Menopause is a perfectly natural occurrence that indicates the end of a woman’s menstrual periods. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing sex hormones, which leads to the menopause symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings. It also occurs when the ovaries are removed surgically or the ovaries stop functioning for any reason. This is known as “surgical menopause,” but the symptoms and treatment are the same.
Older women often have misconceptions and myths about menopause they learned from their own mothers. They think that life is useless and boring after menopause. However, today, many women begin the day with new discoveries and face challenges at their work during menopause. They know that menopause is a natural contingency in the process of aging. It carries no serious health risks. So, in order to formulate best health decisions, try to understand menopause symptoms and its treatment options.
The frequency and severity of menopause symptoms totally varies from woman to woman, but the most common menopause symptoms are hot flashes, irregular bleeding, urinary incontinence, mood swings, and vaginal atrophy. When hot flashes occur, sudden intense waves of heat and sweating are observed in the upper part of the body, especially the chest, face, and head. Flushing and sweating usually occur as well, followed by a chill. Some women feel their heart beating very fast and become worried.
Hot flashes can last from a few seconds to several minutes. This also varies from woman to woman. Women who have had hysterectomies are more likely to have hot flashes while most of the women experience their hot flashes in the first 2 years after menopause. However, some women have their hot flashes several years before menopause while some have them for 10, 20, or even 40 years or longer after menopause. In addition, these flashes can also affect your social life and work. They can disrupt your sleep if they occur night and the bed sheets of your bed can become wet with sweat.
Most women notice the symptoms of premenopause, most notably the irregular periods. In fact, changes such as shorter or longer periods, heavier or lighter menstrual bleeding, and varying lengths of time between periods may be a sign that menopause is near.
Menopause leads involuntary leakage of urine, infection, or painful urination.
Depression may also occur before menopause. However, it is unclear whether depression is linked to low levels of estrogen or to the many changes women face during their 40s and 50s (such as career or marriage pressures, or care of children or aging parents).
By knowing the four stages of menopause (and how to identify which one you are in), you will be better able to overcome the 35 (or more) symptoms of menopause which accompany it. Menopause does not have to be a traumatic, difficult time of your life that you have no choice but to suffer through. There is constantly new research being done that is helping women deal with - if not totally alleviate - the symptoms of menopause. Many of these therapies, once considered “alternative,” involve herbs or other methods that are helping aging women lead normal, healthy lives.
Karen
