---
title: 'How Do You Know You Are In Menopause?'
slug: menopause-how-to-know-you-are-there-and-what-is-happening-in-your-body
lifeStage: menopause
category: Cycle
author: 'Samaira Farid'
medicalReviewer: 'Dr Shree Datta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist '
reviewerId: 'https://blog.bloume.com/menopause/medical-board.md#dr-shree-datta'
lastUpdated: '2026-08-31'
primarySource: 'Treatment for symptoms of the menopause'
wordCount: 1108
readTimeInSeconds: 277
---

# How Do You Know You Are In Menopause?

Menopause is the point where you have not had a period for 12 months in a row. In the UK, this happens at an average age of 51, though the change usually falls between 45 and 55. Understanding how to know you are in menopause, the signs that lead up to it, and what is happening hormonally can help you make sense of what your body is doing and what to expect going forward.

**Q: How do you know you have reached menopause rather than still being in perimenopause?**
A: Menopause is confirmed looking back: you have reached it once you have gone 12 months in a row without a period, and you are not using hormonal contraception. Until that 12-month point has passed, you are still in perimenopause. If you are unsure, your GP can help you work out where you are in the transition.

The periods that have been part of your life for decades start to shift. They arrive at different times, feel heavier one month and almost absent the next, and eventually stop altogether. This change in pattern is usually the first sign that the menopause transition has begun. Knowing how to recognise the signs you are in menopause, and what is driving them, gives you a clearer picture of where you are in this process.

## What is menopause?

Menopause is the point where you have not had a period for 12 months in a row, as long as you are not using hormonal contraception. It marks the end of your natural reproductive years. If you are using hormonal contraception, your periods can be masked, so the 12-month count does not work in the same way. This is worth talking through with your GP.

In the UK, the average age to reach menopause is 51, and the change usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. These are averages, and falling outside that range is common and completely normal.

Menopause is a natural part of getting older. It happens as your ovaries gradually make less oestrogen and stop releasing eggs. It is a normal life stage and transition to be honoured rather than overlooked.

## Perimenopause: the transitional years

Before you reach that 12-month mark, you are in perimenopause. This is the stretch where your hormones start to shift and the first symptoms can appear. You may notice a change in your cycle, with periods coming more or less often, or feeling heavier or lighter, though for some people the first signs are things like hot flushes or vaginal dryness. Perimenopause can last anywhere from a few months to several years.

The hormonal picture during perimenopause is one of irregular change. Oestrogen does not fall in a steady line. It rises and dips, sometimes sharply, and these swings are behind many of the symptoms you may notice during this phase.

## What changes hormonally at menopause

After menopause, your ovaries make very little or no oestrogen. Where perimenopause brings erratic swings, oestrogen after menopause settles and stays consistently low. That shift from unpredictable to steady, though low, levels is one of the main differences between the two phases.

Oestrogen receptors sit throughout your body, including in your brain, skin, bones, and your heart and blood vessels. Because of this, lower oestrogen touches a wide range of functions, which is why menopause symptoms can feel so varied.

## How to know you are in menopause: the signs to recognise

Many of the symptoms tied to menopause actually start during perimenopause. The ones you are most likely to notice are hot flushes, night sweats, broken sleep, and mood changes like anxiety or low mood. If mood changes are really affecting your daily life, it is worth speaking with your GP, as these can have several causes and are not always down to hormones alone.

Other signs you may recognise include trouble with memory and concentration, sometimes called brain fog, vaginal dryness, headaches, joint and muscle aches, palpitations, and a lower sex drive. If you notice palpitations that are unexplained or keep happening, mention them to your GP to rule out other causes.

You may find some symptoms more noticeable than others, and they can vary in intensity over time. If they are affecting your daily life, raise this with your GP.

## What to expect going forward

Postmenopause begins once you have gone 12 months without a period. Many symptoms, including hot flushes, may ease or stop during this phase. For some, certain symptoms carry on. The timeline is your own.

The steady, lower level of oestrogen after menopause can raise your risk of certain health conditions over the longer term, including osteoporosis and heart disease. These are increased risks, and both are areas where lifestyle and medical support can make a difference.

Oestrogen helps keep your bones strong and dense. After menopause, the drop in oestrogen can speed up bone loss, which raises the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Weight-bearing exercise, enough calcium and vitamin D, and regular reviews with your GP all matter here.

Lower oestrogen can also bring changes that raise the risk of heart disease and stroke, including rises in cholesterol and blood pressure. Your GP can check your heart health and talk through ways to support it.

> **INFO**: This article is for information only and does not replace medical advice. If you are not sure whether you have reached menopause, or your symptoms are really affecting your life, speak with your GP. They can talk you through the options available to you through the NHS.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: How do you know you have reached menopause rather than still being in perimenopause?**

Menopause is confirmed looking back: you have reached it once you have gone 12 months in a row without a period, and you are not using hormonal contraception. Until that 12-month point has passed, you are still in perimenopause. If you are unsure, your GP can help you work out where you are in the transition.

**Q: What are the early signs that the menopause transition is beginning?**

The first sign is usually a change in your cycle: periods may come more or less often than usual, or feel heavier or lighter. Other early signs can include hot flushes, night sweats, broken sleep, mood changes, and trouble with memory or concentration. These often start during perimenopause, which can begin several years before menopause itself.

**Q: Do symptoms always stop after menopause?**

Not always. Many symptoms, like hot flushes, may ease or stop once you are postmenopausal, though some can carry on. The experience varies a lot. If symptoms are sticking around and affecting your quality of life, raise this at your next GP appointment.

**Q: Why does oestrogen affect so many different parts of the body?**

Oestrogen receptors sit throughout your body, including in your brain, skin, bones, and your heart and blood vessels. Because oestrogen works with so many different tissues, a drop in its levels can bring a wide range of symptoms and longer-term changes, from hot flushes and brain fog to shifts in bone density and cholesterol.

**Q: What long-term health considerations follow menopause?**

The steady, lower level of oestrogen after menopause can raise the risk of osteoporosis, which is weakening of the bones, and cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. These are increased risks. Lifestyle steps like weight-bearing exercise, a balanced diet with enough calcium and vitamin D, and not smoking all matter. Your GP can review your bone and heart health and talk through any steps that may suit you personally.

### Clinical Sources
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---
Reviewed by Dr Shree Datta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | [Medical Board](https://blog.bloume.com/menopause/medical-board.md) | August 2026