@menopausematters Gynaecolgist Hearher Currie explains that the average age of menopause in the UK is around 51. Around 1% of women will go through it under the age of 40 and 0.1% under the age of 30. (There are of course surgical and medical causes of menopause as well that are not discussed here.) Many women may experience changes to their periods. They may become heavier or lighter or be shorter or longer. The interval between them may change too. They could come more closely together or be spaced further apart - or any combination of the above. Sometimes, as Dr Currie says, they can creep up on us so keeping a diary of dates and a description of your periods can help see if things are starting to change. Dr Currie says it rare that people go through menopause without some changes to their periods. They may also experience the myriad of other symptoms that come with this phase known as ‘perimenopause’ which simply means ‘around the menopause’ including the vasomotor changes - hot flushes and night sweats, mood changes other things like joint pain, itchy skin and dry eyes and mouth as well as vaginal dryness or bladder changes - to make a few! More in managing those later! #menopause #perimenopause #periods #menstrualcycles #menstrualhealth #changestoperiods #periodchanges #lighterperiods #heavyperiods #hormones #menopausesymptoms #perimenopausesymptoms #womenshealth #midlifechanges #midlifechange #thechange #hormones #oestrogen #estrogen #progesterone #healthymidlife #moodswings #hotflushes #nightsweats