Menopause marks the moment in a woman’s life when her menstrual cycles come to an end, meaning she will no longer be able to get pregnant and bear children. Reaching menopause is a very significant event, but it is also a completely natural one.
This article will examine the process in a bit more detail, explain what causes it, and go over some of the symptoms that may accompany it.
The Definition and Cause
As mentioned, a woman will reach menopause after she has had her last period. But since it is not possible to immediately determine that a period has indeed been the last one, doctors will officially diagnose menopause after 12 months have passed without any vaginal bleeding. There are many questions women will have regarding this process, but one of the first ones will likely be, “Why do periods stop after menopause?”
We already said that menopause is a perfectly normal stage in life, which means that the cause behind it is a natural decline in reproductive capabilities. A woman’s periods will permanently stop due to a chain of events which usually starts in her late 30s. Bear in mind that this is the very beginning of the process and that the actual menopause won’t come until significantly later.
As a woman nears the end of her 30s, her ovaries will slowly begin to function less optimally. The result will be a reduced production of two very important hormones: estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are in charge of regulating menstruation and as their levels decline, so does a woman’s fertility.
Over time, the levels of these hormones will continue to drop until the point when the ovaries can no longer produce eggs. This will mean a woman’s periods will stop and will signify the onset of menopause.
This relates to natural menopause, but it is also possible for menopause to occur due to other reasons. For example, chemotherapy can lead to menopause, and the surgical removal of ovaries will also have this effect.
There is also a condition called primary ovarian insufficiency. It occurs when a woman’s ovaries cannot produce regular levels of these two hormones at an age when this should not be the case. This can be due to genetics, disease, or for reasons which cannot be determined. While it is important to mention these medical conditions, this article will focus on natural menopause.
When Does Menopause Occur?
As you would expect, there is no strict age when all women go through menopause, and this will vary from case to case. Usually, it will happen sometime between the mid-40s and the mid-50s. If menopause occurs before the age of 40, then we are dealing with premature menopause, which is a medical issue.
If we look at the averages, 51 seems to be the most common age for menopause, but that doesn’t have to mean much. The age the mother reached menopause can be a good indicator for when it will happen to the daughter, but it is just an indicator, not a rule. Also, smoking can contribute to menopause occurring at a younger age.
Perimenopause
Menopause doesn’t happen overnight – it is a process which takes years. An important part of it is called perimenopause or menopausal transition.
Perimenopause is the period of several years before the final menstrual cycle. It’s the time when a woman is close enough to menopause to start noticing some of its symptoms but without reaching it fully.
The most notable of these symptoms is menstrual irregularity. A woman might skip a month (or even several months) between periods. The cycles can also be shorter, and the intensity of menstruation can change. These irregularities will be different for each woman, but they do have one thing in common – pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause.
Other common symptoms of perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, and chills. Mood swings can also happen, and the woman may have trouble sleeping. There are other possible symptoms which can differ from woman to woman as can their intensity. This is all due to the changes in hormonal levels that women experience during perimenopause.
After Menopause
Once 12 months have passed since the last period, a woman will have officially reached menopause. As mentioned, pregnancy will no longer be possible, but there are certain potential complications to keep in mind. These include:
Cardiovascular Disease
The risk of cardiovascular disease increases after menopause because of the reduced levels of estrogen. There is no need to explain how dangerous heart problems can be, which is why it is very important to protect the cardiovascular system. Among other things, this includes keeping an eye on blood pressure and cholesterol.
Weight Gain
It is fairly common for women to gain weight after menopause. As a matter of fact, this frequently starts during perimenopause and is due to the metabolic changes which take place. This directly connects to the previous point as the link between excessive body weight and heart problems is well-known.
For that reason, it may be necessary to adopt a healthier diet and get more exercise in order to maintain good body weight.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a medical condition which makes bones more brittle, thus making fractures more likely. Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis after menopause, particularly in the first several years following this event.
Issues with Sexual Function
Women may experience reduced sexual desire after menopause. Also, vaginal dryness can occur and make intercourse uncomfortable.
Hot Flashes
We’ve mentioned hot flashes as a symptom of perimenopause, but they can also occur for years after reaching menopause.
Treatment
Menopause is a natural event – this means you do not treat it directly. Instead, doctors may prescribe treatment to help manage the symptoms and other conditions that can occur at that stage of a woman’s life.
For example, hormone therapy can help with the hot flashes. Another way to treat this symptom is with low doses of certain antidepressants. We mentioned that osteoporosis can also occur at this time, so doctors may take measures to prevent bone loss. This can include estrogen therapy or vitamin D supplements.
While on this topic, it is important to point out that vaginal bleeding after menopause is a big cause for concern. This is not normal and can be a sign of some medical problem that may require immediate treatment.
Conclusion
“Why do periods stop after menopause?” is a question countless women have asked, regardless of whether they’ve reached this stage of their life. Well, it is simply a point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs due to a natural decline in fertility.
It is normal and should not be cause for alarm. Still, it will require the woman to adapt, and we’ve talked about the symptoms which need to be taken into consideration. But with the right preparation, menopause does not need to entail a decreased quality of life.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397
https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics#12
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533358
https://women.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/what-women-should-know/smokings-impact-on-women
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401
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