What is Menopause and when do symptoms typically begin?
Menopause happens, and it affects each woman in a different way. Menopause begins when a woman hasn’t had her period for 12 months and can last between 7 – 14 years. It is considered to be a transition in which the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone varies. In the years leading up to the beginning of the transition, signs of menopause can come through as hot flashes and changes in monthly cycles. Once a woman is in menopause, one of the menopause symptoms is loss of bone density making women’s bodies more fragile.
Click here for a dictionary definition of Menopause.
Another menopause symptom is changes in fat cells making gaining weight much easier. The menopause age can vary but usually begins between age 45 and 55. Here we’re going to go through various menopause symptoms as well as signs of menopause and the beginning of the transition. Continue reading to learn more informational facts about menopause.
Menopause Age
Menopause generally starts between the ages of 45 and 55 commonly starting somewhere in the middle. That doesn’t mean that it cannot happen outside of that range, women younger than 45 have begun menopause early and all of the signs of menopause and age in which it starts depends on your body’s makeup, genes.
If you are around the common menopause age, you may be wondering what signs of menopause you can look out for. Signs of menopause may come on slow but is most commonly recognized by an irregular period and studies state that once irregularities in your cycle begin, you should be done with your period completely within four years of the beginning of irregularities. Other common signs of menopause can include the following:
- Sweating
- Hot flashes
- Racing heart
- Headaches
- Lower sex drive
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal soreness
- Trouble sleeping
- Painful sex
If you begin to notice any signs of menopause, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor about what you are noticing. They may be able to help you manage your menopause symptoms in both the short and long run.
Menopause: Symptoms and Stages
There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Going through the process is slow and can take many years. Here are a few things that you can expect in each of the stages of menopause:
Perimenopause
- Irregular cycles
- Hot flashes
- Possibility of still getting pregnant
- Final period
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Trouble sleeping
Post Menopause
- 1 year without period
- Final stage of menopause
- Should not have any vaginal bleeding
When it comes to menopause symptoms, there are many symptoms and many ways you can manage your symptoms. Here are some tips for managing menopause symptoms both naturally and traditionally.
Changes in lifestyle: As with most things in life, getting regular exercise following by a healthy diet can help manage menopause symptoms greatly as well as help you keep off the extra pounds that are easy to gain. Stop smoking if you’re a smoker and watch alcohol intake. When it comes to hot flashes, the worst but most common symptoms, wear layers keeping the thinnest layer close to your body. This will help when they kick in.
Medications: There are medications that can help with hot flashes and speaking to a medical professional about your options in regards to treating hot flashes. This may include hormone therapy which isn’t always for everyone, that’s why speaking to a doctor about your options is important before deciding on treatment.
Natural Treatments: There are many options that can help treatment menopause symptoms such as acupuncture, meditation, herbal remedies and relaxation techniques. These types of treatments may be unproven but could be the right treatment for you.
As stated above, before making any major decisions related to treatment for menopause it’s best to speak to a medical professional, or even other women to learn about what worked for them. Explore your options but keep in mind that there’s not one cure for each person, everyone is unique.