​True or False: Menopause

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true. Although menopause involves a lot more than just periods — or the lack thereof — a woman has reached menopause when she hasn’t had a period for 12 straight months. This happens when your ovaries stop making estrogen — the hormone that helps control menstrual cycles.

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true. Perimenopause is the time before menopause when your estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate. Most women are in perimenopause for an average of seven years but perimenopause can go on for more than 14 years. Race, ethnicity and lifestyle factors such as smoking can influence how long you’re in perimenopause.

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falsee. False. But if you thought 50 was true — you’re not far off. On average, menopause happens at 51. People typically start perimenopause, the menopause transition, between ages 45 and 55.

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false. For many women, vasomotor symptoms (VMS) begin in perimenopause when estrogen levels start to decline. In fact, one recent study found 1 in 8 women had hot flashes while still having regular periods. And research shows symptoms may last longer for women of color compared to white women.

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false. There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Menopause is technically the point when you’ve gone 12 months without a period, but many people refer to both menopause and postmenopause as this time in your life when you no longer get your period.

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true. If it’s been less than 12 months since your last period and you don’t want to get pregnant, you should still use birth control. But a year without a period means you’ve hit menopause and your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs. It’s important to note that you can’t get pregnant naturally after menopause, but you can still get a sexually transmitted infection if you have unprotected sex. So, make sure you’re protecting yourself before, during and after menopause.

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true. Healthcare providers can test levels of certain hormones, like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol or others, to see if a person is in menopause. You don’t need to test for all hormones, and these hormones are just some examples of what you can test for. There are also at-home kits that can test the level of some of these hormones in your pee to help determine what possible stage of menopause you’re in, although most people rely on the signs and symptoms to confirm menopause.

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false. Weight gain is a common symptom during menopause, especially weight gain around the abdomen, but hot flashes and night sweats — called vasomotor symptoms of menopause — are the most common symptoms of menopause. More than 3 out of 4 people will experience VMS associated with menopause.

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false. Hormone therapy is just one option to help treat symptoms associated with menopause. Hormone therapy works by adding estrogen, progesterone or both back into the body through prescription pills, patches or cream. Other treatments include non-hormonal medications, antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes such as exercise and eating a balanced diet.

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false. Estrogen helps keep blood vessels relaxed and open, and a lack of estrogen can allow cholesterol to build up in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease — the number one killer of women in the U.S. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help prevent heart disease at any age, including eating a healthy diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains; getting enough physical activity, and taking any medications you’ve been prescribed for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.