How long does menopause last? By one measure, the rest of your life

the gist

Strictly speaking, menopause is a single day: the day 12 months after a woman's final period. The hormonal changes around it last far longer. In midlife, communication between the brain and ovaries breaks down, oestrogen falls and follicle-stimulating hormone rises, which causes hot flushes, night sweats and mood changes. Ovarian hormone changes can begin more than ten years before the last period, in the stage called perimenopause, usually between ages 45 and 55. Average age at menopause in Australia is 51. Women have symptoms for about seven years on average, though this varies widely, and the years after it are called post-menopause, which lasts for the rest of life.

how it works

The ovaries hold a limited stock of egg follicles. As it runs down, they respond less to the brain's signals (FSH and LH) and make less oestrogen, so hormone levels swing and then fall. Oestrogen affects temperature control, mood and bones, which is why symptoms appear.

so what

Because 'menopause' means three different things, a technical day, a symptomatic transition and a whole life stage, the question of how long it lasts has no single answer. Knowing the stages helps women recognise symptoms early and seek advice, especially if the last period comes before 45.

fun fact

Menopause is rare among mammals: humans and a few whales such as orcas live long after they stop reproducing.

more on this

background

Menopause is the time when menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of the reproductive phase for female humans. The menopausal transition can be divided into three stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Menopause is a natural part of aging, it can also be a result of surgery, or have another medical or non-medical source. Natural menopause is the result of a decrease in the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Natural menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although the exact timing can vary occurring earlier or later for a variety of reasons, for example tobacco use may result in an earlier menopause while having been pregnant may result in a later menopause. Surgical menopause occurs as the result of a surgery that removes both ovaries. Surgical removal of the ovaries or ovarian failure before the age of 40 years is termed "premature ovarian insufficiency". A marked decrease in hormone levels can have other sources, including some types of chemotherapy.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Menopause (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

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Adam Harangozó, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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The Conversation

Illustrative photo · U3177076, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.