All women know about it, and many have gone personally through
it; yet every woman still fears the dreaded "M" word. Our Mothers, and Grandmothers survived it, and
maybe even colleagues and friends; yet it still strikes fear in the heart of every woman on the cusp of
middle age. Often notoriously referred to as "The Change", menopause is a scary event in the life of any
woman. Even scarier though, is having to go through menopause without knowing and understanding the facts.
What is menopause and how will it affect me? What are the symptoms? These are common questions and,
armed with the answers, menopause can be a lot less daunting.
In its basic form, menopause is the point at which you no longer get your period. Every female has a
finite number of eggs in her ovaries and, eventually, no more eggs will be produced and released from
her ovaries for fertilisation. As women age, the female hormones that govern ovulation and menstruation
begin to decline. Estrogen and progesterone are the hormones that signal to your body when it is time
to ovulate and menstruate. As these hormones start to decline, ovulation and menstruation become irregular
and eventually cease altogether. This signals the start of menopause.
No two women go through menopause in the same way as menopause affects all women at different stages in
their lives and to different degrees. The one determining factor is that women are likely to go through
menopause around roughly the same age that their grandmother, mother, or sister did - give or take a few
years. For most women, menstruation stops between the ages of 50 and 51; however menopause can in some
cases take place as early as 35 or as late as 60. The end of menstruation does not signal the end of
menopause however; the full menopausal process can often take many years to reach completion.
Most women enter into menopause naturally; however menopause can be brought on by unnatural causes.
For example, certain surgical procedures and medications or treatments can force a woman's body to
enter menopause prematurely. Menopause has been known to occur after hysterectomies, radiation
treatment, and chemotherapy. These treatments are the most common cause of Premature Menopause (menopause
before age 40). Damage to the ovaries or low levels of estrogen can also bring about early menopause.
Menopause occurs in three major stages and can span a period of 15 years or longer, depending on age and
family history.
The first stage of menopause is known as perimenopause. The initial signs of this stage are irregular
periods and spotting due to fluctuating hormone levels in the body. Although it is possible to fall
pregnant during perimenopause as eggs may still be released from the ovaries, ovulation will probably be
irregular. Perimenopause normally lasts between 2 to 5 years, but some women can remain in this stage of
menopause for up to 15 years. Common symptoms at this stage of menopause include hot flushes, night sweats,
and irritability; brought on by inconsistent hormone levels.
The end of all periods signals the second stage of menopause. This stage is simply called menopause and
usually takes place around the age of 50 or 51. The acid test of being "in menopause" is the absence of a
woman's period for at least 12 consecutive months. This stage also marks the reduction of estrogen levels
in a woman's body and the end of all progesterone production. Symptoms at this stage of menopause typically
include hot flushes, headaches, and mood swings.
The final stage of menopause is called postmenopause. This stage normally marks the decline of menopausal
symptoms, freeing the postmenopausal woman of hot flushes and night sweats. However, this time in a woman's
life also yields the increased risk of developing osteoporosis, heart disease, or a urinary tract infection.
Menopause can be daunting and many women approach it with a sense of unease. Although it does bring with it certain
inconveniences, menopause can be an exciting and happy time in a woman's life where they are no longer bound to periods
and hormones and can live without the fear of falling pregnant. The most important tool a woman can take into menopause
with her is knowledge. With the right education and a healthy dose of positivity, menopause can be a happy and
fulfilling time in any woman's life.
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