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Menopause is a significant transition for a woman. It is when her body moves out of the reproductive phase of her life. Usually this change starts to happen for women who are in their late 40s or early 50s, but the age range is wide: actually covering anywhere from the mid 30s to almost 60.
During menopause, the ovaries stop making hormones, causing estrogen levels to fall. This decreased amount of estrogen leads to the stoppage of a woman’s menstrual cycle. According to MenopauseRx.com, the strict definition of menopause is that it “occurs after missing 12 months of menstrual cycles”.
It is important to note that the onset of menopausal symptoms typically begin years before a woman’s menstrual cycle actually stops. This is known as “perimenopause”. In these years leading up to (and including) menopause, a woman’s body chemistry drastically changes. Of course as the woman’s chemical production shifts, the body is bound to be affected.
How someone experiences menopause is as individual as the woman. For some women, menopause is changes their lives completely, while others seem to roll with the changes a lot easier. Although experiences vary, there is a list of common symptoms that most women share with their doctor. A woman who experiences any of these conditions should contact her own doctor for a consultation.
This is one of the first changes women notice as they move toward menopause. Menstrual bleeding does not just suddenly stop one month. Over time, a woman’s menstruation can change in frequency, amount, and duration. It is not uncommon for bleeding to be heavier and last longer at the as the menopausal process begins. There also may be breakthrough bleeding in between periods. Missed periods are also a common occurrence. Older women tend to take for granted that a missed period means they’ve encountered menopause. This is not always the case and it is important that if changes are noticed in the menstrual cycle, that they are not merely passed off as insignificant. Check with your doctor upon any significant menstrual changes to make sure the cause is not some other condition that may be contributing to the change in your menstrual cycle.
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The insomnia (lack of sleep) that comes with the onset of menopause is often caused by some of its other side effects, such as anxiety or hot flashes. But, once again, a woman’s complex chemical makeup and the fluctuations it endures during the start of menopause can trigger sleepless nights. Insomnia is also caused by alterations in the brain chemical serotonin, and this is one of the things that change during menopause.
Unfortunately, once insomnia starts, it can be a difficult cycle to break. Then, the inadequate rest can aggravate the other problems a woman faces with menopause. Curing the insomnia may depend on treating some of the other menopausal symptoms. For example, if a woman’s anxiety level can be reduced (either through stress management or drug therapy), perhaps a better night’s sleep can be achieved. For others, the insomnia may need to be treated with over the counter or prescription sleep aids. As always, before taking any medications, medical consultation is a must.
Their intensity is not imagined or over exaggerated. Ask any woman who has experienced a hot flash and she will assure you that hot flashes are as real as they come. One of the body’s most physical reactions to the hormone changes during menopause is that suddenly a woman (no matter where lives) feels as though she’s living on the equator. The heat her body produces can wake her from a sound sleep, cause profuse sweating and feel as though there is no relief, despite the fact that they only last for a few minutes. Hot flashes can be hit or miss or can come on as regularly as every two to four hours.
It seems almost unfair that as a woman’s ability to conceive a child is diminished that the probability of a lacking sex drive is higher. However, this is not out of the norm. The same hormones that allow a woman to menstruate and conceive a baby are the same ones that pump up sexual interest. When the hormones decrease, it is not a shock, then, that the desire to have sex bottoms out for many women. Not only can the sex drive be affected, but once menopause starts, the vagina is not able to lubricate itself as efficiently, therefore increasing the chances of painful intercourse. Furthermore, it may take longer for a woman to achieve orgasm, which can lead to frustration. All in all, the combination of these things can make a woman less than enthusiastic about hitting the sheets.
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This may be an embarrassing thing for women to discuss with their doctors, but it is one of the most important issues to confront. Menopause is not the time to be shy when talking with the doctor. If the doctor does not know that there is a problem, then no help can be offered. Treatment is available (and new ones are being developed as this article goes to print)—but only if it is discussed in an open and honest way. In other words, do not let fear or embarrassment diminish your enjoyment of sex and even, possibly, your sense of womanhood.
Life is full of stress and worry. Other than physically, menopause and its roller coaster hormonal changes do not affect “what” you have to deal with each day. But, “how” stress is processed and dealt with is just as (if not more) important to a person’s happiness. If the brain is not able to process everything it needs to, anxiety builds. This can result in lower attention spans, pronounced mood swings, and even depression. Coping with anxiety and mood swings can be frustrating because sometimes a woman just feels something is “off” or she is having a “bad day”. Unless a pattern is noted, anxiety and mood swings are hard to treat. Do not depend on others to notice the raised levels of anxiety or the foul moods—they will never tell, for fear of upsetting things further or causing hurt feelings. Do whatever possible to monitor feelings and emotions to detect any major changes.
There are a myriad of other physical changes that a woman may encounter as she enters menopause. Headaches are one of the most common complaints, and usually are brought on by the anxiety and insomnia. They can range from an occasional, mild annoyance to a blinding and debilitating migraine. Excessive gas is another problem that women may have to deal with during menopause. The sudden growth of hair on the face and other places in not out of the ordinary, either, as the hormones that control hair growth are affected, too.
It is clear that menopause comes with a lot of baggage, both mentally and physically. Very few women, though, have all of these symptoms during this change: some have more, some have less and some sail right through it without complaining one bit. But, many women find that once they know what to expect as their body changes, they can manage their lives with menopause—and not let menopause manage them.
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