Menopause is a natural decline in a woman’s reproductive hormones, usually between the ages of 40 and 50.
It marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and is usually diagnosed when a woman has not had her period for twelve months. All of a woman’s eggs are stored in her ovaries at birth.
Their ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate their menstrual cycle and egg production (ovulation). Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing an egg every month and menstruation stops.
Menopause is a natural part of aging and there are three stages, which are:
Perimenopause
The period before menopause is called perimenopause. This is a time when hormone levels begin to drop and menstrual cycles become inconsistent and irregular. Symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, may begin to appear.
Menopause
When you stop producing the hormones that trigger your period and you haven’t had one for 12 months, you’ve reached menopause. Post-menopause begins at this time.
Post-menopause
The period following menopause is called post-menopause. You will be post-menopausal for the rest of your life. Certain health problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, are more common in postmenopausal women.
Here are some of the signs of menopause in women:
1) Emotional changes
While some women do not experience emotional changes during perimenopause, others tend to experience them, such as mood swings, depression, worsening of premenstrual tension (PMD), anxiety, panic attacks, anger, bad mood, irritation, crying and impatience.
These emotional changes tend to affect their relationships with their partner and their children.
2) Hot flashes
One of the common signs of menopause in women is hot flashes. It is a rapid sensation of heat in the upper part of the body, usually concentrated around the face, neck and chest. Hot flashes are more common during the first year following menopause, but they can last up to 14 years following.
3) Insomnia
Women tend to suffer from insomnia during perimenopause. This insomnia is often associated with nocturnal hot flashes. Poor sleep during menopause can also be linked to depressive symptoms and anxiety.
4) Low fertility
As a woman nears the end of her reproductive period, but before menopause, her estrogen levels gradually decline. This reduces the likelihood of becoming pregnant.
5) Vaginal discomfort
Dryness, itching, and discomfort in the vaginal area can begin during perimenopause and last until menopause. The vaginal walls become thin, dry and sometimes irritated due to the decrease in estrogen levels.
This causes burning, discomfort, pain (especially during sex), bleeding, and vaginal discharge in many women.
