What is menopause?
- Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
- It can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
- Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
- Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
- Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
- There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.
Trans gender health
There isn’t currently much data about the menopause and trans people. However, anyone with a female reproductive system who identifies as a man, but hasn’t undergone any medical interventions, is likely to go through menopause eventually.
Most trans people who start their transition at pre-menopausal age will never go through menopause in terms of the hormone depletion effects. This is because gender affirming hormones are typically given for life, so if a trans person starts hormone treatment before going through menopause they will never experience it.
For trans women taking oestrogen, there is no need to withdraw oestrogen treatment at any particular age to induce menopause. It was previously thought that there was a risk associated with lifelong oestrogen treatment, but although the dosage might be reduced in some circumstances, this no longer seems to be the case.
Get informed + by reading about the symptoms of menopause. If you have any concerns or questions about menopause, talk to your GP, who can advise you and signpost you to further support.
Stonewall has a list of NHS organisations that are Diversity Champions and an information service that can offer advice on who to contact. You can call them on 08000 50 20 20.
