Menopause

This natural phase—which broadly encompasses perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause—means a woman has stopped ovulating and can no longer get pregnant. The clinical definition requires a woman to go a whole year without bleeding or spotting to know she has hit menopause.

Menopause, a natural biological process, occurs in three stages: perimenopause (hormone fluctuations), menopause (end of menstrual cycles), and postmenopause (12 months without menstruation). Hormonal shifts during this time can affect neurotransmitters, increasing the risk of mood disorders.

Early menopause is when you reach menopause before the age of 45. While doctors can’t pinpoint an exact cause of early menopause, there are risk factors which increase a woman’s chances of entering this life stage sooner. Potential causes include smoking, autoimmune diseases, and some surgeries. Learn more about what can lead to early menopause with this guide.

Postmenopause is the final stage of menopause. Once a woman hasn’t had her period for a full year, she is considered postmenopausal and will be for the rest of her life. While some of the intense symptoms she might experience during perimenopausal will decline, her risk for certain conditions and diseases will increase. This article explains what a woman can expect during the last stage of menopause.

Hollywood isn’t the only industry latching on to the menopause wave. A $600B industry marketing products and supplements to make menopausal womens’ lives easier is too. This article by The Guardian describes how and why companies swooped in to fill the gap in treatment, and whether you should trust them or not. Learn more here.

Nearly all studies (99%) researching the biology of aging don’t consider menopause in their setup. A Harvard professor noted that about 75% of aging-related diseases are likely influenced by menopause. In this article, she discusses how gaps in research are negatively impacting how the medical system can effectively treat aging women. Read her analysis of the issue here.

People tend to pay close attention to how menopause impacts a woman’s body, noting that it can increase her risk of certain diseases and conditions when she’s postmenopausal. But what about her brain? Lisa Mosconi, a neuroscientist studying the impact of menopause on the brain, explains in this TedTalk how menopause directly impacts a woman’s brain health. Watch it here.

Menopause is the second natural time in a woman’s life when her body goes through a whole transition. Unlike puberty, it isn’t talked about as much. In this podcast episode by Houston Methodist, the host speaks with a gynecologist with a specialization in menopausal medicine about what menopause really is, and how women and the people in their lives can navigate this next life stage. Listen here.

While scientists are unsure how many mammals actually experience menopause, they do know for sure that humans aren’t the only ones. Orcas and some toothed whales (like belugas and narwhals) go through menopause. And a recent study found chimpanzees also experience the condition. This article breaks down the similarities between these mammals and humans to explain why both species experience menopause.

Menopause has long been a topic left out of film and tv. But some shows, like “The Change,” and celebrities, like Jennie Garth, are now openly talking about it. This article breaks down how Hollywood is starting to come around to the menopause conversation and how celebrities are talking about their own personal experiences, as well as advocating on Capitol Hill. Read it here.