Are you ready for the Big M?

Long before the menopause arrives, our hormones start going wild. You’re probably used to the monthly ebb and flow around the time of your period. But what happens after that, as hormone levels start to drop, and you head towards your menopause?

Here we explain what you can expect at each stage, to get you prepared, and ensure you get the help you need, when you need it.

THE PERIMENOPAUSE

This often takes women by surprise because it actually starts years before the menopause itself. The average age of the menopause in the UK is 51, but the first symptoms of the perimenopause can start in your early 40s. So what is going on?

‘Menopausal symptoms can occur while women are having periods so they often don’t connect the two,’ explains Dr Tania Adib, consultant gynaecologist at The Lister Hospital. ‘Often, the levels of progesterone reduces first, causing mood swings, poor sleep and weight