Menopause is a time in a woman's life when her ovaries cease the production of estrogen. When her estrogen levels are low, menopausal symptoms begin to appear. If she hasn't had a period for one full year, she is officially in menopause. It's a complicated process, but completely natural and it will happen to every woman. However, each woman will have different symptoms.
Some fortunate women may never experience menopause symptoms at all. However, it's believed that approximately 75 percent of women will have some kind of menopause symptoms. The degree and frequency of these symptoms will also vary according to the individual.
Typically, the symptoms of menopause range from mood swings to hot flashes to night sweats. Mood swings are actually very common in menopausal women, and greatly resemble the symptoms of PMS. Other common indications of menopause are periods that become erratic, as well as urinary tract or vaginal infections.
Irregular periods, both in frequency, intensity and duration, are a common precursor of menopause. In some instances, periods may be shorter than usual, or sometimes much longer. As well, bleeding can range from heavy to light. The amount of time between your periods may also vary considerably.
Hot flashes are another symptom of menopause. A hot flash is an unexpected sensation of intense heat which passes through your body. You will notice that your face becomes red, you start to sweat profusely, and you might become anxious or irritable. A hot flash is highly unpleasant, but completely unavoidable. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Most women swear it lasts much longer than that. Once again, though, it differs depending on the individual.
Generally, hot flashes are predominant in the first two years following the onset of menopause and gradually diminish. However, some women will continue to experience them for several years after menopause. One woman was known to be experiencing hot flashes at the age of 80.
Hot flashes that take place in the nighttime can interrupt your sleep. Indeed, many women find that their bedding gets soaked with sweat when a hot flash occurs during the night.
Vaginal dryness is another symptom of menopause, along with itchiness and irritation. Few women have major problems with these conditions immediately following menopause, but they will progress through time. Medical professionals believe that about half of all women over 60 years of age experience vaginal dryness to some extent. It's interesting to note that having regular sexual intercourse can help keep this problem under control.
Showing posts with label menopause. Show all posts
Showing posts with label menopause. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What is Perimenopause and Menopause?
In the beginning we await the curse; the onset of womanhood. In our later years, we experience the change. Does it necessarily follow this is the end of womanhood? No, but the two are synonymous. Perimenopause and menopause may be the end of the second cycle of life; but it is also the beginning of another. What is perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the time when hormonal changes occur in your body. Beginning in your late 30’s, 40’s and early 50’s, a disruption in your menstrual cycle may occur many times before menopause. If you are currently experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, sleep disruption, headaches, dry eyes, hair loss, and weight gain, or extreme emotional distress, you can be assured that these are all common signs of perimenopause. The hormonal changes which occur during perimenopause are responsible for many of these symptoms. For some, most of the symptoms only last for a few months. For others, no symptoms occur. What’s left is mild to severe symptoms. Generally, however, many women feel uneasy during this time; hot flashes, palpitations, fatigue, mood swings and even irrational thinking are among the many signs accompanying perimenopause.
Perimenopause does not often segue into menopause right away. Depending upon the woman, it could take months to years before menopause occurs. However, the symptoms are influenced by lifestyle. Have you been engaged in a proper diet and exercise regimen? Has stress been a major factor in your life? Do you drink or smoke in excess? Any of these factors can play an important part on the type of symptoms and their severity.
After a period of time, you will eventually become menopausal. What is menopause? It is that point in time, without having had a menstrual period for one year, you are considered to be in the menopause cycle. While the average ages is considered to be around 52; menopause can occur at any time between 30 and 60 years of age. The cycle of menopause can either be difficult or easy. For example: let’s assume you haven’t had a period for 6 months. Suddenly, in the 7th month it appears. Yikes! Conversely, your period stops and doesn’t return at all for a year. Easy! It depends upon the woman; it’s as simple as that.
The symptoms accompanying menopause can be difficult or easy as well. Some women experience no symptoms, while others are plagued with hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, spotting, and the full range of mood swings which invariably occur. Why is there such a wide gap in response to menopause? It is the hormonal imbalances and changes that cause the fluctuation. In addition, diet, lifestyle and genetics also play a major role in determining what type of symptom response will occur.
While perimenopause and menopause are natural to a women’s life cycle, neither have to be looked upon with fear or trepidation. Instead, view them both as the beginning of a new phase in your life cycle.
Perimenopause is the time when hormonal changes occur in your body. Beginning in your late 30’s, 40’s and early 50’s, a disruption in your menstrual cycle may occur many times before menopause. If you are currently experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, sleep disruption, headaches, dry eyes, hair loss, and weight gain, or extreme emotional distress, you can be assured that these are all common signs of perimenopause. The hormonal changes which occur during perimenopause are responsible for many of these symptoms. For some, most of the symptoms only last for a few months. For others, no symptoms occur. What’s left is mild to severe symptoms. Generally, however, many women feel uneasy during this time; hot flashes, palpitations, fatigue, mood swings and even irrational thinking are among the many signs accompanying perimenopause.
Perimenopause does not often segue into menopause right away. Depending upon the woman, it could take months to years before menopause occurs. However, the symptoms are influenced by lifestyle. Have you been engaged in a proper diet and exercise regimen? Has stress been a major factor in your life? Do you drink or smoke in excess? Any of these factors can play an important part on the type of symptoms and their severity.
After a period of time, you will eventually become menopausal. What is menopause? It is that point in time, without having had a menstrual period for one year, you are considered to be in the menopause cycle. While the average ages is considered to be around 52; menopause can occur at any time between 30 and 60 years of age. The cycle of menopause can either be difficult or easy. For example: let’s assume you haven’t had a period for 6 months. Suddenly, in the 7th month it appears. Yikes! Conversely, your period stops and doesn’t return at all for a year. Easy! It depends upon the woman; it’s as simple as that.
The symptoms accompanying menopause can be difficult or easy as well. Some women experience no symptoms, while others are plagued with hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, spotting, and the full range of mood swings which invariably occur. Why is there such a wide gap in response to menopause? It is the hormonal imbalances and changes that cause the fluctuation. In addition, diet, lifestyle and genetics also play a major role in determining what type of symptom response will occur.
While perimenopause and menopause are natural to a women’s life cycle, neither have to be looked upon with fear or trepidation. Instead, view them both as the beginning of a new phase in your life cycle.
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