Menopause is the term used when the female ovaries stop performing its natural function. Instead of producing ova, which would then lead to the occurrence of the monthly period, the ovaries do not produce it due to hormonal changes. This usually happens to women in their late forty's or early fifty's.
When menopause happens, the woman would not be able to produce a child. This is an unavoidable phenomenon but women should be prepared of what to expect during menopause so that they would not be shocked about the signs and symptoms that would show-up.
Symptoms of Menopause
Changes in the body occur during menopause and these changes could also bring several symptoms. If women would be well-prepared about these changes, it will be easier for them to accept and to adapt to the changes in their body.
Hot flashes
Sudden changes in your body temperature could be felt when you are undergoing menopause. Sometimes you feel so hot that your face and upper body becomes red. This could also happen during the night and are described as night sweats. During the night time while you are sleeping, you could experience hot flashes that will cause you to perspire during the night. Hot flashes happen due to the sudden decrease or sudden stop of the production of the hormone called estrogen. The ovaries are the organ that is responsible in producing this hormone.
Irregular menstrual periods
Due to the hormones, your period may come early or may come late and the heaviness of your bleeding may also vary. Some women have periods that last for just a couple of days while others last for a very long time. There are also instances where missed periods are also observed. During menopause, the balance of your hormones gets disrupted this is why you have irregularities in your period.
Vaginal Dryness
Estrogen plays a major role in keeping the vagina moist. When there is lack of this hormone, you might feel a bit dry and more irritated. Sometimes, you might feel itchy and you become more prone to infection. This dry feeling makes women think that they are already old. The elasticity of the vagina would also be affected and its ability to stretch during sex and childbirth would not be as much as before. This may also be the reason why some women have less desire for sex during menopause.
Mood swings
A person who is happy and the next is mad is experiencing mood swings. This roller coaster of feelings may not be good for you and your family but this is a symptom that you have to deal with. The exact cause of having mood swings has not yet been discovered but researchers say that it has something to do with the changes in the hormonal levels.
Tiredness
It is normal for menopausal women to feel fatigued, tired and low on energy. Some women find it hard to sleep at night and this could cause the feeling of tiredness that they feel during the day time. Too much fatigue is also not good for you; that is the reason why you should talk to your doctor about it.
Hair loss and hair fall
Women who experience this symptom may panic because they might think that they have a disease that causes hair loss. The hormone estrogen is needed by your hair follicles and since there is a sudden decrease in its availability, some women might experience hair fall. If your hair loss is accompanied by other signs and symptoms, you should consider going to your doctor for a check-up.
Hard-up in sleeping
Menopausal women observe that they have a tendency to wake up at night and have a hard time going back to sleep. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that women have during menopause. Sometimes this sleep disorder could also be accompanied by night sweats.
Being forgetful
Women in this stage observe that there are lapses in their memory. They forget small things like where they placed their wallets or cell phones. This kind of memory lapse is usual for menopausal women but when this becomes a regular occurrence, you should consult it with your doctor.
Dizziness
Being lightheaded or feeling a sudden lost in balance is another common symptom of menopause. Some women are hard up in standing up instantly because they feel dizzy if they do so. It is important that you be prepared about these symptoms for you to be able to successfully cope up.
Weight gain
Some women are afraid to gain weight but this is common when you have menopause. This is because your body is older and your metabolism slows down. If you do not change you're eating habits to cope up with your new metabolism then there is a great chance for you to increase your weight.
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