Menopause

Menopause is not an illness but it refers to permanent end to fertility and menstrual cycle.



It is a biological process that involves hormonal changes which are responsible for the physical changes in menopause. Menopause is not the end of life and it would not steal away your sexuality or femininity so don’t get emotionally stressed. On the other hand you could feel like many other women who feel liberated from the worries of periods and pregnancy.

The average age in United Stares for menopause is 51 years, however technically you don’t reach the stage of menopause until its been a year since your last period. But often you experience the signs and symptoms of perimenopause or menopause much earlier which includes – hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, irregular periods, sleep disturbances, decreased fertility, increased fat in the abdominal region, loss of fullness of breast and thinning of hair.

Estrogen and progesterone are the two main hormones responsible for regulating a menstrual cycle.



When the ovaries start synthesizing less of these hormones, menopause begins naturally. This process does not occur overnight but starts when you are in your late 30’s and is more pronounced when you are in your 40’s. Due to the changes in the ovaries your period pattern may become longer or shorter, lighter or heavier and eventually stop when your ovaries stop producing eggs.



It is not possible however to know which period exactly would be the last one and you are still fertile till your last period. Although menopause is a natural process certain conditions like hysterectomy, radiation or chemotherapy and premature ovarian failure can cause menopause earlier than expected.

Menopause is divided in to two stages –

1. Perimenopause
2. Postmenopause

Perimenopause is the period where you start experiencing the symptoms of menopause while you menstruate.



It can last for 4-5 years or longer and perimenopause symptoms would involve hot flashes and other symptoms as the hormone levels rise and fall.

Postmenopause is the period after 12 months have passed from your last menstrual period. Your ovaries produce very little estrogen and do not produce eggs and progesterone. The years which follow after these 12 months is postmenopausal period.

Although menopause is not an illness it is important to get appropriate treatment for the symptoms of perimenopause to avoid any complications like cardiovascular disease, weight gain, urinary incontinence or osteoporosis. The signs and symptoms are generally enough to detect menopause, however in some cases blood test may be conducted to detect hormonal activity. Treatment would involve hormone replacement therapy, administration of low dose anti depressants, and other drugs.