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Getting older is quite an adventure, but can feel like a rollercoaster ride. We all know what happens when you are in a rollercoaster don't we.... one moment you are up on top of the world, and the next you are down into the ground. Being on that rollercoaster can be fun for some, but not all. Some people are really not feeling too good and happy when they get off and have terrible symptoms........ which we will
not discuss here right now :-)
What is Menopause?
Surely when you were young you heard your mother talked about it, these days your friends might be talking about it and soon you will be experiencing it. So what exactly is Menopause, what can you expect during this time and what is the symptoms of this dreadful outlook of your future?
Menopause doesn't need to be frightening, they say that knowledge is power and I tend to agree with that. If you know what's coming, then you know what is coming as soon as it is coming :-) A whole mouthful.
Menopause is a normal, natural event defined as the final menstrual period and usually confirmed when a woman has missed her
periods for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes). Menopause is associated with reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging, resulting in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. It marks the permanent end of fertility.
During the transition from the reproductive years through menopause and beyond, a woman experiences many physical
changes. Most of these changes are normal consequences of both menopause and aging. Some normal changes related to menopause include physical disturbances such as hot flashes, which are usually time-limited.
Some of the physical changes observed around menopause may be signs of illnesses that develop during midlife, including conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and sleep apnea. Sometimes, health problems arise when changing hormone levels at menopause and the physical effects of aging are coupled with an individual’s genetic makeup, certain unhealthy lifestyles, and/or other stresses of midlife.
All women experience menopause, but each in a unique way. How a woman responds to the physical changes of menopause may be similar to how her mother responded, although the evidence to support this notion is limited. A woman’s expectations of menopause may be important as well. The variation in menopause experience in different parts of the world and among different ethnic groups suggests both cultural and genetic influences.
Often, menopause can be merely the stopping of menstrual periods. A woman may view the end of fertility as liberation from concerns about birth control, or she may grieve for the children she never had. Menopause may be a sign of aging to others which may cause distress in a society that values youth and fertility. The level of menopause-related disturbances will also influence a woman’s view of menopause. Some women will have troublesome symptoms, whereas others may navigate the transition with few or even no symptoms at all.
Women
just entering the menopause transition will benefit from knowing that
women who have completed the transition look back on menopause as a
passageway to a new part of life. Most report that they now feel more
confident, empowered, involved, and energized than they did in their
younger years.
Menopause occurs at different times and differs from one person to another. Some people believe that you will reach menopause the same age as your mom and grandmother did, give or take a few years.
Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 50-52, but some women do experience it as early as 35 and even as late as 60. There is no clearcut age when it will start, and neither how long it will last. This is due to the fact that not everyone is physiological the same, and there are many other factors that will definitely influence this process eg. surgery and certain medications.
Two
factors that can influence the timing of natural menopause have been
identified: smoking and genetics. Smokers reach menopause about 2 years
earlier than nonsmokers. The genetic link is supported by the fact that
women often experience menopause around the same age as their mothers and
sisters. Women who have received certain types of chemotherapy and/or
pelvic radiation for cancer may also be at risk for earlier menopause.
There
is also some limited evidence suggesting that a woman may experience
menopause earlier than average if she has never delivered a baby, has a
history of heart disease, is medically treated for depression, was exposed
to toxic chemicals, had pelvic surgery, or had treatment for epilepsy. No
clear correlations have been found between age at menopause and race, age
at first period, or use of birth control pills.
Menopause can also occur after certain procedures like hysterectomies, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Stages of Menopause
There are 3 stages in Menopause and this whole process lasts about 15 years.
First stage
The first stage is known as perimenopause. The first stage are known by irregular periods and spotting due to the fluctuation of the hormones in the body. During this time, eggs are still being released from the ovaries, thus pregnancy is still a possibility, though ovulation will be sporadic.
Perimenopause usually lasts 2-5 years, but as previously said it can differ and there is no clear formula for the calculation of this stage. During this time, the fluctuation of the hormones can cause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and increased irritability.
Second stage
During the second stage, women will no longer experience any menstruation. As said this stage usually occurs around the age of 50 years. If menstruation is absent for 12 consecutive months, it is labeled Menopause.
During this time, estrogen levels will decline and the body will stop producing progesterone. This will cause the sufferer to have hot flashes, headaches and mood swings that can be unbearable for the rest of the family.
Third stage
The third and final stage is known as postmenopause. During this time the symptoms of menopause disappears, thus no more hot flashes, mood swings and sometimes unbearable headaches, so your family can live with you again.
The downturn of this stage is the fact that women now have an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and urinary tract infections.
This surely does not seem like a very happy time in a woman's life, but it need not be the end of the world as she knows it. Many women found this to be a happy and
exciting time in their life as they are no longer bound to periods and hormones and can live without the fear of unwanted pregnancy.
Through education and acceptance, menopause can become one of the most enjoyable stages in a woman's life.
Symptoms of menopause
There are many symptoms associated with menopause. This includes but a re
not limited to:
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Heart palpitations
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Memory loss
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Irregular periods
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Loss of libido
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Fatigue
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Incontinence
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Head, pubic or whole body hair loss or thinning
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Weight gain
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Vaginal dryness
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Mood swings
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Hot flashes
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Depression
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Difficulty concentrating
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Disorientation
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Dizziness, light headedness or episodes of loss of balance
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Change in fingernails (softer, crack or break easier)
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Changes in body odor
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Panic disorder or feelings of doom
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Breast pain
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Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
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Burning tongue, roof of mouth, bas taste or change in breath odor
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Gum problems
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Itchy, crawly skin
Depression usually comes with the idea that the child bearing stage is coming to an end, especially with premature menopause.
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