What are the three stages of menopause?
Where to read the three stage names
The FDA's menopause page and the Office on Women's Health name and define the stages of menopause. Read them first, then ask your clinician which stage you are in.
Why the stage matters for a plan
A therapy plan has to hold up in real life. If a treatment is part of your plan, ask your clinician whether the stage you are in changes anything. Ask how long your current stage may last and what to watch for.
Questions to take about your stage
- Write down the dates and changes you have noticed.
- Ask your clinician which stage they think you are in, and why.
- Ask what to do about missed doses or schedule changes if you start a treatment.
What the stage names cannot tell you
A therapy plan connects to the stage you are in, and the stage names above do not place you in one. Your clinician decides what applies to you.