How do you know if you're menopausal? Symptoms and tests to know

51. That's the average age at which women officially say goodbye to their menstrual cycles. But before reaching that point, the body sends a whole series of signals... sometimes incomprehensible. Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, rollercoaster moods: is this a sign that menopause is setting in? Or just a temporary imbalance? In short, how do you know if you are menopausal? To be sure, there are clear indications and even medical tests. In this article, we'll scrutinize everything to help you understand whether or not you are now officially part of the "menopause" team.

A quick reminder: what is menopause?

In women's lives, there comes a time when they have exhausted their stock of ovarian follicles. This moment is... menopause! It means the definitive cessation of menstrual cycles. Medically, it is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without periods, in the absence of other underlying causes. It marks the end of the reproductive period, with a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Be careful not to confuse "menopause" and "premenopause"! Also known as "perimenopause," this transitional period begins well before the cessation of the menstrual cycle and can last several years.

In general, the symptoms of premenopause are as follows:

• The ovarian cycle still functions, but irregularly.
• The duration of periods in premenopause becomes unpredictable, with shorter or longer cycles.
• Flows, meanwhile, become more or less abundant than usual.
• You find yourself dealing with unpleasant side effects (hello night sweats, headaches, tender breasts, mood swings, or other sleep disturbances).

In short, these phenomena are certainly natural, but they can become a real ordeal for those who experience them!

At what age do women typically experience menopause?

Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with an average in France around 51. And for you, at what age will it be? It's impossible to predict, or almost! This hormonal transition can occur earlier or later depending on the individual, and it depends on several factors, such as:

• Genetics: When did your mother go through menopause? And your grandmother? Genetic inheritance plays a significant role here. A woman who experiences early menopause often has a family member who went through the same phenomenon.
• Lifestyle: Do you smoke? Do you have good or bad eating habits? Are you part of the stressed-out team? If so, all these elements can accelerate menopause. Conversely, good lifestyle habits (physical exercise, healthy eating) could delay its onset.
• Medical treatments: Certain interventions can lead to induced, sometimes abrupt, menopause. This includes chemotherapy, pelvic radiation therapy, or the removal of the ovaries.

So, as we said: it's impossible to predict with certainty at what age a woman will go through menopause. Because it can even appear before the age of 40 (this is called early menopause)... Or after 55 (this is late menopause). That just goes to show how many surprises are in store for us!

 

What are the signs of menopause?

You don't just wake up one morning and, boom! You're menopausal. This sneaky thing gradually creeps into our lives... before settling in for good. However, you can recognize it quite easily when it starts to show up. Here are the most common signs of menopause.

Physical signs

Menopause is first and foremost about the body speaking! And it "translates" it into certain physical signs, such as:

• Hot flashes and night sweats: you feel sudden and intense heat, with redness and a lot of sweating (often at night).
• Sleep disturbances: you suffer from insomnia, frequent awakenings, and the quality of sleep decreases.
• Vaginal dryness and intimate discomfort: our body produces less estrogen. The decrease in this female hormone modifies the vaginal lining, which can notably cause pain during sexual intercourse.
• Weight gain and different fat distribution: we accumulate more fat around the abdomen.
• Joint pain and muscle pain: we notice a feeling of stiffness or inflammation of the muscles (always linked to the decrease in estrogen). Bone tissue loss accelerates and increases the risk of fracture.
• Hair and skin changes: our skin loses elasticity and becomes drier. Our hair, meanwhile, becomes finer or more brittle.
• Urinary problems: menopausal women are at a higher potential risk of developing urinary problems/infections.

Psychological signs

The decrease in female hormones also influences the brain and mood. These signs include:

• Irritable mood, anxiety, or a tendency to depression.
• Memory problems and difficulty concentrating (this is the famous "brain fog").
• Persistent fatigue, even after a good night's sleep.

How do these symptoms evolve over time?

Menopausal symptoms do not all occur at the same time. For example, some appear gradually in the first years of perimenopause, while others may persist for several years after the definitive cessation of the menstrual cycle.

Another example: for some women, hot flashes can last 5 to 10 years after menopause. For others, sleep disturbances and vaginal dryness can become long-term issues.

In short, the perception of these changes is unique to each of us. This explains why some women experience this transition without problems... while others will need emotional and medical support to get through this period. With, among other things:

• a good choice of menopausal hormone therapy;
• a natural approach;
• lifestyle adjustments...
• ... and environmental factors.

Okay, we know: we're painting a picture that's not very fun. But don't worry: not all these signs are systematic! And you're going to get through it (very well).

What tests can tell you if you are menopausal?

As a reminder, menopause is confirmed when periods have ceased for 12 consecutive months. However, if there is any doubt, some women may wish for a more precise diagnosis. Conveniently, several tests exist to assess your hormonal status and determine if menopause has indeed set in.

1. Laboratory hormone tests

You can undergo a hormonal assessment in a laboratory. This blood test measures any hormonal changes related to menopause:

• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) level: when the ovaries stop functioning, estrogen production decreases and FSH levels rise sharply. Is your level above 30-40 IU/L? This is a potential indicator of menopause.
• Estradiol (E2) level: these sex hormones drop sharply during menopause. Do you observe a very low level (< 20 pg/mL)? This can also confirm the cessation of ovarian activity.
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone) level: it also increases in response to a drop in estrogen.

Having said that... Be careful! Do not interpret these tests on your own and exercise caution. Because these hormonal levels can fluctuate during perimenopause. It is therefore difficult to definitively confirm menopause with a single blood test.

2. Home tests

Menopause urine tests are available at pharmacies. They work on the same principle as pregnancy tests and measure FSH levels in urine.

While they can certainly give an indication of menopause or not menopause, once again... caution! They do not replace a complete medical check-up. Because, again, FSH levels can vary from one cycle to another during perimenopause, which can skew the result. So, take them with a pinch of salt!

3. Medical consultation and diagnosis

If you have symptoms suggestive of menopause, but you want confirmation, nothing beats a medical consultation to clear up any doubts. A doctor will be able to:

• Analyze symptoms and their evolution.
• Prescribe a hormonal blood test if necessary.
• Offer you the right hormone treatment if needed.
• Exclude other possible causes (thyroid problems, hormonal deficiencies, poor diet, stress, etc.).

 

Are you in (peri)menopause and experiencing stress? We can help you through this period and regain good emotional balance with our food supplement for stress!

 

In short, menopause is an inevitable stage and a real hormonal upheaval in a woman's life. But... each woman experiences it differently! While the absence of periods for one year is an important indicator, symptoms and hormone tests help confirm the diagnosis. Nevertheless, if in doubt or uncomfortable, don't stay alone with your night sweats and mood swings! And consult a doctor to adopt the best approach and go through this new phase serenely.