What is menopause?
Many people don’t know when menopause begins, how long it lasts or what the symptoms are. And it’s not just men—many women also feel unsure of what to expect.
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Definitions
Perimenopause: Means around menopause and refers to the time during which women's bodies make the transition to menopause. It's also referred to as the menopausal transition.1
Menopause: Menopause is the time in a woman's life when their ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and they permanently stop having menstrual periods.1 After 1 year of having no periods, a women has officially reached menopause.2
As these hormone levels decline, a range of physical and emotional symptoms can occur.1
women in Canada say they are unprepared for menopause3
The stages of menopause4
| Stage of menopause | How long it can last | When it happens |
|---|---|---|
|
Perimenopause The transitional phase before menopause when estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate. |
It can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years, though this timeframe can vary. | Most women are in perimenopause between the ages of 40 and 50. |
|
Menopause Menopause is officially diagnosed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 1 year. Marks the end of menstruation and fertility. |
Menopause itself is a point in time, but the transition into menopause (and its symptoms) may last several years. | Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. |
|
Postmenopause5 This is the stage after reaching menopause. Symptoms may ease, but long-term effects of lower hormone levels continue. Women may have an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and vaginal and urinary changes related to menopause. |
For the rest of a person's life. | Anyone who has gone through menopause, which typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55. |
What are the symptoms?
Everyone experiences menopause differently. For some individuals, the symptoms can be intense and disruptive. For others, they may be so mild it's hard to understand what others are going through.
Take a look at the symptoms someone may go through during the stages of menopause:
Physical symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Sleep issues
- Joint or muscle pain / stiffness
- Breast pain
- Skin and hair changes
- Dry eyes
- Headaches or migraines
- Irregular periods
- Urinary incontinence (bladder control issues)
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
Psychological symptoms
- Brain fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory lapses
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
95% of women who participated in Menopause Foundation of Canada's survey shared they experience menopausal symptoms. While the majority of women were aware of hot flashes (84%) and night sweats (77%), most did not know that urinary tract infections (82%) and heart palpitations (75%) were symptoms.3
Next: Solutions for employees
Sections in this guide
This guide encourages employers to consider how their organization can provide support to women experiencing menopause.
How overlooking menopause in the workplace negatively impacts business, the national and global economy and progress toward gender equity.
What is menopause?
Learn the basics of menopause, including the different stages, symptoms and duration.
There's no need to suffer in silence anymore. This section shares the different proven treatments available, how health benefits can help and more.
Discover how leaders can offer meaningful support to employees experiencing menopause and create a workplace where women can succeed at every stage of life.
Want to learn more about women's health? Visit our women's health and wellness page for practical support for your or your employees' health and wellbeing.
Research sources
- Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, “Tackling the Taboos: Demystifying Menopause”, 2023
- Alberta Health Services, “Menopause and Perimenopause,” 2023
- Menopause Foundation of Canada, “Menopause and Work in Canada,” 2023
- Menopause Foundation of Canada, "Menopause: What everyone should know – Stages of menopause," (n.d.)
- Menopause Foundation of Canada, "Long-term health risks of menopause," (n.d.)
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