Although some women still see it as a scary stage of life, menopause is a normal part of aging and a natural transition that women experience. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs and the reproductive hormones decline. This makes the end of the menstruation and fertility.
Menopause starts differently in every woman’s body. For most females, menopause begins between the ages of 40 and 55. However, it can start earlier for individuals who experience premature ovarian failure or those who have surgical removal of both ovaries at a young age.
Whereas menopause is a natural process, the changes to your body and mood may feel not normal at first. It may be difficult for you to accept it as menopause experience varies greatly amongst individuals. Some may barely notice any symptoms; others may experience them all at once.
Below are common menopause symptoms women may experience:
Bloating & Water Retention
Perimenopause and menopause may cause the body’s water retention due to fluctuating hormones which can lead to bloating and discomfort around the abdominal area. Water retention might affect other body parts such as swelling in hands or feet.
Circulatory Problems
Estrogen is important to help keep the blood vessels, and especially the veins, nice and toned. During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen level starts to drop which may cause the weakening of the blood vessels and they start to expand. This condition may cause pain and discomfort usually around the lower legs and hands. Some people might experience swelling.
Joints & Muscle Pain
Your estrogen level drop may affect your cartilage that is responsible to protect your joints. It can cause inflammation and pain in those areas. During menopause, women are most likely to get osteoarthritis which is caused by wear and tear to the joints.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes may be experienced by some women during perimenopausal and menopause. It causes chills and rapid heartbeat that may disrupt day-to-day activities. Hot flashes usually come suddenly during the day or night causing intense heat and sweat on the face, neck, and chest. In some cases, the face can turn red as if blushing. During the night, it may cause night sweats that often impact your sleep quality.
Insomnia or Sleep Disturbances
Insomnia is often experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause due to hormonal changes. Menopause-related insomnia can last for weeks and months if not properly treated.
Other issues that might occur during this stage:
Night sweats
Elevated heart rate
Mood changes
Vaginal dryness or discomfort during intercourse
Urinary incontinence or frequent urination
Decreased libido
During the stage, menopause is divided into three basic stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to atrophy which causes a decline in the production of the hormones that stimulate the menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone. Additionally, as females age there is a natural decline in the number of eggs in the ovaries. As a result, fertility declines. The transition from perimenopause to menopause to post-menopause usually lasts seven years or longer.
Understanding the stages will help you know what to expect, manage, and know when it’s time to talk to your healthcare provider.
Perimenopause/Premenopause
The perimenopause or pre-menopause stage occurs about three to five years before menopause. The age at which females experience this stage can vary greatly. Most females begin to experience symptoms in their mid to late forties. It is rare to notice symptoms before age 40.
During this stage, your estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate. You may begin to experience mood changes, irregular menstrual cycles, and other menopausal symptoms.
During this stage, it’s still possible to get pregnant, so continuing a form of birth control is important.
Menopause
Menopause is defined as the absence of menses for 12 straight months without other causes, such as illness, medication, or pregnancy. Once you reach menopause, you can no longer achieve pregnancy.
The average age of menopause is 51, but the age can vary greatly. Some enter this stage in their mid-forties and others do not until mid-fifties.
Post-menopause
The post-menopause stage signals the end of your reproductive years. While your ovaries produce low levels of estrogen and progesterone, you no longer will ovulate or menstruate.
Once you enter the post-menopause stage, you are in it for the rest of your life. You may continue to have the same symptoms you experienced during the perimenopause and menopause stages for many years after your final menstrual cycle. Fortunately, these symptoms tend to dissipate over time. However, females in this stage are at an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis due to the decrease in estrogen.
The good news is no matter which stages you find yourself in, menopause symptoms often can be managed by a healthy diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle modifications.
However, if your symptoms are intense enough to disrupt your quality of life, do not hesitate to talk to your gynecologist or healthcare provider. By consulting, you can develop a personalized care plan, which may include hormone replacement therapy or other medications that will control your symptoms and improve daily function. Kindly note that menopause is manageable, and it is a normal process for women’s bodies.
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