Estrogen, Perimenopause and Menopause
Jul 15, 2022By Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach — Certified Pelvic Floor Fitness Specialist · Published July 15, 2022
Our bodies have a decline in estrogen as we approach menopause which can influence tissues in and around our vagina, the bladder, and our pelvis.
Direct Answer
Perimenopause and menopause bring a natural decline in estrogen that affects vaginal, bladder, and pelvic floor tissues, often causing dryness, urinary changes, and a wide range of symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Menopause itself is defined as the single day marking 12 consecutive months without a period; understanding this transition early helps you seek effective support sooner.
Key Takeaways
- Perimenopause spans roughly 6-10 years before menopause, which is medically defined as 12 consecutive months without a period.
- Declining estrogen thins vaginal and urinary tissues, which can contribute to dryness, irritation, and incontinence.
- Surgical removal of the ovaries causes immediate menopause; removing only the uterus can still lead to menopause within about 5 years.
- 64% of women feel unprepared for menopause, and 73% do nothing to treat their symptoms, despite effective options being available.
Before we discuss estrogen, let's look at the definition of Perimenopause and Menopause
Technically, menopause is ONE DAY marking the one day that is 12 consecutive months without a period. Anything before is perimenopause, and after is post-menopause.
There is an evolution going on right now around the terms, but basically, it is considered that once you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months, you are in menopause.
Perimenopause is considered by most people to be the 6 – 10 years prior to the onset of menopause.
Some women can go into menopause surgically.
If a woman has had their uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries removed, they are instantly in menopause as soon as they wake up from surgery. For those who have just had their uterus removed but keep their ovaries in place, technically, the ovaries would continue to produce hormones.
We are now finding that usually, within the first 5 years after having the uterus removed, most people start to transition into menopause, and the hormones become dysregulated.
Estrogen Fluctuation
We normally have estrogen-rich tissues in these areas from circulating in our body, and when we are not producing or have a decline in estrogen, these tissues can become dry, which can influence sensation. The tissues can start to thin and contribute to burning or irritation-type sensations for some women, and it doesn’t even have to be by touch; it could just be walking around or doing exercise. The drying out or thinning of the tissues can also exasperate or potentially bring on urinary frequency and incontinence.
Incontinence is any unwanted loss of urine at any time and any amount. So, if you are not sitting on the toilet, wanting to go pee, and urine comes out of you, that would be termed "incontinence."
64% of women are completely unprepared for menopause...and 73% of women do absolutely NOTHING to treat their menopause symptoms.
That means they suffer needlessly through...
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mental health changes
- Stubborn weight gain
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Sleep problems
- Thinning hair
- Dry skin
Accepting menopause as another stage in our life cycle helps us be better prepared for the symptoms.
One fun thing about reaching menopause is wearing white pants in celebration!
There are no indicators for how it will feel for you, but one thing we can all do is take charge and become our own best health advocates BEFORE we reach menopause.
Knowledge is power and gives us tools to seek the best options for managing the transition.
Resources:
Exercise Programs:
Articles:
Books:
- Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives - Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer:
- The Estrogen Fix: How to Overcome Estrogen Dominance
- Your Pelvic Floor: A Practical Guide to Solving Your Most Intimate Problems
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our episode:
Perimenopause & Menopause Hormone Solutions With Karen Martel Part 1 of 2
Listen to the episode
FAQ
What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
Menopause is technically one day: the point marking 12 consecutive months without a period. Perimenopause is the transitional period before that, typically lasting 6-10 years, when hormone levels begin to fluctuate.
What causes vaginal and urinary symptoms during menopause?
Declining estrogen causes vaginal, bladder, and urethral tissues to become drier and thinner, which can lead to irritation, burning sensations, and increased urinary frequency or incontinence.
Does having a hysterectomy cause menopause?
Removing the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries causes immediate surgical menopause. If only the uterus is removed and the ovaries remain, they continue producing hormones, though most women still transition into menopause within about 5 years.
What are common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause?
Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, mental health changes, stubborn weight gain, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, thinning hair, and dry skin.
Why do so many women go untreated for menopause symptoms?
Studies show 64% of women feel unprepared for menopause and 73% do nothing to treat their symptoms, often due to a lack of awareness about the effective options available, including hormonal and non-hormonal therapies and pelvic floor support.
