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What Is Menopause?

Menopause is technically one day of a woman's life. Women may experience symptoms leading up to menopause, but the day she hits one full year without a menstrual period is the day she reaches menopause. After that, she is in post-menopause. However, "menopause," as it is commonly referred to, is the natural process a woman's body undergoes as her ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and eventually stop releasing eggs.

The menopause transition is composed of three different stages:

Stage 1 Perimenopause

ESTROGEN PRODUCTION FLUCTUATES

The first stage of menopause is called perimenopause and for many women it lasts four to eight years. Symptoms may show earlier, but most women begin seeing signs of perimenopause in their 40s.

During perimenopause, estrogen production fluctuates and the first symptoms of menopause can appear. With the change of hormone levels in this menopausal transition, your menopause symptoms could include:

  • Hot flashes
  • Irregular periods
  • Sleep issues
  • Night sweats
  • Mood swings
  • Vaginal irritation

Stage 2 Menopause

12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS WITHOUT A PERIOD

Once your body has gone a full 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle, you've reached menopause. During this time of hormonal change, a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and estrogen levels remain low, leading to a wide range of menopausal symptoms that could include:

  • Aches & pains
  • Weight gain
  • Mood swings

Stage 3 Postmenopause

ESTROGEN PRODUCTION LEVELS OUT

During the years after natural menopause, the average menopausal woman will see a reduction in her symptoms or severity of symptoms. Signs of post-menopausal health risks can be tough to spot, but because the body's estrogen levels remain low, there are several new health conditions women in post-menopause need to be aware of.

Common Menopause Symptoms

Learn More About What You May Be Experiencing

Hot Flashes & Night Sweats

Decreased estrogen production can make the brain think the body is hot. It then triggers it to cool off by dilating blood vessels and sweating

Muscle Discomfort

Loss of estrogen during menopause can increase inflammation in the body and cause muscle aches

Weight Gain

Menopause and weight gain seem to go hand in hand for many. Decreased estrogen can cause weight gain around the abdomen, hips, and thighs

Mood Swings

Menopause can feel like an emotional roller coaster as your body's hormone levels adjust.

Menopause Resources

Menopause and Brain Health Webinar with Nurse Barb Dehn

Menopause and Brain Health Webinar with Nurse Barb Dehn

How Exercise Can Help Support Healthy Hormones

How Exercise Can Help Support Healthy Hormones

Your Complete Guide to Hot Flashes After 60

Your Complete Guide to Hot Flashes After 60

Navigating Menopause in Your Early 50s: Recognizing Symptoms and Exploring Treatment Options

Navigating Menopause in Your Early 50s: Recognizing Symptoms and Exploring Treatment Options

How Estrogen and Serotonin Work Together—and Why It Matters in Menopause

How Estrogen and Serotonin Work Together—and Why It Matters in Menopause

What Most Women Don’t Know About Menopause—But Should

What Most Women Don’t Know About Menopause—But Should

How Menopause Affects Sleep—and What You Can Do About It

How Menopause Affects Sleep—and What You Can Do About It

Menopause in Your Late 40s: What to Expect and How to Manage Symptoms

Menopause in Your Late 40s: What to Expect and How to Manage Symptoms

How Estrogen Levels Can Affect Your Skin During Menopause

How Estrogen Levels Can Affect Your Skin During Menopause

Hormonal Imbalance in Women: Signs, Symptoms, and What to Know

Hormonal Imbalance in Women: Signs, Symptoms, and What to Know

Hormone Replacement Therapy & Menopause: What You Need to Know

Hormone Replacement Therapy & Menopause: What You Need to Know

Menopause, Mood, and Memory

Menopause, Mood, and Memory

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† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

* Free from human or animal hormones. Contains plant isoflavones.
⁋ Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
|| Significant vs. baseline and not placebo.
1. Jenks BH, Iwashita S, Nakagawa Y, et al. A pilot study on the effects of S-equol compared to soy isoflavones on menopausal hot flash frequency. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21(6):674-682. doi:10.1089/jwh.2011.3153
2. Data on File. 1811 Study Report; Pharmavite LLC
3. Tousen Y, Ezaki J, Fujii Y, Ueno T, Nishimuta M, Ishimi Y. Natural S-equol decreases bone resorption in postmenopausal, non-equol-producing Japanese women: a pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial. Menopause. 2011;18(5):563-574.
4. Aso T, Uchiyama S, Matsumura Y, et al. A natural S-equol supplement alleviates hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms in equol nonproducing postmenopausal Japanese women. J Womens Health. 2012;21(1):92-100.
5. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2024. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional
6. Utian WH, Jones M, Setchell KDR. J Women’s Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(3):200-208. http://doi.org/1089/jwh.2014.5006.
7. Utian, W, LeeCole L, Mitmesser SH. S-equol improves quality of life for peri-and menopausal women with high vasomotor symptoms. Poster presentation at the NAMS 2021 conference; September 2021. Washington, DC. Abstract published in Menopause. 2021;28(12):P-68. 
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