Learning About Different Menopause Symptoms

It is important to understand the different types of menopause symptoms because they could start up to ten years before actual menopause begins. You should understand what is happening, not only to be prepared for menopause, but in order to treat the symptoms properly. You would not want to confuse them with some other health problem. The best thing is to know your body very well and to speak to a doctor if any symptoms are exhibited.

Menopause usually starts between the ages of forty and sixty and can be stretched out over the course of one to fifteen years, depending on the individual. Usually symptoms start in a woman’s late forties and end in her early fifties. Very early symptoms are known as pre-menopause and the monthly period may not be effected until far later.

Many women believe that menopause is the permanent ending of a monthly period. This is merely just a symptom of the true cause. Menopause is when a woman’s ovaries stop producing the same levels of estrogen and stop releasing eggs. The reduced estrogen is what stops the periods. Decreased estrogen levels may explain many of the symptoms.

Periods will most likely be highly irregular before they stop entirely. Irregularity could mean either an increase or decrease in frequency and heaviness. Your body is rapidly trying to adjust to new ratios of hormones, so sometimes a body ends up skipping periods for several months or having periods occur a few times in a single month. You may experience cramping, breast soreness, and mood swings far more frequently, as well.

Many women also note a change in libido. This is usually a decrease, but in some cases sexual appetite increases. Usually a component of libido change is vaginal dryness, for which lubricants, medication, or suppositories may need to be used. It is only natural that one’s sex drive will change to correspond with a change in the reproductive system.

Less estrogen in the system will affect physical appearance. Many women experience hair growth in new areas, like the chin and upper lip. Skin can become rougher and hair can become more brittle. It is important to take proper care of these changing elements through conditioners, vitamins, and lotions. This will help prevent against lowered self-confidence.

Hot flashes may be the most notorious symptom of menopause because of the extreme discomfort they cause. The body attempts to regulate all of its changes, including temperature, by sending heat throughout the body. Temperatures skyrocket very quickly, leaving women sweating and exhausted. The flashes quickly fade away and women find themselves to be freezing. Medications can stop flashes and vitamins can reduce the effects.

The strain on your body will be tremendous, leading to many headaches and muscle stress. Joints and bones could be sore. You may feel like you have to pee more frequently. These should all be brought to the attention of your doctor but, for the most part, they are normal. Your body tries to cope with changes in strange ways.

Depression can also be common, not only due to hormone change but because of the social and biological stigmas associated with menopause. Women do not often view menopause as what it really is–a natural and necessary change in life–but rather as a weakness, a sign of aging, and a process that makes them ‘less of a woman.’ Other symptoms like decreased libido, difficulty sleeping, physical discomfort, and mood swings may lead women to believe there are bigger problems in their lives other than physical changes. Check in regularly with a doctor to do whatever is necessary to make you feel like your old self again.

Jan Walodene is an expert author and writes about menopause and menopause supplement .