Menopause is actually a term that indicates age, the age of the end of menstrual cycle. It is not a health problem. It is a natural part of aging process in women, where the ability of a woman to get pregnant is stopped. This stage occurs usually when a woman reaches the age of 50. Some women may reach this stage sooner than other.
In general, a woman’s menstruation cycles starts on specific day. When nearing the menopausal stage, this will start to change. However, it usually takes years before the menopausal stage is reached. The span of years of changes is called perimenopausal.
When a woman hasn’t been having a period for one whole year, she has already begun her menopause. While menopause is experienced by the females, it doesn’t mean that the experiences are the same. These vary from one person to another. In fact, it also varies among ladies with different cultures, and of different nationalities.
It has been proven with researches that the experiences of menopause can be linked to many different things such as genes, lifestyle, diet, and attitudes toward others. These factors affect women’s health menopause.
During menopause, there are changes in the hormone levels that sometimes lead to the symptoms that a lot of women suffer from. The experiences among women are different. Some women do not experience discomforts; some go through only a few symptoms. Some may undergo the most common symptoms, and some suffer from severe syndromes.
Below are some of the signs that tell one she is nearing the menopausal stage. One may experience any combination of the following symptoms, or may experience all of them. The severity also differs from each person.
- Irregularity of periods
- Lighter or heavier blood flow
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary tract infections
- Bowel upset
- Dry eyes
- Itchy skin
- Hot flashes
- Joint pains
- Night sweats
- insomnia
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Short-term memory problems
The above mentioned symptoms may be experienced before, during, and after menopause. A lot of women who have finished menopause stop experiencing these symptoms, or at least the severity and occurrences of the symptoms will lessen. The following are some suggestions that can help a woman live through, and enjoy if possible, their menopausal stage.
- Plan a new diet if needed
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce stress
- Be prepared. Learn about the menopausal stage so that you know what to expect and what to do.
- In case you start to have problems with your health, consult with a doctor and talk to your health care practitioner.
Menopause is just one of the stages in life a woman goes through. It will include emotional and physical changes, which may be very hard. One may look at it as suffering. Another may perceive it as an important aspect of her life that will allow her to recharge herself for the new stage of life. It is the attitude of every individual that makes our opinions different from each other.
