Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know

If there is one stage of a woman?s life that is hard to cope up with that would be her menopausal years. As defined, menopause is a stage wherein a woman?s monthly period has stopped. Veering away from the common conception that menopause is a ?disease,? people in the medical world says that menopause is nothing but a normal and expected change in any woman?s body.

Unlike before when menopause is clouded by absurd misconceptions and myths, people now are more open in discussing the phenomenon because many studies have proven that menopause is a natural step in the process of a woman?s aging. With the advancement of technology and researches, more and more women are given hope that they can still go on with their life by teaching them to discover and rediscover their purpose in life.

Most studies show that the most common determinant of menopause in women is physical changes. Since menopause is associated with absence of estrogen in the body (since the ovaries has stopped producing them), the reproductive system gradually shuts down.

Experts agree that the average age range of menopause in women is form 50 onwards. But there are cases wherein a woman may experience her menopausal earlier especially if she has undergone surgeries, major operations and a series of therapy due to cancer and other illnesses. Other causes of early menopause are autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, and diabetes mellitus.

Basically, menopausal years are divided into three phases: the premature menopause, which is distinguished for women whose ages are below 40 years old. Next are the menopausal climax years from 50 and above and the post-menopausal, which is experienced by women 50 and above and are those prone to more serious illnesses such as osteoporosis.

KNOWING THE SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE

Experts agree that menopause pertains to the drastic changes in a woman?s life that greatly affects her physical appearance, sexual function, feelings of well-being, and overall mood.

Technically, a woman is said to reach her menopause when there?s an absence of menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Here are some of the visible symptoms of menopause:

1. Drastic change in the pattern of menstrual periods. This can be characterized by shorter or longer span of time, lighter or heavier flow of menstruation, and more or less time between periods.

2. Occurrence of hot flashes or hot flushes.

3. Profuse night sweating usually followed by a slight chill.

4. Sleep disturbances and trouble getting enough sleep due to physical discomfort.

5. Vaginal atrophy. This is characterized by thinning, drying, shrinking and thinning of the vagina in most women.

6. Psychological instability characterized by mood disturbances, irritability, fatigue, decreased sexual desire, and memory loss. Violent mood swings, crabbiness, and crying spells, which are usually caused by, pent up frustration due to lack of sleep are also common.

7. Inability to concentrate or focus on tasks properly. This is characterized by great deal of trouble focusing on things because the woman feels mixed-up and confused.

8. Hair issues. Women who are experiencing menopause or those who are about to experience it are having trouble dealing with hair issue due to hair loss or thinning on their head. They also experience hair growth on their face, which is quite unlikely for a woman.

9. Increased estrogen deficiency that leads to vasomotor instability characterized by dyspareunia, itching, dryness, bleeding, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urinary incontinence.

10. Skeletal problems and muscle pains such osteoporosis, joint pains, and back pains.

As a woman?s body adapt to the ever-changing levels of natural hormones, more and more symptoms can be traced to menopause. If you want to prepare for this natural occurrence in a woman?s life, make sure that you visit your doctor so he/she could do the necessary diagnosis and examinations to you. After which, proper solution can be provided by your physician depending on your individual need.

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.bestmenopause.com/symptoms.html http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com