If there is one stage of a woman’s life that is hard to cope up with that would be her menopausal years. As defined, menopause is a stage wherein a woman’s monthly period has stopped. Veering away from the common conception that menopause is a “disease,” people in the medical world says that menopause is nothing but a normal and expected change in any woman’s body.
Unlike before when menopause is clouded by absurd misconceptions and myths, people now are more open in discussing the phenomenon because many studies have proven that menopause is a natural step in the process of a woman’s aging. With the advancement of technology and researches, more and more women are given hope that they can still go on with their life by teaching them to discover and rediscover their purpose in life.
Most studies show that the most common determinant of menopause in women is physical changes. Since menopause is associated with absence of estrogen in the body (since the ovaries has stopped producing them), the reproductive system gradually shuts down.
Experts agree that the average age range of menopause in women is form 50 onwards. But there are cases wherein a woman may experience her menopausal earlier especially if she has undergone surgeries, major operations and a series of therapy due to cancer and other illnesses. Other causes of early menopause are autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, and diabetes mellitus.
Basically, menopausal years are divided into three phases: the premature menopause, which is distinguished for women whose ages are below 40 years old. Next are the menopausal climax years from 50 and above and the post-menopausal, which is experienced by women 50 and above and are those prone to more serious illnesses such as osteoporosis.
KNOWING THE SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE
Experts agree that menopause pertains to the drastic changes in a woman’s life that greatly affects her physical appearance, sexual function, feelings of well-being, and overall mood.
Technically, a woman is said to reach her menopause when there’s an absence of menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Here are some of the visible symptoms of menopause:
1.Drastic change in the pattern of menstrual periods. This can be characterized by shorter or longer span of time, lighter or heavier flow of menstruation, and more or less time between periods.
2.Occurrence of hot flashes or hot flushes.
3.Profuse night sweating usually followed by a slight chill.
4. Sleep disturbances and trouble getting enough sleep due to physical discomfort.
5.Vaginal atrophy. This is characterized by thinning, drying, shrinking and thinning of the vagina in most women.
6.Psychological instability characterized by mood disturbances, irritability, fatigue, decreased sexual desire, and memory loss. Violent mood swings, crabbiness, and crying spells, which are usually caused by, pent up frustration due to lack of sleep are also common.
7.Inability to concentrate or focus on tasks properly. This is characterized by great deal of trouble focusing on things because the woman feels mixed-up and confused.
8.Hair issues. Women who are experiencing menopause or those who are about to experience it are having trouble dealing with hair issue due to hair loss or thinning on their head. They also experience hair growth on their face, which is quite unlikely for a woman.
9.Increased estrogen deficiency that leads to vasomotor instability characterized by dyspareunia, itching, dryness, bleeding, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urinary incontinence.
10.Skeletal problems and muscle pains such osteoporosis, joint pains, and back pains.
As a woman’s body adapt to the ever-changing levels of natural hormones, more and more symptoms can be traced to menopause.
If you want to prepare for this natural occurrence in a woman’s life, make sure that you visit your doctor so he/she could do the necessary diagnosis and examinations to you. After which, proper solution can be provided by your physician depending on your individual need.
Nathalie Fiset
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/menopause-what-every-woman-needs-to-know-72819.html
December 29th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
ok ladies I am stressed about this. I am in menopause for the first time and hate every moment of it.?
In 2000 I found out I would die of cerical cancer if I did not get the forming cells removed which I did by lazer. My sister has urged me today to get another pap which I refused. and told her I will not get another one again although she had one today and was tested for the HPV too. I have been getting watery discharge and gut cramps for weeks now but put this down to just one of those things some women experice with menopause. I was told by a few people that I have a high chace of reacurace even though I am not sexually active if I have had this before. maybe so. But I will not get another one again. My sister was also like I said tested for the HPV virus too today and when it came my turn to get it down I turned it down as it has been 2 years since my last one which was normal phew. But in 2000 I found I had cancer cells growing in my cervix for the first time they have gone now thorugh lazer. now I am just woundering if watery discharge and pain in the guts for weeks everyday and even now as I type this is normal? Is this what menopausal women experience? I need advice. I will be 40 in exactly 2 weeks from today. and it is called early menopause. is watery disharge and gut cramps normal with menopause? or is it because I have refused another pap test that something might be going on, which I hope not. any advice?
Hi Peg my sister will not relax until I have had it done. gut cramps and now watery discharge and urine frequency I put down to menpause, but could be wrong. If I start spotting blood or get pain there I will take it more seriously but until then I think it is menopause. I hate pap smears grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Tammy why every year? I keep getting every year a reminder notice from the pap regerter of my state to get it done for that year but I throw them out. I thought one you have ha them lazerd there is no chance of this returing maybe I am wrong
December 30th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Considering the fact that you once had cancerous cells, you need to take things seriously and have them checked out because they can come back. Early detection is the key, if it is cancerous cells again they need to be removed ASAP.
References :
December 30th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I’m curious why you are so resistant to the pap which really should be done at LEAST annually maybe more if there are preexisting conditions from before–
Maybe you need a better doctor this time around maybe he is too rough(I know mine was)
Anyway I really think you should go have a pap maybe by a gynocologist not just a regular doctor–take care–
References :
Have had pre cancerous cells biopsies of the cervix and burning off of those cells–ouch!