While menopause is an end to one stage of life, it signals the beginning of a different stage of life, . The change of life can be a joyous time.
There are women who dread the word menopause, as menopause signals the end of fertility and childbearing. While menopause is an end to one stage of life, it signals the beginning of a different stage of life, with liberation from menstruation and end of worry about unplanned pregnancy. The change of Life can be a joyous time.
Some women have barely any symptoms of menopause, but the physical changes can cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Menopause is not an illness, but is a natural process. Even though it is a natural process, women should not hesitate to get medical treatment from their doctor if they experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes. Treatment options from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy are available.
Menopause does not technically "hit" until it has been one year since the final menstrual period. The average age for menopause is 51 in the United States. Symptoms of menopause often appear long before the official start of menopause. Symptoms of menopause include: irregular periods, decreased fertility, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, fat on abdomen, thinning hair and loss of breast fullness.
Menstruation is regulated by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. When the ovaries stop making these hormones menopause begins. This process usually begins in the mid 30's, with fewer potential eggs ripening in the ovaries every month. These hormonal changes become more pronounced as a woman progresses into her 40's. Periods may become irregular and be shorter or longer in duration. Eventually ovaries shut down and there are no more periods. There is no predictable way to know which period will be the last. By official definition, the last period is when there has not been a period for twelve months. During this time, it is still possible to get pregnant, but not likely.
The two stages of menopause are perimenopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause is the time that menopausal symptoms begin. Postmenopause is after there has been no period for twelve months.
While menopause is a natural process, it is a women's health issue. Certain medical treatments and conditions that can bring on early menopause. These include hysterectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and premature ovarian failure. Hysterectomy that removes the uterus but not the ovaries does not usually cause menopause. Hysterectomy that removed uterus and ovaries does cause menopause. Chemotherapy and radiation used for treatment of cancer can induce early menopause. Premature menopause can also be caused by genetic factors.
See your doctor for health care and support during perimenopause and postmenopause. There are several chronic medical conditions that may appear after menopause. Awareness of these medical conditions is important, so you can take steps to reduce risk. The medical complications of postmenopause are : cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence and weight gain.
As a natural process, menopause itself does not require medical treatment. There are treatment that focus on relief of symptoms. Treatments include hormone therapy, antidepressants and vaginal estrogen. In addition, the doctors may offer treatment for bone loss, and hot flashes.
There are steps that you can takes to relieve symptoms of menopause including regular exercise; avoiding hot flash triggers, such as hot spicy food and hot weather; using vaginal lubricants, avoiding caffeine; strengthing the pelvic floor with Kegel exercise; eating a balanced diet', taking 1,200 to 1,500 me of calcium with 800 units of vitamin D; stopping smoking and getting regular medical checkups.
Complementary, or alternative medicine, offers other approaches to relief of menopause symptoms, including phytoestrogesn (soy, chickpeas, legumes, flaxseed), Vitamin E and Black Cohosh. Other popular, but scientifically unproven, supplements include dong quai, licorice, chasteberry, evening primrose oil and wild yam.
When using self care, consult you doctor to avoid any possible interaction with prescribed medications.
Menopause is transitional time of life that can signal a beautiful time of life.
Information is this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical condition, consult a physician.
Here is a Suite 101 article abouit Turning Fifty.
Resources
Mayo Clinic (mayoclinichealth.com)
