Menopause occurs in three major stages. The whole process of menopause can take 15 years or longer, depending on your age and family history. The first stage of menopause is known as perimenopause. The first signs of menopause are irregular periods and spotting due to fluctuating hormone levels in your body. Although it is still possible to get pregnant during perimenopause as eggs may be released from your ovaries, ovulation will probably be sporadic. Perimenopause can last anywhere from 2 to 5 years, but some women can remain in this stage of menopause for up to 15 years. Fluctuating hormone levels will probably cause some menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability.

A woman is said to have completed natural menopause when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months. For American women, this typically happens at around age 51 or 52. Menopause occurs immediately if the uterus or both ovaries are surgically removed, or if the ovaries are damaged in cancer treatment with radiation therapy or certain drugs.

Irregular vaginal bleeding may occur during menopause. Some women have minimal problems with abnormal bleeding during perimenopause whereas others have unpredictable, excessive bleeding. Menstrual periods (menses) may occur more frequently (meaning the cycle shortens in duration), or they may get farther and farther apart (meaning the cycle lengthens in duration) before stopping. There is no "normal" pattern of bleeding during the perimenopause, and patterns vary from woman to woman. It is common for women in perimenopause to get a period after going for several months without one.

Dizziness is a transient spinning sensation and/or a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness; also, the inability to maintain balance upon standing or walking. Dizziness is a symptom of many medical conditions. There are things that people can do to cope with their dizziness. But if you experience an unexplained dizzy spell, see your doctor, because you can't be sure if it's a trivial problem or a symptom of a serious illness.

The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman. In some women, menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. More commonly, it tapers off. During this time, your menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 to 3 years before menstruation finally ends completely.

Vaginal dryness is another common symptom of menopause. With advancing age, the walls of the vagina become thinner, dryer and less elastic. These changes may lead to painful intercourse. Four or five years after the final menstrual period, there is an increased chance of urinary tract and vaginal infections. The symptoms include having to go to the bathroom often, feeling an urgent need to urinate, not being able to urinate, or having to go often during the night.

menopause and weight gain tend to go together, with weight gain generally occurring in the perimenopause stage. However, studies show that this is due more to lifestyle changes than to the hormonal changes that occur during menopause. The average weight gain is one pound per year. Weight gain during menopause has been conclusively linked to an increased breast cancer risk. Reducing dietary fat intake and exercising regularly can help to combat weight gain during menopause.

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