Menopause definitions
There are several terminology related to menopause.
The first is menopause itself, which is the day after a woman’s final period is over. Many people, however, look at menopause as being the entire period around menopause. Perimenopause involves the transition years both before and after the actual date of menopause. This is when the woman experiences the greatest change in hormone fluctuation and has hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, fatigue and other symptoms.
The production of both estrogen and progestin diminishes and becomes more irregular, often with wide and unpredictable fluctuations. Symptoms can begin as early as thirty five but generally occur around age 45. Perimenopause can last for a few years or up to ten years or even longer.
Psychological changes can take place in the woman. About a third of all women get no noticeable symptoms during the perimenopausal period other than erratic periods. In some cases, the tendency toward strong symptoms in Perimenopause can be inherited.
Premenopause is the word used to describe the immediate few years leading up to menopause; the hormone levels are becoming lower and fertility is diminished. In the postmenopausal state, the woman’s hormone levels are levels are extremely low and the ovaries have become more or less inactive.
A woman is considered to be postmenopausal if she still has her uterus and hasn’t had a period in twelve months. If a woman has no uterus, she can be considered postmenopausal if her Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level has risen to postmenopausal levels.