What is menopause?

Menopause, or climacteric, is a natural phase in every woman's life. The reason for this is the change in a woman's hormonal balance. Menopause signifies the end of a woman's fertile period, and consequently the last bleeding. The menopause can be divided into 3 phases:

• Premenopause
• Perimenopause, including menopause
• Post-menopause

The onset of menopause (climacteric) is preceded by premenopause. This is the period preceding menopause proper. This is followed by the perimenopause, 1-2 years before and after the menopause.

Fluctuations in hormone production mark the imminent onset of menopause. During the premenopausal phase, some ovulations fail to occur, resulting in progesterone deficiency. At the same time, the body produces more and more estrogen, which can cause estrogen levels to be much higher than in the natural cycle, leading to particularly heavy development of the uterine lining (endometrium). Many women therefore experience particularly heavy bleeding at the start of the menopause.

However, as the menopause progresses, estrogen is secreted in ever lower concentrations, until production comes to a virtual standstill. This hormonal imbalance, or lack of hormones, leads to irregular menstrual cycles, hot flushes and mood swings. These first symptoms generally appear between the mid-forties and fifties.

The intensity and duration of disturbances during and after menopause vary from person to person. However, around 80% of women experience severe disturbances, which also have an impact on quality of life ¹. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the following disorders may also occur:

• Sleep disturbances
• headaches
• Loss of libido
• Constipation
• Exhaustion
• Dry skin and mucous membranes
• Joint and muscle pain

Hormone levels in the blood are also often measured, but the result is of limited value given that hormone production varies greatly during the menopause. Consequently, experts do not recommend routine hormone testing to determine menopause.

To specifically help prevent and alleviate symptoms, a combination of the following factors in particular can help:

• hormone replacement therapy, particularly in the case of disorders, to replace hormones that are lacking in the body
• a healthy lifestyle
• sufficient physical activity
• a balanced diet

It's in the ovaries that the sex hormones needed for the female cycle mature, with 2 hormones playing an important role in this process: progestins, and estrogens, responsible for preparing the woman's body for a possible pregnancy.

Eggs, the female reproductive cell, are already present in the ovary at birth and are continually consumed over the years. As the female body approaches menopause, the egg supply is depleted, ovulation eventually ceases and the ovaries eventually cease to function.

As menopause progresses, estrogen and progesterone production declines.