How long does it take to go through the menopause?

There are two main phases to the menopause; the approach to the menopause is called the Peri-menopause, and this is when your hormonal balance starts to change. You would still get periods, although they can start to get closer together, further apart, heavier or lighter, and eventually they stop.

This phase is different for every woman and can last from a few months up to 5 years, but for some women their periods just stop and that's it.

Symptoms in this phase are similar to menopause ones, although many women can go through the menopause with little or no symptoms at all. 

When you have not had a period for two years then you are considered through the menopause. Again, symptoms at this time can vary so, unfortunately, it is very difficult to tell how long they will last.

So, as you can see it is really difficult to tell how long it will last, each woman will have a unique menopause and time scale!

Eileen Durward