Menopause is often a difficult time for many women, because of the symptoms that go along with it. These symptoms often include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and sometimes sexual issues. The severity of these symptoms can vary from mild to quite severe. Menopause generally occurs in women sometime between the ages of 48 to 55.
When a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, this is when menopause occurs. Hormonal changes in the body bring on the various symptoms of menopause, some of which are physical in nature, while others can bring emotional changes. If a woman starts to experience irregular periods that vary between a heavy and light flow, or other symptoms such as hot flashes occur, this can be an indication that menopause is about to begin. Perimenopause is the term that is used to describe the transitional stage that precedes actual menopause. Perimenopause is common between the ages of 40 and 45. Some women do experience perimenopause earlier, and it might even start as early as age 35.
There may be some factors in a woman’s life that can cause the onset of menopause to occur earlier than normal. The environmental toxins that are present are sometimes thought to be a cause, as is stress, and smoking. Studies have shown that smoking often brings on perimenopause at least two or three years earlier than normal.
Some symptoms can be especially troubling and uncomfortable for some women, such as the hot flashes and night sweats. Hormonal changes in the body are responsible for these types of symptoms, and they can even cause sleeping problems in some women. Menopause symptoms, especially if they are severe, can increase a woman’s stress levels. There are also often changes in a woman’s libido levels during menopause. Hormone changes in the body can cause vaginal dryness and irritation, which can make sex painful. This often has the end result of reducing a woman’s desire for sex. Another factor that can enter into a woman’s sexual desire is the mood swings that are common during menopause.
Menopause is part of the natural aging process, and as such, there is not a specific treatment that is always needed or recommended. If a woman has especially pronounced symptoms, there are certain types of medications that can be helpful. Many women deal with menopause simply by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and finding ways to reduce their stress levels and symptoms without any type of medication. Many women find that light exercise can be beneficial, not only because of the physical benefits of exercise but also as a way of improving their mood and reducing stress levels.
To help women deal with the symptoms of menopause, especially if they are severe, doctors sometimes prescribe various types of hormone replacement drugs. While these drugs can be effective for some women, they do have some negative side effects of their own, such as possibly water retention, and possibly even an increase in some symptoms. If a woman wishes to try either synthetic or natural hormone replacement therapy during menopause, she should discuss the options with her doctor.
Although menopause can be a difficult time for some women, there are some simple things you can do to manage your menopause symptoms such as yoga and breathing exercises. Please visit the author’s website for more information: Signs of Menopause Guide
