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Hormones cheat sheet: your last period
Did you know that more than 90% of postmenopausal women were never taught about the menopause at school?
Did you know that more than 90% of postmenopausal women were never taught about the menopause at school? And over 60% only started looking for information about it once their symptoms had started?1
At H&B, we feel it’s important for everyone to be equipped with the necessary information to best support those who might need it, whether that be your loved ones, friends, or yourself.
We want to support girls, women and non-binary people everywhere to own every day of the month!
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the first of the three stages of menopause (perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause). The ovaries start to produce less oestrogen and your periods become irregular.2
For more, in-depth information on perimenopause, head over to: We answer your most Googled questions on perimenopause
What is menopause?
Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in various ways.3
For more, in-depth information on menopause, head over to: We answer your most Googled questions on menopause.
Average age of perimenopause and menopause
The menopause generally happens between the ages of 45 and 55, while the average age that periods stop in the UK is 51.4
What are the first signs?
All women will experience the menopause differently, though the first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods.5
You may also experience mental health symptoms, like changes to your mood and problems with concentrating, as well as physical symptoms, like hot flushes and difficulty sleeping.6
Visit our page what is the menopause?, for more on what to look out for and what you can to do to support your body through this transition.
How many symptoms are there?
There are a wide range of symptoms linked to menopause, though of course the menopause is different and personal to everyone. In our article, what are the symptoms of menopause?, we’ve listed 34 varying signs and symptoms covering perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
How many women in the UK go through it?
It’s estimated that there are around 13 million people who are currently peri or menopausal in the UK, which is about one third of the entire UK female population. 7
How long do symptoms last?
Menopausal symptoms can last for months or years and can change with time.10
Usually starting between 45 to 55 years of age, symptoms of the menopause can last anywhere from seven to 14 years. However, the length can depend on:11
- lifestyle factors (such as smoking)
- age it begins
- race
- ethnicity
How many women get the classic ‘hot flushes’?
Hot flushes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause, with more than 80% of women experiencing them during menopause.12 And on average, they last for approximately 10 years from symptom onset through the menopausal transition.13
Do women feel embarrassed talking about menopause?
For too long, women have been embarrassed to talk about a natural process which may be significantly impacting on their personal and professional lives.14
At H&B, we are determined to change this! So download our cheat sheet to share with your loved ones, because knowledge is power!
1. UCL. Nine in ten women were never educated about the menopause [Internet]. UCL [reviewed 2023 Apr 26; cited 2024 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/apr/nine-ten-women-were-never-educated-about-menopause
2. Shifren JL, Schiff I. The Aging Ovary. Journal of Women’s Health & Gender-Based Medicine. 2000 Jan;9(supplement 1):3–7. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10695867/
3. National Institute on Aging. What is menopause? [Internet]. National Institute on Aging. 2021. Available from: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause
4. NHS. Overview – menopause [Internet]. NHS [reviewed 2022 May 17; cited 2024 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/
5. NHS Inform. Signs and symptoms of menopause [Internet]. NHS Inform [reviewed 2023 Mar 14; cited 2024 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/signs-and-symptoms-of-menopause/
6. NHS. Symptoms – menopause [Internet]. NHS [reviewed 2022 May 17; cited 2024 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/
7. Engage England NHS UK. Menopause in the workplace [Internet]. Engage England NHS UK. [reviewed 2022 Mar 9; cited 2024 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/safety-and-innovation/menopause-in-the-workplace/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20there,can%20last%20for%20several%20years.
8. National Institute on Aging. What is menopause? [Internet]. National Institute on Aging. 2021. Available from: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause
9. Bansal R, Aggarwal N. Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Concise Review. Journal of Mid-Life Health [Internet]. 2019;10(1):6–13. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6459071/
10. Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Lin H, Liu Z, Gracia CR. Duration of Menopausal Hot Flushes and Associated Risk Factors. Obstetrics and gynecology [Internet]. 2011 May 1;117(5):1095–104. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085137/
11. A. Bell J, Garlick D, Stevens C. It’s time to talk about the M word. BDJ Team. 2022 Apr 14;9(4):24–6. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9008374/
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