The stages of menopause can be classified as follows:

stages of menopause

Premenopause refers to the normal reproductive life of a woman before she starts experiencing changes leading to menopause. It is the time from when the first regular menstruation occurs to the last.

This is the transitional life preceding menopause when a woman experience changes in their menstruation cycle leading towards the end of the reproductive years. Such changes or discomfort often experienced are referred to as menopausal symptoms. It refers to the two to eight years period of fluctuating hormones where it takes place when a woman is around 45 years of age. During this phase, women may experience the strongest symptoms of menopause like hot flushes, mood swings, bodily aches, insomnia, dizziness, depression, irritability among others.

Menopause is a biological condition in life that marks the spontaneous permanent cessation of the menstruation cycle. The beginning of menopausal years is confirmed when a woman has not menstruated for 12 months from the last bleeding. The average age of menopause is 51 years. Menopause can occur naturally, known as natural menopause or induced by surgery.

Postmenopause are the years following menopause. This phase is established 12 months after menopause and most symptoms experienced during the perimenopause phase are reduced significantly.