The period of female genital activity is punctuated by a succession of cycles during which 2 types of hormones; estrogens and progesterone are secreted at varying rates depending on the time of the cycle.This period of genital activity lasts several decades.
Then a period of hormonal instability follows.
The woman enters premenopause.
What are the manifestations of premenopause?
Menstrual cycles start to be less regular. Menses may be more abundant. Certain symptoms, irritability, sleep disturbances, weight gain, decreased libido, disturb the woman. Hot flashes appear, very disabling and particularly pronounced under the effect of stress.
What is going on from a hormonal point of view?
Estrogens continue to be secreted normally. On the other hand, there is a significant drop in the production of progesterone.
This period can last a few months or even a few years.
Period, as we have seen, fade out, then end up completely disappearing.
Then when menstruation has stopped completely for at least a year,
The woman enters menopause
What are the manifestations of menopause?
Discomfort such as irritability, trouble sleeping, weight gain, hot flashes continue to manifest.
The skin becomes less flexible and tends to wrinkle.
The mucous membranes become drier. The risk of cystitis increases.
What is going on from a hormonal point of view?
Estrogen production stops. So the woman no longer produces either estrogen or progesterone.
Conclusion
:
From a hormonal point of view, the woman’s life is divided into several periods:
- The period of genital activity: women secrete two types of hormones: estrogens and progesterone.
- Premenopause: the woman continues to secrete estrogens, but there is a drop in progesterone production.
- Menopause: women do not produce estrogens or progesterone. Menses have completely stopped for at least a year.
Premenopause and menopause are therefore two different stages that need to be separated.