Menopause

Most women enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause (also known as the climacteric) refers to the time around a woman’s final menstrual period, when the body begins to experience hormonal changes.

You are considered to be in menopause once you have gone an entire year without a period. In Denmark, the average age of menopause is 52.

Menopause is a natural physiological process that occurs when the ovaries stop maturing eggs and the production of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) gradually comes to an end. The menopausal transition typically begins a few years before the final period. One of the early signs is often irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Estrogen levels plummeting

During menopause, the ovaries gradually stop producing the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, leading to a significant drop in their levels in the body. In the early stages, it is the fluctuations in estrogen levels in the blood that often cause menopausal symptoms. A drop in progesterone can cause irregular bleeding. After menopause, many symptoms are linked to the consistently low levels of estrogen in the body.

All woman experience menopause differently. For some, the transition is over in a few months, while for others, it can last for several years.

It is estimated that 4 out of 5 women experience symptoms to some degree. The most common symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, joint and muscle pain, mood swings, or feelings of low mood or depression. Menopause is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Below is a list of symptoms you may experience during menopause: