At what age does menopause begin? Everything you need to know about

Officially, you are considered to be in menopause 12 months after your last menstrual period. On average, this phase begins around the age of 52. But did you know that perimenopause can start as early as age 46? Read more about the three phases of menopause (the menopausal stages) in this article.

Phase 1: Perimenopause and hormonal imbalance (average age 46–51)

Are you having trouble sleeping, do your breasts feel tender, or are you experiencing mood swings? You may be going through perimenopause. During perimenopause, you may already be experiencing typical “menopausal symptoms.” This is because your hormones are out of balance (periods of high and low hormone levels follow each other in quick succession).

In addition to (peri)menopausal symptoms, your periods become irregular and you may experience heavy bleeding. This period can last for years and ends once you have gone 12 months without a period.

Stage 2: Menopause and the end of fertility (average age 52)

You haven’t had a period for 12 months (with no other explanation). Congratulations—along with 310,000 Belgian women, you’re going through menopause.

Menopause marks the end of fertility, and during this phase, your body is adjusting to lower hormone levels.

About 80% of women experience various symptoms during this phase. Around 50 different symptoms can be associated with menopause. As your hormone levels continue to drop, you may experience more symptoms.

The most common complaints are (click here for the full list):
-Hot flashes

- Sleep disorders and mood swings

- Weight gain (changes in body shape)
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary tract infections and incontinence

Stage 3: Postmenopause and skin aging (average age 54–60)

During this phase, hormone levels stabilize. The body adjusts to this new reality, and for most women, the symptoms subside.

What doesn't go away is the aging of the skin and mucous membranes and the increase in belly fat.

Skin aging

The lipid barrier that protects our skin from dehydration becomes less effective, leading to irritation and itching all over the body (from the scalp to the intimate areas).

The decreased estrogen levels also lead to reduced blood flow anddrying out of the vaginal lining. Vaginal and vulvar dryness, itching, burning, and painful intercourse are the direct consequences of this.

Increased belly fat

Metabolism slows down due to lower hormone levels. As a result, a woman going through menopause burns fewer calories. There is also a significant shift in body fat distribution during menopause (from the arms and neck to the hips and abdominal area). Your body shape changes.