Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause indicates the end of the reproductive phase in a woman’s life.  It usually occurs anywhere between the ages of 30 and 60.  The period during which the woman’s natural menstrual flow ceases and the production of natural hormones like estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries are low, brings about some physical and emotional changes in her.

There are two phases to this transition to menopause:

Perimenopause: The stage when menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and irregular periods set in even as ovulation and menstrual periods take place. It could last for as long as four to five years before the onset of menopause.

Postmenopause: A woman attains full menopause when she completes twelve months of naturally missing her menstrual periods. Pregnancy is no longer possible as the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and reduce production of estrogen and progesterone.

Signs of Menopause

Menopause is experienced differently by different women.  Some get through it without any remarkable change.  But for some it could hurt their lives and interpersonal relationships.

The visible symptoms of menopause are irregularity and cessation of menstrual periods.  Due to fluctuating ovulation, there is less or no flow during periods reducing chances of conception.

Physical symptoms of menopause also include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, lack of sleep, dryness and thinning of the vaginal and urethral walls, and their decreasing elasticity.  There is an increased occurrence of sensations like itching, vaginal or urinary infections and sometimes, painful sexual contact.  Urinary incontinence and a frequent urge to urinate are other associated symptoms.

Hot flashes: Nearly 40% women experience hot flashes before and during menopause. This could also be accompanied by profuse sweating.

Sleep problems: Lack of sleep resulting from night sweats are linked with the peri- and post-menopausal transition.

Sexual concerns: Some women experience vaginal dryness during early and post menopause.  Other menopausal symptoms like lesser sexual interest and lack of response during the menopausal transition cause concern.

Depression: Most menopausal women express a feeling of depression.  Research reveals that having severe hot flashes and disrupted sleep could more likely be the cause for women who experience depressed mood during the menopause transition.  It is also likely that they may have been depressed earlier in their lifespan or have faced major stress inducers such as abuse.

Loss of memory: This has been expressed as a concern related to menopause by most women.  However, it is a common symptom for both men and women reaching middle age and could be age-related.

Other concerns: Urinary incontinence or leaking urine, is more common in heavier women during middle age.  Around fifty percent of women across the menopausal transition also complain of stiffness or soreness in their joints, shoulders or neck.

How to diagnose Menopause?

Most women are aware of changes in their bodies or moods.  The onset of menopause is indicated by an increase in follicle stimulating hormone and a decrease in estrogen levels.  It is advisable to consult a doctor when symptomatic to discuss and explore available therapies, or undergo a blood test to check FSH and estrogen levels.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 6:43 am and is filed under Menopause. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.