Menopause Symptoms

You may have heard from your grandparents or old relatives that you have to make the most out of your life when you are still young. The opportunities of doing things at a younger age are much greater compared to the activities that you can do as you age.

Certainly, aging is a matter of attitude. It is how you handle the pressures and challenges that go along with a maturing body, especially in the case when a woman reaches menopause.

Generally, menopause is the time after a year of the final menstruation among women. In the U.S., aging women experience this condition at age 51 on average.

Menopause symptoms have varying degrees. Not all women may experience the same symptoms. In some, this is simply the end of the menstrual cycle. However, in others, they have many symptoms before the final period like irregular periods, decline in fertility, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sleep problems, mood swings, high abdominal fat, thinning hair, joint pains, reduced libido (sex drive) and sagging breasts.

Around 70 percent of women are affected by menopause symptoms and these are felt even before menopause takes place. The transitional period toward menopause is known as perimenopause, which lasts for a short period.

In dealing with menopause symptoms, lifestyle modification in women is necessary. They are recommended to do exercise regularly, reduce intake of alcohol and caffeine, undergo stress management regimen, stop smoking and ensure that they eat a balanced diet.

Some seek medical intervention like hormonal replacement therapy to relieve the menopause symptoms. Other natural herbs and remedies are also available. For proper guidance, consult your doctor.

During the initial stages of the symptoms, women can experience changes in the menstrual patterns resulting in the rise and fall or irregularities in the hormonal secretions. Some may experience longer and heavy blood flow during menstruation followed by ovulation failure. The predictability of the menstrual cycle seems to change irregularly.

Hot flashes are common complaints among women before and after menopause. About 75 percent of women experience this condition of around two years of continued symptoms before menopause and 10 percent after it.

As you experience this burning sensation, expect an intense feeling of heat moving around the face and neck that lasts for minutes. Sweating and palpitations are very common during hot flashes. Night sweats may also be felt when you are sleeping. The causes remain unknown, but may be related to hormonal disruptions and imbalances. In severe cases, these symptoms may affect any woman’s work, sleep and the quality of life. Medications are available to reduce these symptoms, along with natural herbs and lifestyle changes. A professional help is necessary to remedy the pains and discomfort.

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Understanding Menopause Symptoms Recommended Resources:

Harvard Health Publications

Health Link - Medical College of Wisconsin