When Does Menopause Start?

One of the first questions an OB/GYN hears from a woman is "when does menopause start?" And actually the question has two answers. The most obvious one is the average age is 51. It's different for every woman, of course, but the range can be from 47-53. But the other, not so common answer to the question- when does menopause start -is it starts at the end of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the roughly four year period leading up to menopause. Menopause itself is that day when a woman has not had her period for twelve months.
Common but troubling symptoms can include:

o Hot Flashes

o Vaginal dryness

o Severe mood swings

o Irregular periods

o Joint pain

o Stress

Stress can be a real problem for many women. It leads to severe feelings of overwhelm. It can wreak havoc on your emotional life. These symptoms can be linked to hormonal changes. There are a number of popular approaches to stress reduction. You might try bicycling or yoga. Qigong and tai-chi are both very effective for reducing stress. My wife likes this tai-chi standing exercise that I taught her. She is able to get into a zone for ten minutes or so and says her stress just melts away. It seems to help with the hot flashes and mood swings, as well. I know a couple of women who swear by acupuncture for relieving symptoms. My middle sister, who's 46 and just starting perimenopause, says she couldn't do without her black cohosh supplements. This is a common herb native to North America.

We started with the question- when does menopause start -and answered it. Then we talked a little about symptoms. And finally we discussed what you can do to help treat those symptoms. Menopause does not have to be the harrowing experience that is sometimes made out to be. With a little patience, everyone will survive it.