The Vegan Menopause Podcast -- Ep. 5 -- Is this Menopause?

In this episode, I address a common question -- how to tell if you are in menopause.

When we talk about going through menopause, we usually mean perimenopause, which is the time before menopause where we might experience different symptoms, as the estrogen levels decrease. You reach menopause on the one-year anniversary of not having any menstrual periods (natural menopause). So you can only know when you’ve hit menopause after that happens. After that one year mark, you are officially post menopause.

Natural menopause usually happens between the ages of 40 and 56, but the average is 51. Before age 45 is considered early menopause. You can go through menopause earlier for other reasons, such as medical menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency, or things like over exercising or eating disorders.

Perimenopause, the stage before the one year with no menstrual cycles, can last many years and this is the stage where estrogen is fluctuating downward.

That can cause certain symptoms, and the symptoms are not going to be the same for everyone, you won’t necessarily experience all of these.

The symptoms I discuss in this podcast that can tell you if you might be in perimenopause are:

1. Changes to your cycle

2. Mood changes

3. More heat - hot flashes or night sweats

4. Sleep changes

5. Weight gain

6. Urinary changes

7. Decreased libido

8. Joint pain or headaches

These symptoms can be quite unpredictable because your energy levels, mood, appetite, pain, can fluctuate day to day. If you are experiencing a lot of these symptoms or they are quite severe you are likely in the stage of perimenopause. (Note: post-menopause there are still some hormone fluctuations and symptoms may still go on for a couple of years after.)

Why menopause coaching can be helpful: if we work on things like reducing your stress, improving your diet or moving your body more, as well as mindset, and things like sleep habits, those factors can help you have a better experience with your transition to menopause.

If you would like to discuss this, you can book a 30-minute Menopause Empowerment Call with me, I would love to help you get more clarity and improve your experience.

Thanks so much for listening!