how can you know if you're in menopause? Let’s explore some key signs to watch for.
Note: the symptoms are not going to be the same for everyone. You won't necessarily experience all of these, and you may experience symptoms not listed here.
Usual Age for Menopause
Natural menopause usually happens between the ages of 40 to 56, but the average is 51, and before age 45 is considered early menopause. You can go through menopause earlier for other reasons, as I've mentioned, like medical menopause. There is also primary ovarian insufficiency, and that can occur much earlier. Things like overexercising and eating disorders can also cause an early menopause.
Symptoms of Peri-Menopause
Some of the symptoms that can tell you if you are in peri-menopause could be changes to your cycle. Your cycles might be lighter or heavier, and usually they will start to get closer together and become unpredictable, and eventually they can get quite far apart, even months apart, before the one year mark with no cycles. You could even start to notice small changes to your cycle 10 years before menopause.
While unpredictable cycles in peri-menopause are normal, some people also just notice one day that they haven't had a cycle in quite a while, which would also be normal. However, most women do go through some sort of changes to their periods before menopause.
Mood Changes During Menopause
This could be something you've never experienced before, but suddenly you may start feeling anxious or depressed or become irritable and don't know why. Our moods are highly sensitive to hormonal changes. Estrogen can work as an antidepressant, so as estrogen decreases, we can feel mood changes.
Another symptom is sudden difficulty concentrating. Some parts of the brain that handle attention are also affected by actions of estrogen.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
When starting menopause you might feel more heat, hot flashes, or night sweats. Up to 85% of women may experience hot flashes at some point in their lives. Hot flashes may start off fairly minor early in peri-menopause and become more intense later on.
Changes to Your Sleep During Menopause
You may have always been someone who enjoyed a solid night’s sleep, but lately you have been finding yourself wide awake in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. As we age, our sleep cycles naturally shift, and many women going through menopause experience disruptions in their sleep patterns. You might wake up more frequently during the night or find yourself getting up earlier than usual. This change can be frustrating and exhausting, especially if you’ve always relied on a good night’s rest to feel your best the next day. Hormonal shifts, hot flashes, and stress can all play a role in these disturbances.
Weight Changes During Menopause
As we go through menopause, many women notice changes in how and where their bodies store fat. There can be a shift in our fat distribution -- during menopause it tends to accumulate more around the midsection. This redistribution of fat is largely due to hormonal changes, particularly a drop in estrogen levels. At the same time, our metabolism slows down, making it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it. On top of this, many women experience increased cravings for comfort foods, which often tend to be higher in sugar, fat, or refined carbs. These cravings can be challenging to navigate, especially when they’re tied to emotions or stress
Urinary Changes During Menopause
During peri-menopause you may start to notice changes in your urinary habits. You might need to urinate more frequently during the day or find yourself waking up more often at night to empty your bladder. Some women also experience an increased frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can be frustrating and uncomfortable.
Hormonal changes, particularly the decrease in estrogen, can lead to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, making it harder to control bladder function. This can also result in incontinence, where you may experience leakage, especially during physical activities or while sneezing or laughing.
Loss of Libido
Another common experience for many women during menopause is a noticeable decrease in libido or a reduced interest in sex. This can be one of the more challenging and less discussed symptoms of hormonal changes. Hormonal shifts during this time can lead to vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, and a general decline in desire, which can cause frustration or strain relationships. Stress, fatigue, and changes in mood can also contribute to decreased interest in sex.
Increased Joint Pain or Headaches
During menopause, you may suddenly start experiencing unexplained pain in your joints, back, or even other areas of your body. This could be due to a combination of factors. Over the years, your movement patterns and postures—like if you’ve worn high heels regularly or maintained certain positions for long periods—can contribute to aches and pains. Additionally, decreased activity levels during this time can lead to stiffer joints and reduced flexibility, which can cause pain and stiffness.
Many women report an increase in headaches, including migraines, during menopause. For many women, a drop in estrogen levels can trigger or intensify migraines.
Summary: How to Know if you are Starting Menopause
To summarize, here is the list of symptoms for how to know if you are starting menopause:
your age (usually 40-56)
changes to your cycle
mood changes
more heat, hot flashes or night sweats
sleep changes
weight gain
urinary changes
decreased libido
joint pain or headaches
These symptoms can be quite unpredictable because your energy levels, mood, appetite and pain can fluctuate day to day.
So if you're experiencing a lot of these symptoms or if they're quite severe, you are likely in the stage of perimenopause. Menopause has occurred once you have gone one year without a menstrual period.
What Happens Post Menopause?
Note that post menopause, there are still some hormonal fluctuations and some symptoms may still go on for a couple of years after.
The Benefits of Menopause Coaching
Menopause coaching can be beneficial because it focuses on key areas that can improve your overall experience during this transition. By addressing stress reduction, optimizing your diet, increasing physical activity (without making you more fatigued), and nurturing a positive mindset, you can create a supportive foundation for your body. Additionally, improving sleep habits and focusing on self-care can all contribute to a smoother and more empowering menopause journey, helping you feel more in control and balanced throughout the process.
If you’re ready for personalized support to feel better during your menopause transition, I’d love to work with you inside my one-on-one menopause coaching! Learn more about my one-on-one coaching here.
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DISCLAIMER: This website's information is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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