Menopause - Menopause Symptoms
Most women who have experienced menopause symptoms would agree that menopause is a turning point in their life. Menopause is not an illness or something to be afraid of -- it is a natural biological process that indicates the end of a woman's fertility and her periods of menstruation. Some women worry that menopause will somehow make them feel less of a woman; others welcome the opportunity of having freedom from periods.
Menopause is caused by a woman's ovaries producing less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that control the menstruation process. This is not a sudden change -- the process usually begins when women are in their 30s and continues into the 40s, although a woman can still menstruate into her 50s. It's possible -- although unlikely -- to become pregnant in the months immediately before menopause starts.
There is also no sure way to know if a period is going to be your last one, although it's possible to get some indication that menopause is imminent. Menopause symptoms can include periods that are more or less frequent; they may also be heavier or lighter, longer or shorter. Many women worry that there is something else wrong when this happens; it doesn't occur to them that they have reached that point in their life.
Almost all women notice early menopause symptoms, while they are still having their normal periods. This is known as the perimenopause and typically begins during the early 40s. During this time you may experience any or all of the following -- hot flashes, mood changes, and an increase in cholesterol levels, a loss of sexual desire and even a loss of bone, as estrogen levels decline.
In addition to the disruption of your periods, there are other menopause symptoms. An estimated 80% of women suffer from hot flashes, which are caused by the body reacting to a reduced supply of the hormone estrogen. Also common are night sweats, technically known as sleep hyperhidrosis, which can range from mild to severe and are characterized by nausea, headaches, chills or heat.
Other signs of menopause include vaginal dryness, often accompanied by irritation or itching. Many women also experience a loss of libido, along with general feelings of fatigue, weakness or lethargy. And around 50% of women approaching menopause also suffer from chronic mood swings; women may feel stressed, irritable, and aggressive or just be generally depressed or moody.
Some other signs of menopause include unwanted weight gain, pain or tenderness of the breasts; and headaches, which are known as menstrual migraines. Some women can experience aching joints or muscles, bouts of bloating or gassiness, occasional bouts of dizziness or light-headedness and a more rapid heart beat. The fingernails may be brittle or break more easily. And if you suffer from allergies, you may find them worse as you approach menopause.
It's important to understand that these ailments are all perfectly normal and can all be treated to some degree. And if you are a man reading this, perhaps the most useful thing you can do is be supportive as she goes through this difficult time.
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