Understanding the Biology of Menopause: What Happens to My Body?

By nature, every woman experiences a number of defining biological seasons in their life: puberty, her reproductive years, menopause and postmenopause. In the same way that the beginning of puberty marked a major shift in how the body produces hormones, the onset of menopause is another monumental shift in how a woman’s body feels and functions.

This can be a confusing and, at times, frustrating experience for women. Menopause itself has three different stages (perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause), and while numerous menopausal symptoms are common amongst most women, no two menopause journeys are the same.

If you’re on the precipice of your own menopause journey, or even if you’re years into it, learning about the biology of menopause can be of great support in understanding what’s taking place within your body. 

This period of significant change can have ramifications for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Arming yourself with insight and knowledge is one way you can reach for the support necessary in your own menopausal journey.

What are the three stages of menopause?

One of the first biological nuances to understand about menopause is its varying stages. Marked by three stages, each which have different physiological and hormonal changes, the overall menopause journey varies in length and intensity from woman to woman. These three stages are:

1. Perimenopause: this is the first stage of menopause that typically begins several years before menopause itself. Perimenopause sees a decline in the production of oestrogen and progesterone within the ovaries. This can result in irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and a wide range of other symptoms. While the length of this stage varies, it’s common for perimenopause to last for several years.
2. Menopause: menopause is defined as the time when a woman’s period becomes more irregular. As the ovaries stop producing eggs and the natural production of oestrogen and progesterone also decreases, periods will at first become irregular (during perimenopause) before stopping altogether. Once it’s been 12 months since the last period, menopause is finished, and postmenopause begins. As with perimenopause, menopause can bring a host of challenging symptoms, all of which can significantly reduce a woman’s quality of life if they’re not adequately treated.
3. Postmenopause: this is the final stage that follows menopause, lasting for the rest of a woman’s life. In this stage, the body will continue to adjust to lower natural production levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Women may experience some ongoing symptoms, but these may begin to even out during the postmenopause phase. However, postmenopause can then be associated with an increased risk of other health conditions, including osteoporosis and heart disease, presenting new considerations in managing day-to-day and long-term health risks.

While many of the changes these stages bring are inevitable, sophisticated treatment options – medicated and non-medicated alike – can alleviate some of menopause’s most intense symptoms and side effects. 

The biological impacts of menopause

The menopause-related reductions in oestrogen and progesterone have a wide variety of impacts on how the body functions. Some of these impacts include:

• Bone loss – as oestrogen is a key player in maintaining bone density, the decrease in oestrogen levels that occurs during menopause can result in not only bone loss, but an increased risk of osteoporosis. This can make women more susceptible to fractures, as well as other bone-related health challenges.

• Changes to cholesterol levels – menopause can lead to an increase in the risk of heart disease, another result of the decrease in oestrogen levels.
• Vaginal dryness – another side effect of decreased oestrogen, vaginal dryness can occur throughout every stage of menopause. This can result in discomfort during sex, as well as heightening the risk of the development of vaginal infections.

• Dry hair and skin – as oestrogen contributes to healthy hair and skin, a decrease in this hormone can result in changes to skin and hair texture. Dryness, thinning, wrinkles and a lack of elasticity are all common throughout menopause.

• The impact of menopausal symptoms – hot flushes, night sweats, memory and concentration problems, difficulty sleeping and more are all attributed to the biological changes of each menopausal stage. These symptoms can have a significant and detrimental impact on the body, as well as mental and emotional health and regulation.

It’s important to remember that every woman’s experience with menopause is different. By learning about the range of changes that may occur in your own journey, you can assess your ongoing needs as you move through each of menopause’s stages.

How to manage the biological impacts of menopause

It’s no surprise that managing menopause can be a significant challenge. For many women, finding ways to reduce the impact of menopausal symptoms and biological changes is paramount to being able to continue meeting the needs of their day-to-day routines and schedules.

While some of menopause’s impacts are difficult to counteract, there are a number of ways its symptoms can be managed.

Firstly, a healthy, balanced lifestyle is a powerful foundation for managing the ongoing impacts of menopause. A diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can support your body with the nutrition you need to navigate menopause’s daily challenges. Regular exercise can also play a unique role in reducing the severity of hot flushes, as well as contributing to a more positive mood. 

Hormone therapy is a useful treatment for many women navigating menopause. With 20 years of supporting Australian women through hormone therapy treatments, the Australian Menopause Centre can provide the individualised treatment necessary to provide genuine relief from menopause’s extreme symptoms and side effects.

Women who build support networks can also find a wide range of tools, resources and insights that can dramatically improve their menopause experience. You don’t need to suffer alone. No matter what your menopause journey has looked like to date, we’re here to help you achieve the best physical, emotional and mental health possible in the midst of changing biological factors. Find the support you deserve at the Australian Menopause Centre.