Dr. Rebecca Rhorer - Menopause
Short Biography...
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Who are you and what is your background?
Hello, my name's Dr. Rebecca Rohrer. I'm a doctor practising clinically, medical director at Bupa, and I've got a passion for women's health.
What is the menopause?
The menopause describes a time where people's periods stop, and that happens because of declining hormone levels. When we think about the menopause, however, lots of people think about the time, both before and after that time, both the perimenopause and the post menopause. It typically occurs when people are between 45 and 55, but it's important to remember that it can happen before or after that as well.
What's the difference between menopause and perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time when you still may be having periods, but they might be irregular, but you may have some of the symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes, for example. In contrast, the menopause describes the time when your periods have stopped. That time will vary depending on how old you are. So before the age of 50, we typically term the menopause as two years after your last period, and over the age of 50. We term the menopause as one year after your last period. It's really important for people to remember that during the perimenopausal period, people still can be fertile, so it's important to use contraception if you're keen to avoid pregnancy.