Just like the cycle of life doesn’t end after you become an adult, a woman’s delicate body also continues to develop to catch up with their age. Menopause is just that, where it’s a natural part of aging. However, each body works differently, and the symptoms of others may not appear even after several years.
The best thing you can do in this scenario is to pack yourself with knowledge.
What is it?
Menopause occurs in women who experience a menstrual cycle, and once the menopausal stage starts, the period naturally stops. It’s a point in a woman’s life where reproduction is no longer possible, and she will go into 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle.
Since it’s a drastic change in a woman’s body, the transition to the menopausal stage entails various symptoms and can be painful and galling for some. Additionally, it can be triggered by medical procedures like hysterectomy or the surgical removal of the ovaries, which can lead women to experience menopause at such an early age.
On the other hand, natural menopause naturally results from aging without any interference from medical treatment and undergoes a gradual process. This process is divided into three stages, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Perimenopause
This stage of menopause is the primary stage of menopause, the “menopause transition,” which refers to the period where your body naturally transitions to menopause when your ovaries slowly produce less estrogen. This usually takes place ten years before the next stage. Perimenopause can begin as early as the 30s, but it usually starts in women ages 40 to 44. During this time, you’ll observe apparent signs of menopause symptoms.
Menopause
Menopause is the stage where your body completely halts your monthly period, and your reproductive years end. You’ll no longer produce eggs and stop releasing estrogen or progesterone hormones. It can start at an early age of 40-45, but the average age is 51.
Again, the start of your menopause will depend on your body and your condition. If you’re feeling unsure about your menopause, you can schedule a visit to a doctor, and they can diagnose you.
Postmenopause
The last stage is called postmenopause, after missing your period for 12 consecutive years. In other words, this stage is the rest of your life after menopause. One of the best things during this period is that your past symptoms and discomfort from menopause will eventually ease.
However, women’s bodies are different from each other, so you might experience menopausal symptoms a bit longer than others.
Signs and Symptoms
After knowing more about menopause, it’s best to head to possible signs and symptoms you may experience. Again, the transition to menopause comes with symptoms because it’s a significant change in your body system.
- Bladder Control. One of the most apparent symptoms of menopause is the loss of control of your bladder or incontinence. It’s when you have the constant sudden urge to urinate, where there are also instances that you leak while laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
- Hot flashes. This symptom refers to the sudden warmth that can last for several years. This usually happens at night, which can become a factor in having difficulty sleeping. Moreover, the warmth can also cause your chest, neck, and face to turn an intense red.
- Sleeping Experience. Aside from the discomfort of hot flashes, menopause can also cause women difficulty sleeping, which can usually be diagnosed as insomnia.
- Mood Changes. For disclaimers, mood changes can be affected by various factors, and it’s also widely different from depression, which is not a result of menopause. However, since menopause directly affects your hormones, frequent mood changes can be inevitable.
- Vaginal Health. Another menopause sign that you may notice when you’re entering the perimenopause stage. During this stage, you’ll experience vaginal dryness, which makes sex more painful for the couple. There will be instances where your vaginal entry will tighten, and you might feel burning and itching in this area. Although this is a natural symptom of menopause, you can visit a doctor to help ease the discomfort.
- Slowed Metabolism. Your metabolism is directly connected to your hormones. As your body decreases (which eventually stops during menopause) the production of estrogen during perimenopause, your metabolism will gradually change. Then, losing weight can be extra challenging for you. What may have worked when you were younger might not be as effective during your transition.
Treatment
The symptoms or the journey during your menopause transition can significantly affect your daily life. For some, it can be an excruciating process. The best possible solution you can do for yourself is to read more details about the transition in every Rx blog and visit your physician to have your condition thoroughly checked.
Your doctor might present you with various prescription hormones to elevate the symptoms and vaginal treatments to ease your local vagina pains.
Final Thoughts
It can be a hard process for all women that everyone will eventually undergo, but the journey will vary for each person. Thus, it’s always best to be prepared and aware of what can occur. You can figure out remedies to ease the pain, but you must keep in mind to always be mindful of what you ingest. Your doctor’s advice would be the best treatment for you. Still, bulk yourself up with knowledge so your body can prepare.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
