What are the three stages of menopause?
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause when women’s periods become irregular and their hormone levels start to fluctuate. It typically begins from the age of 40 and can last anywhere from one to 10 years, with most people experiencing it for about four to six years.
Menopause
Menopause is 12 months after a woman’s last period. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
Post-Menopause
Post-menopause refers to the time after menopause. While some symptoms may continue, they often ease over time. In Australia, there are over two million women who are post-menopausal, and every year, around 80,000 more women join this group. It's a natural part of life, and we're all in it together.
Mental health symptoms during perimenopause and menopause
Women can experience menopausal symptoms years before menopause (during perimenopause) and even after it. This transition can impact not just their body but also their mental and emotional wellbeing.
In fact, one in three Australian women report experiencing bothersome menopausal symptoms in the past five years. Of these, over half say their mental and emotional wellbeing has been negatively affected.
We often hear about the physical symptoms of menopause – like hot flushes, night sweats, and disrupted sleep. But the mental health symptoms are just as common, even if they’re talked about less. These symptoms can include:
feeling angry or irritable
feeling sad, low, or depressed
brain fog (trouble concentrating or forgetting things)
low energy and motivation
feeling worried or anxious
panic attacks, and
reduced self-esteem or self-worth.
If you have a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you might be more likely to experience depression during this time. And, those of us who go through premature or early menopause can also face a higher risk of mental health symptoms.
