How to Tell If You’re Going Through Menopause
Almost three quarters of women who are about to start the transition to menopause notice some kinds of symptoms. Menopause symptoms are a result of changing hormonal levels. This is in preparation for the shutdown of the female reproduction system. As hormone production decreases, most women will start to have symptoms even if their periods haven’t stopped.
Women generally begin to experience the first signs of menopause anywhere between their late 30s and early 40s. At this age, women’s bodies start to produce less estrogen and progesterone. This stage of menopause is known as perimenopause.
Ovulation becomes sporadic because the ovaries stop releasing eggs. It’s harder for a woman to become pregnant at this time because she becomes less fertile. As well, pregnancy during this time has more risk associated with it.
One of the early symptoms of menopause is an irregular period. Usually the flow is much heavier or much lighter than the woman has experienced to that point in time.
Mood swings are also a sign of menopause. You might need to take antidepressant medication to relieve the problem.
As well, women often experience hot flashes. It’s a surge of heat throughout the body that appears without warning, frequently during the night. The face will become red and she will break out in a sweat.
Other symptoms of menopause include sleeping disorders and an increase in belly fat. Sleeping disorders can lead to depression and exhaustion and need to be monitored by a doctor.
In a woman’s 40s, these symptoms become more pronounced. As she reaches her early 50s, the process is usually complete. A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has gone a full year without a period. The average age for this is 51.
Most women will experience symptoms through the entire process of menopause. On the other hand, there are women who are never rid of them for the remainder of their life.
Every woman experiences menopause differently. Some will hardly notice that it’s happening. Other women will experience symptoms that interfere with their daily lives.
If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms of menopause, you should seek advice from your doctor. They will be able to give you advice on managing your menopausal symptoms. There are numerous ways to ease the symptoms, including pain relievers, lifestyle modification and hormone therapy.
